CBP AGRICULTURE INSPECTION
Travelers entering the United States must declare agricultural products they are carrying. A prohibited item that was properly declared may often be surrendered at inspection, while an undeclared prohibited agriculture item can be confiscated and can lead to a civil penalty and other CBP consequences.
Current CBP guidance states that travelers entering the United States must declare agricultural items and present them for inspection regardless of whether the traveler believes the product is permitted.
When uncertain, declaration is safer than assuming a food or agriculture item is admissible.
CBP states that declared noncommercial agricultural items that are determined to be prohibited or restricted can generally be abandoned at the port of entry so the traveler can continue the trip.
Undeclared prohibited agricultural products may instead be confiscated and can result in a civil penalty for failure to declare.
Agriculture restrictions are intended to prevent foreign pests and animal diseases from entering the United States. Restrictions can apply to common products such as meats, fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds, soil and animal or plant materials.
Commercial packaging and country-of-origin information can help CBP determine whether an item is admissible, but a packaged food item may still need to be declared.
CBP specifically states that Global Entry members must declare agricultural products. Failure to declare food or agriculture can result in penalties and can also affect Trusted Traveler membership.
See Customs Violations, Global Entry and Future CBP Inspection.
A civil agriculture penalty and an immigration inadmissibility determination are different legal issues. The existence of a customs violation should not automatically be converted into a particular INA §212 ground.
However, false statements, criminal conduct or other facts surrounding the incident can create separate immigration or law-enforcement questions depending on the case.
Yes. CBP states that agriculture products should be declared and presented for inspection regardless of the traveler’s belief about admissibility.
CBP guidance provides that declared prohibited or restricted noncommercial agriculture items can generally be abandoned at the port of entry.
No. The customs or agriculture violation and immigration admissibility are separate analyses, although the facts of the incident can affect later CBP screening or Trusted Traveler eligibility.
These government materials provide the principal CBP customs, agriculture and declaration rules discussed on this page.
The penalty notice, inspection record and Trusted Traveler consequences can show how CBP categorized the incident and whether additional preparation is needed before travel.