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Import

Restricted Merchandise


Because CBP officers are stationed at all ports of arrival in the United States, including Puerto Rico, they are called upon to enforce laws and regulations of other government agencies.
A license or permit from the responsible agency may be necessary to import:

  • alcoholic beverages
  • animal and animal products
  • certain drugs
  • firearms and ammunition
  • fruits, nuts
  • meat and meat products
  • milk, dairy, and cheese products
  • plants and plant products
  • poultry and poultry products
  • petroleum and petroleum products
  • vegetables

There are also restrictions on the importation of certain trademarked and copyrighted articles. (For further information see Customs Publication No. 549 U.S. Customs and Protection of Intellectual Property Rights.)
Certain items in these categories may also be prohibited.
The following items must comply with applicable regulations of other agencies:

  • art materials
  • cultural property
  • hazardous/toxic/flammable materials
  • household appliances
  • some electronics products
  • toys and children’s articles

Most of the above items are regulated, variously, by:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
Washington, DC 20226
(202) 927-8110 (alcoholic beverages)
(202) 927-8320 (arms and ammunition)
Animal and Plant Inspection Service
(Animals/animal products)
USDA-APHIS-VS
Hyattsville, MD 20782
(301) 734-7885
Animal and Plant Inspection Service
(Plants/plant products)
USDA-APHIS-PPQ
Hyattsville, MD 20782
(301) 734-8896
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Office of Management Authority
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, VA 22203
(703) 358-2104
Food and Drug Administration
Division of Import Operations and Policy
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
(301) 443-6553
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Compliance
4330 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 504-0608
Today, an increasing number of goods and products such as textiles, clothing, automobiles, boats, radios, CD players, television sets, and medical devices, are subject to special standards, declarations, certification, marking or labeling requirements.
Other merchandise must be examined for fitness of use, freedom from contamination, or may be subject to quotas on the quantity imported.
All these requirements must be met before the merchandise may be released by Customs. Finally, many categories of goods are subject to quota or visa restrictions. Please see our brochure Import Quotas for a complete list.
Foreign Assets Control
U.S. trade sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) generally prohibit the importation into the United States (including U.S. territories), either directly or indirectly, of most goods, technology, or services (except information and informational materials) from, or which originated from Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Serbia, or Sudan; from foreign persons designated by the Secretary of State as having promoted the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; named Foreign Terrorist Organizations; designated terrorists and narcotics traffickers; the Taliban, and areas of Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban. Vessels and aircraft under the registry, ownership, or control of sanctions targets may not import merchandise into the United States. The importation of Cuban cigars or Iranian carpets is subject to certain restrictions. Contact your local Customs office. Diamonds may not be imported from Angola without a certificate of origin or other documentation that demonstrates to Customs authorities that they were legally imported with the approval of the Angola Government of Unity and National Reconciliation.

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