Customs office provides information for those preparing to PCS

[The Patriot]

Customs office provides information for those preparing to PCS

06-22-2011 12:47 AM

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Wed, 2011-06-22 08:44


Customs office provides information for those preparing to PCS


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Customs office provides information for those preparing to PCS

by Robert Szostek
U.S. European Command Customs public affairs officer

People moving to the United States this summer should start preparing now, by finding new homes for items that are banned from import. It's also a good idea to apply early for import permits on restricted items, according to customs officials.

"Prohibited items include meat and meat products, such as sausage, pâté and salami, as well as plants and destructive devices," said Bill Johnson, director of the U.S. European Command's Customs and Border Clearance Agency. "If you're planning on shipping firearms, ensure you have proof that you owned them in the United States, or have an import permit."

Other important points to remember are:

• Vehicles not made to U.S. standards must be shipped through commercial importers registered with the Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency. However, vehicles more than 25 years old are exempt from this rule.
• Most mopeds and motorcycles must also meet U.S. safety and pollution standards and all vehicles must be free of dirt, insects and vegetation.
• Wine collections can only be shipped with advance approval from the transportation office.
• Endangered species items such as ivory and some furs may only be shipped if owners can prove they were previously owned in the U.S., or are antiques more than 100 years old.
• State attorneys general must approve imports of gambling devices. These devices must be registered with the Justice Department in Washington, D.C.

Anyone shipping household goods stateside this summer must also be careful when packing the contents of their kitchen, agriculture officials advise. The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection issues fines of $100 to $1,000 to first-time offenders who ignore the strict rules that apply to sending food products stateside.

"Red meat, sausages, pâté and salami can harbor animal viruses - even if canned - and are therefore barred from import," said Scott Sanner, military adviser to the U.S. EUCOM.

He added that even pasta or soup mixes containing dried meat are not allowed. Foot-and-mouth disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (also known as mad cow disease) are examples of animal diseases that need to be kept out of the U.S. this way.

Additionally, fresh fruits and vegetables also can't be sent to the U.S. because they can contain the eggs or larvae of pests. The Mediterranean fruit fly is a just one example of a bug that can hide in citrus and other fruits.

However, processed fruit and vegetable products, such as canned fruit, olive oil, mustard and canned or processed sauces, can be shipped. There are no restrictions on fish or mushrooms either, Mr. Sanner added. Commercially-produced dried herbs and spices, tea, roasted coffee, cured cheeses, cakes, candies, cookies and roasted nuts are also fine to ship.

For more information, visit www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel/clearing/agri_prod_inus.xml and www.hqusareur.army.mil/opm/uscustoms.htm, or call the traffic management office at DSN 238-2510.








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