TUCSON, Ariz. – In the days leading to Valentine’s Day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s officers and agriculture specialists will be busy with travelers arriving at Arizona ports of entry. Groceries, plants, medications, liquor, pets and personal purchases made in Mexico need to be declared when returning to the United States.
As Valentine’s Day approaches CBP recommends to individuals bringing flower arrangements from Mexico to be aware of prohibited flowers and floral fillers that are not allowed into the United States from Mexico. Some of the prohibited cut flowers seen in this area are chrysanthemums, mock orange, choysia, cedar, and juniper. If found, agriculture specialists will have to remove the stems from the flower arrangement. Individuals purchasing floral arrangements in Mexico for import to the U.S. should advise their florist so prohibited plant species will not be used in the arrangement.
For other items such as fresh produce, meats, personal purchases, or gifts, the public will need to declare at the time of inspection to expedite travel and avoid receiving a civil penalty or seizure of the item. Items such as plants and soil are prohibited. Penalties for failure to declare or smuggling can be issued if an individual is trying to import a prohibited product.
Prohibited agriculture items are not allowed to enter the U.S. from foreign countries because they are known to harbor harmful pests and disease. Agriculture specialists ensure that plant and animal pests and diseases are detected and stopped from being introduced into the United States where they could cause harm. Agriculture specialists assigned to the Tucson Field Office performing agriculture exams at Arizona ports recorded a total of 43,044 quarantine material interceptions and 6,074 pest interceptions during fiscal year 2017. They also issued 592 violations to passengers and crew members, along with more than 2000 treatments performed.
More travel information can be found at the Know Before You Go webpage or the CBP INFO Center.
Video of CBP floral inspections can be found at the following links:
