Animal Products and Animal By-Products

Meat, milk, egg, poultry, and products such as dried soup mix or bouillon, are either prohibited or restricted from entering the United States, depending on the types of animal diseases that occur in the country of origin.  Fresh (chilled or frozen), dried, cured, and fully cooked meat is generally prohibited from most countries.  Canned meat is allowed entry, except beef, veal, lamb, mutton, venison, elk, bison, etc., from countries affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Products containing raw egg ingredients are not allowed from most regions.

Pork and pork products are not allowed from Mexico, except for cooked pork in small amounts for a meal.

Effective January 14, 2010, cooked pork skins (also known as pork rinds) entering as commercial cargo or in passenger baggage from some countries must be accompanied by additional documents.  For more details, contact USDA's National Center for Import and Export at (301) 734-3277, or email AskNCIE.Products@aphis.usda.gov

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Last Modified: September 20, 2011