Some sources to check before trying to bring back food items

Tag : Canned Vs Fresh Vegetables

If you know you'd like to bring food items back from your foreignholiday, some advance research may improve your chances of gettingit into the U.S. The following Web sites and offices may providesome guidance.
 
This list of FAQs begins with "What food can I bring into the U.S.(fruit, cheese, meat, etc.)?" Be sure to check out the links at thebottom of each entry, which provide more specific information.
 
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Q56 Fresh Fruits and VegetablesReference.This site breaks down permissible food items according to country,product and other criteria. The site is difficult to navigate, butthe agency hopes to launch a more user-friendly site sometime thisyear.

This is the guide the government uses to determine whether youranimal product is permitted.

Getting special permission
Animal products: Some items will require an import permit. Thedocument costs $91 and can take up to three weeks to receive. Also,unless you have the foreign government's certification information,the permit is not likely to be granted.
 
Fruit, vegetable and plant products: May require something called a"phytosanitary certificate." Also a difficult process.