US customs and Fish Extenders

[V a n e s s a]

We are participating in the FE group on our upcoming cruise and I am wondering whether there are any US customs regulations we should be aware of when bringing large quantities of certain items? Would we be in trouble if we bring in 40 chocolate bars? Are we to declare them? Are there any items we could be in trouble for bringing in large quantities? I don't want to be thought of as taking items to sell/trade in the US and cannot imagine a customs officials at Miami airport understanding the Fish Extender! I was thinking of also giving CDs I would prepare of SA music but would these be considered as illegal copies and violating copyright laws? Has anyone ever experienced any such problems bringing FE items in the US? Thank you in advance for any input!

 

[Elise79]

I haven't done a FE before but do take in what could be considered large quantities of chocolate and tea bags. Last time we had 4kgs of chocolate and about 500 pg tips tea bags

Yes they need to declared as Food on the customs form - it is allowed but just needs to be declared.

All you would need to tell the officer if questioned is they are gifts.

Can't help on the CDs sorry.

 

[lolainkent]

We did the FE back in Feb, bringing about 30 small packets of haribo's, 20 Jaffa Cake tubes, 20 Yorkie bags and 40 hot chocolate single serve packets (along with the kiddie gifts - hair bands, colouring books, etc). Anyway, I think we ticked "yes" to food and when asked we just said it was cookies and chocolates for some friends. I think our FE took up half of one of our suitcases and no problems at all

 

[chmurf]

Would we be in trouble if we bring in 40 chocolate bars?

I don't think so.

Are we to declare them?

yes, but just mention that you have candy bars, no amounts, if you say you have 40, the customs officer might want to have a closer look.

Are there any items we could be in trouble for bringing in large quantities?

Recently I had this discussion with a DCL first timer who talked about taking Kinder Surprise eggs for her fish extender's group, since those were not available in the US
The reason why they're not available in the US is that they are banned and illegal. (CBP boasts it has seized over 60.000 kinder surprise eggs last year, and that a tourist could be fined up to $2,500 per egg ...)

That's silly I know but it's the Law. The example above is just to show that one would never think that it would be illegal to bring that sort of candy in the US, so always double check on the CBP website before you take anything. (as long as it's not perishable like raw meat, fish or fruit, you're good)

I was thinking of also giving CDs I would prepare of SA music but would these be considered as illegal copies and violating copyright laws?

yes.
When you buy a tune (CD, iTune, whatever) you only get a license for your personnal use, and you may copy for your personnal use.
Distributing even for free is illegal.
Customs will not care if you have a couple of self burned CDs in your suitcase. but if it's something like 40 ... that might raise questions. (but of course, that's only if you go through a thorough check, most of the time you'll go through customs without even stopping, but better safe than sorry)

 

[V a n e s s a]

Thanks for all your feedback and input. I guess we will bring the chocolate and declare it; as we are a family of five I will spread them among all the suitcases.

The music CDs will probably not be a good idea as I don't want to risk it!! I'll need to think of something else...

 

[wilma-bride]

Thanks for all your feedback and input. I guess we will bring the chocolate and declare it; as we are a family of five I will spread them among all the suitcases.

The music CDs will probably not be a good idea as I don't want to risk it!! I'll need to think of something else...

Don't know how many people are participating but something which we are doing on our cruise (which you could also use as your FE gift) is a postcard exchange. Get postcards of your local area, print out a favourite recipe (something typically British like Yorkshire Pud) and stick it on the back of the postcards. Simple and cheap

ETA: Just seen that you're from SA - so omit 'British' from my answer above and insert 'South African'

 

[V a n e s s a]

Don't know how many people are participating but something which we are doing on our cruise (which you could also use as your FE gift) is a postcard exchange. Get postcards of your local area, print out a favourite recipe (something typically British like Yorkshire Pud) and stick it on the back of the postcards. Simple and cheap ETA: Just seen that you're from SA - so omit 'British' from my answer above and insert 'South African'

A local postcard with a typical SA recipe is a very good idea! I have been trying to think of something typically South African such as small African artifacts; but passing customs with some 20 artifacts worry me - I have been watching too many reality shows on airports and customs officials in Australia and Miami with people getting in trouble for having an apple in their bags!

So far the only "safe" thing I have come up with are Cadbury Topdeck chocolates which I understand are not very common outside SA.

Thanks for the idea!