I suspect but don't know for sure that there are some differences for food imports brought in "hand-carried" and intended only for your own consumption.
ANY food shipped into the USA is subject to the FDA-Prior Notice system
http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplia ... efault.htmIt's kind of complex in the requirements although once you know the system and if you are doing it for bulk/commercial shipments it's not so bad.
On the page indicated above you can find a 24hr help line where you may be able to get a proper answer.
The Prior Notice system is just paperwork, it has nothing to do with the standard food restrictions such as most meat & dairy products and virtually all citrus.
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Ok I found a page that seems clear (as mud). The first paragraph refers to "commercial use" and included hand-carried, the second refers to personal use but makes no mention of hand-carried.
Personally I would call either CBP of the FDA and probably both. I did have to wade through the Prior Notice system once a few years ago, it was a bit of a nightmare but I did get very good help on the phone.
Like most of this crazy regulation bureaucracy the actual accuracy of the documentation was totally irrelevant, as long as the forms were filed, and the provided authorization numbers were included with the documentation then it all just sails through.
Quote:
Prior Notice for Food Importation
The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (Bioterrorism Act or BTA), Public Law 107-188, established the requirement that food items, imported (or offered for import) for commercial use, including hand-carried quantities, be properly reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration prior to arrival of those items in the United States. The FDA prior notification timeframes (by transport mode) are two hours by land, four hours by rail or air, eight hours by vessel and prior to the “time of mailing” for international mail.
Food that was made by an individual in his/her personal residence, or food purchased by an individual from a vendor that is sent by that individual as a personal gift (for non-business reasons) to someone in the United States is not subject to Bioterrorism Act requirements. However, food that is sent to an individual in the United States by a business is subject to special requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For instance, if you go to a food shop in England and buy a gift basket, then take it to the post office or a courier service to send to a friend, the shipment is not subject to BTA requirements. But if you go to that same shop and ask them to send the gift basket for you, the shipment is subject to BTA requirements, and the vendor will have to file Prior Notice. Many travelers are finding that vendors will not ship food directly to U.S. residents because the reporting requirements can be time-consuming to complete.
In general, failure to provide complete, timely and accurate prior notice for Bioterrorism Act regulated items, can result in refusal of admission of the merchandise, movement of the goods to an FDA registered facility (at importer expense) and/or civil monetary penalty liabilities for any party that was involved in the import transaction.
For full details regarding the latest FDA requirements, including those food items exempt from these requirements, access the FDA's Counterterrorism-Related Legislation page. ( Counterterrorism-Related Legislation )
Don't forget to use a payphone or throwaway cell phone otherwise you WILL be targeted at the border
