Anybody buy ingredients overseas and carry back to the US?

[azlane]

I'm curious if this is possible, or if Customs would freak out if you brought malt/hops back into the US?

 

[borden]

I assume it'd be a pain, but who knows. You might start by digging through this page: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/clearing/agri_prod_inus.xml

 

[nakeddog]

Ok you'll get a bunch of official answers, but in reality I do it all the time without any issues. I travel internationally on a weekly basis for work and I am always bringing back different items with me such as you mentioned. Cheeses, meats, flower bulbs etc. As long as you are smart about what you are traveling with and pack it well in your checked luggage you will be fine. On the very off chance customs checks your bag, and on the even lesser chance they are unhappy with what you brought, it will just be taken away from you. No fines or jail time.

 

[borden]

Ok you'll get a bunch of official answers, but in reality I do it all the time without any issues. I travel internationally on a weekly basis for work and I am always bringing back different items with me such as you mentioned. Cheeses, meats, flower bulbs etc. As long as you are smart about what you are traveling with and pack it well in your checked luggage you will be fine. On the very off chance customs checks your bag, and on the even lesser chance they are unhappy with what you brought, it will just be taken away from you. No fines or jail time.

Yeah, having traveled internationally quite a bit, this is probably a fair assessment. I've never even had a bag checked returning to the US. So +1 to this post.

 

[azlane]

Thanks everyone. I am assuming how it is packaged may help too. If you have vacuum packed grains that are labeled, I am thinking it may be better.

 

[drathbone]

If it's clearly labeled, not an unauthorized amount of liquid and isn't on the list of certain flora/fauna that are a danger to the ecosystem of the U.S. you should have no problems. Like stated above, worst thing they'll do is confiscate it.

 

[cmmcdonn]

Just make sure its all sealed airtight. I watched one of those customs dogs sniff out a few apples that were purchased overseas and were ziplocked in their checked bag.

 

[HexKrak]

According to customs official sources:

Depending on the country of origin, some fruits, vegetables, and plants may be brought into the United States without advance permission, provided they are declared, inspected, and found free of pests. However, certain plants and ANY plant parts intended for growing (propagative) require a phytosanitary certificate in advance. For information on certificates, contact the USDA/APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine Permit Unit. Also, check the Information Resources section at the end of this notice for details.

 

[Edcculus]

Just out of curiosity, what are you wanting to bring back (and from where) that you can't get on the internet? Most internet shops carry all kinds of foreign malts (Simpson, Crisp, Weyermann etc) as well as German, English, French, Checz, Argentenian and Austrailian hops.

 

[ganu]

Ok you'll get a bunch of official answers, but in reality I do it all the time without any issues. I travel internationally on a weekly basis for work and I am always bringing back different items with me such as you mentioned. Cheeses, meats, flower bulbs etc. As long as you are smart about what you are traveling with and pack it well in your checked luggage you will be fine. On the very off chance customs checks your bag, and on the even lesser chance they are unhappy with what you brought, it will just be taken away from you. No fines or jail time.

I agree a lot with this post above. Do know that IF you can get something that is commercially sealed, then Customs should let it through without any problems. In MY experience (and someone may have experienced different outcomes), U.S. Customs has always let me through with dried fruit, sealed cheese, sandwiches, and the like when they were sealed. (Zip locks baggies don't count.) I HAVE had my bags randomly searched more than once (we are usually a semi small group of military personnel, so searches happen more readily), and these items were always allowed through.

Just my $0.02. Like the man said above, just be smart about it.

P.S. Thank goodness they didn't find my Cohibas that one time!!! (Am I joking there? Who knows?!?!?)