Traveling With Cheese: Bolivia To The Us

Bringing food into the US from abroad can be tricky, with some items prohibited and others restricted. So, can you bring cheese from Bolivia to the US?

Hard and semi-soft cheeses are allowed, but soft cheeses are prohibited

Bringing food into the US from abroad requires careful consideration, as some items are prohibited or restricted. The US Department of Agriculture has strict regulations concerning the importation of food and agricultural products, and imported foods are also subject to FDA requirements.

Cheese is one of the food items that can be brought into the US for personal consumption, but there are some types of cheese that are prohibited. Hard and semi-soft cheeses, such as Cheddar, are allowed. However, soft cheeses, like Brie, are prohibited. This is because soft cheeses are considered a risk for carrying pests or diseases that could be harmful to the US livestock industry and crop production. Therefore, only solid cheeses that do not contain meat products are permitted.

It is important to declare all food items upon entry to the US, as failure to do so can result in civil penalties and fines. To avoid any issues, it is recommended to check the restrictions for specific food items before travelling to the US.

Cheese must be solid and not contain meat products

Bringing food items into the US from Bolivia requires careful consideration, as some items are prohibited or restricted. It's important to understand the regulations to avoid fines or confiscation of your items. Here are the key points regarding the requirement that cheese must be solid and not contain meat products:

Solid Cheese without Meat Products

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidelines, cheese is generally allowed into the US as long as it meets two specific criteria. Firstly, the cheese must be solid. Soft cheeses like brie, ricotta, cottage cheese, and feta are not permitted. Only hard and semi-soft cheeses are allowed. Secondly, the cheese must not contain any meat products. This rule is part of broader restrictions on meat products entering the US.

Restrictions on Meat Products

Meat, livestock, poultry, and their products face restrictions or prohibitions when entering the US. These restrictions are in place due to concerns about animal diseases in the country of origin. Fresh meat is generally prohibited from most countries, while canned, cured, or dried meat may be severely restricted. Therefore, any cheese containing meat would fall under these strict regulations and would not be allowed.

Declaration and Inspection

When travelling to the US, it is essential to declare all food products. Failure to do so can result in civil penalties and fines. All agricultural items, including food products, are subject to inspection by a CBP Agriculture Specialist at ports of entry. This inspection aims to ensure that imported items are free of plant pests and foreign animal diseases. Prohibited or restricted items may be confiscated, and travellers may face penalties for non-compliance.

Commercial Imports

It is important to distinguish between bringing cheese for personal consumption and commercial imports. The guidelines specifically address items brought in for personal use. If you plan to bring cheese for resale or in large quantities, you need to refer to the requirements for commercial imports, which may involve additional paperwork and restrictions.

All agricultural items must be declared and are subject to inspection

When travelling to the United States, it is important to be aware of the rules and restrictions regarding bringing food and agricultural products into the country. All agricultural items must be declared and are subject to inspection by a CBP Agriculture Specialist at ports of entry. This is to ensure that any incoming food items are free of plant pests and foreign animal diseases, which could be detrimental to the U.S. crop production and livestock industry.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has strict regulations concerning the importation of food and agricultural products. Many agricultural products are prohibited from entering the U.S. from certain countries due to the risk of introducing plant pests and foreign animal diseases. Prohibited or restricted items may include meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, and products made from animal or plant materials. It is important to note that failure to declare food products can result in a fine of up to $10,000.

If you are bringing agricultural items in non-commercial quantities, they will be inspected by a CBP Agriculture Specialist. If prohibited or restricted items are found, you have the option to abandon them at the port of entry and continue your entry into the U.S. However, if prohibited agricultural items are not declared, they will be confiscated, and you may be issued a civil penalty. All abandoned or confiscated agricultural items are destroyed using USDA-approved methods to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.

So, what does this mean for bringing cheese from Bolivia to the U.S.? Cheese is considered a dairy product, and there are specific rules regarding the importation of dairy. The main issue is the country of origin, as the U.S. is concerned about products from countries with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Bolivia is currently not listed as a country with FMD, so cheese from Bolivia may be allowed as long as it is for personal consumption and does not contain any meat products. However, it is important to check the most up-to-date information, as disease outbreaks can change the admissibility of dairy products.

In general, hard and semi-soft cheeses are allowed into the U.S. for personal use, while soft cheeses, such as brie, soft curd cheese, and cheese in water (ricotta, feta, etc.) are not. It is always best to declare all food products to avoid any potential issues or fines.

Failure to declare food products can result in a $10,000 fine

Bringing Food into the U.S.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection outlines the rules for bringing food into the country. Many agricultural products are prohibited from entering the U.S. from certain countries because they may carry plant pests and foreign animal diseases. All agricultural items must be declared and are subject to inspection by a CBP Agriculture Specialist at ports of entry to ensure they are free of pests and diseases. Prohibited or restricted items may include meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, and products made from animal or plant materials.

Failure to Declare Food Products

Declared agricultural items, in non-commercial quantities, that are prohibited or restricted by the CBP Agriculture Specialists can be abandoned at the port of entry if the traveler wishes to continue into the U.S. However, undeclared prohibited agricultural items will be confiscated and can result in a civil penalty for the traveler for failure to declare the item. The civil penalty for failing to declare agricultural items is $300 for first-time offenders and $500 for the second violation.

Examples of Allowed Food Products

• Bakery items
• Cured cheese
• Canned goods
• Condiments (e.g., oil, vinegar, mustard, ketchup, pickles, syrup, honey, jelly, jam)
• Commercially packaged candies, spices, coffee, and teas

Raw-milk cheese is legal to bring into the US for personal consumption

While it is illegal to bring raw-milk cheese into the US for commercial purposes, it is legal to bring it into the country for personal consumption. This is despite misinformation from sources such as USA Today, which has published articles stating that unpasteurized cheese cannot be brought into the US.

The US Customs and Border Protection website states that hard and semi-soft cheeses are permitted into the country. However, there are three types of cheese that are prohibited:

• Cheese containing meat
• Cheese in liquid form, such as ricotta or cottage cheese
• Pourable cheese

Raw-milk cheese must be aged for at least 60 days before it can be sold in the US. This is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which requires that imported raw-milk cheese be aged for at least 60 days to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria such as listeria, salmonella, and E. coli.

When bringing food into the US, it is important to declare all items to Customs. Failure to do so can result in civil penalties, including a $10,000 fine.

Frequently asked questions