EL PASO, Texas – The days before Valentine’s Day are among the busiest for U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s highly trained agriculture specialists. They continue to work hard to make certain that plant diseases and plant pests are detected and stopped from being introduced into the United States where they could cause harm.
At El Paso area ports of entry, the most commonly prohibited flowers and plant materials are chrysanthemums, gladiolas, and choisya (an ornamental filler). These items are not allowed to enter the U.S. from Mexico because they are known to harbor harmful pests and disease.
Individuals purchasing floral arrangements in Mexico for transport to the U.S. should advise their florist so prohibited plant species will not be used in the arrangement.
At international ports of entry, land borders and mail facilities, CBP agriculture specialists are the front line in the fight against the introduction of harmful insects and diseases into the United States.