Bringing food to USA for personal consumption

[FatCow]

NOTE: This question have been asked in "Canadian Visitors" area, but I'm hoping someone else here can clarify the question below. Moderators, if the double-post is not considered warranted, just delete this thread. Thank you.

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We're planning (and have packed) our food for breakfasts, snacks, and partial dinners at WDW Florida. I know that ALL of our food are compliant to the rules and regulation.

HOWEVER, now that there is this new rule in the US (something like you can't bring in Canadian Maple Syrup if the company doesn't already sell and registered that particular brand and type of food to the FDA).

Now I'm concerned that NONE of the food will be compliant.

I'll be bringing instant noodles, Lipton Cup-a-Soup, throat lozenges and snacks I bought from Australia, vitamins I bought from Costco (that I know are not being sold in the US under the same brand-name).

Also I'm not bringing in small quantities. I'm talking about close to 40 packages of noodles of different flavours and brands (these are for 3 people's meals for 7 days).

Anybody have any clue whether this will pose a problem? Or does the new regulation only affects food not for personal consumption?

I will not, however, sneaking food in the US out of respect of their law.

However, I'd like to know the actual regulation for this. Does this change in regulation (as per mid-Dec 2003) also affects bringing food for personal consumption?

It will make a US$250 difference in my pocket if I can't bring my own food from Canada.

again, none of the food is meat/dairy/fruit product. They are all classify under instant noodles, candy, biscuits and vitamins.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You might check to see if there is a US Consulate in Toronto. Call them (or the Embassy in Ottawa) and they should be able to point you in the ciorrect direction.

I would also suggest www.firstgov.com which is the US Government general use portal. In the past I would have suggested US Customs (which is part of the Treasury Department) or APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) (which is part of the Department of Agriculture). However, I think both are now under the Department of Homeland Security. That might help.

Another concept would be to takea drive over to Niagara (or call) and talk directly to the Customs/APHIS people there.

 

[shoppie]

I guess the big question is:

driving?
flying out of TO?
flying out of the US?

If you are flying - call your airline.

If you are driving/ flying out of US - call US Customs. - half the time the customs agents don't care unless you have plants/ veggies/ beef/ embargoed goods - ie - Cuban cigars.

We cross the border all the time an have a harder time getting into Canada than the US.

Another option is to mail/ UPS the items to your hotel.

Good luck!!!

 

[FatCow]

I'll be flying from TO direct to FL.

I already have the print-out of the exemption of the new regulation on hand just in case anybody at the airport is trying to say otherwise. The exemption printout is directly from FDA's website.

 

[Bojangles]

Just curious, why can't you stop at a grocery store on the way to your hotel and buy breakfast things and snacks? Ramen noodles are quite cheap here. I wouldn't go throught the trouble of hauling them from Canada.

As for mailing food, you can't do that internationally.

 

[FatCow]

Can't remember whether it's here or somewhere else I posted my reasoning.

Basically, noodles I bought in Canada are 'authentic' instant noodles from HongKong, Japan, and Indonesia. Their flavours are strong and distinct (such as curry that actually taste like curry, beef-broth that actually taste like beef, etc). They are relatively cheap too (only about US 50 cents each).

As far as difficulty in terms of lugging. Well, we are going to bring the luggages anyway, so we might as well fill them with something.

Of course, in the worst case scenario, I'll leave them in Canada and buy the more 'generic' (read: not authentic by any stretch of imagination) instant noodles.

BTW, with a great help of a DIS member, I've printed out the FAQ from FDA website regarding bringing food to the USA. It states that for personal consumption, the Bioterrorism Act does not apply.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by FatCow

Basically, noodles I bought in Canada are 'authentic' instant noodles from HongKong, Japan, and Indonesia.

If your noodles have been imported into Canada from Asia, rather than manufactured in Canada, there may be restrictions. Good luck though.

 

[FatCow]

According to the FDA website, any food of any origin, as long as they are pre-processed and not containing meat and/or fresh fruit/vegetables, are okay.

Are there any exceptions from the prior notice requirements?

Yes. Prior notice is not required for:

Food for an individual's personal use (i.e., for consumption by the individual, family, or friends, and not for sale or other distribution) when it is carried by or otherwise accompanies the individual when arriving in the United States;
Food that was made by an individual in his/her personal residence and sent by that individual as a personal gift (i.e., for non-business reasons) to an individual in the United States;
Food that is imported then exported without leaving the port of arrival until export; and
Meat food products, poultry products, and egg products that are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) at the time of importation. (21 CFR 1.277(b)).

as an addition, also from FDA FAQ:

Personal Baggage:

I am bringing food from a foreign country in my luggage and for my personal use. Do I need to submit prior notice to FDA?
No. Prior notice is not required for food that is carried by or otherwise accompanies an individual entering the United States (e.g., is in his or her carry-on or checked baggage) when the food is for that individual's personal use (21 CFR 1.277(b)(1)). Personal use means that the food is for consumption by the individual or by the individual's family and friends and is not for sale or other distribution.

Hope this helps other DIS members with a similar question.