U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Can I bring fruits, vegetables, plants or seeds into the U.S. from abroad?

Fruits and Vegetables:

Travelers can check the general admissibility of fruits and vegetables by consulting APHIS' Fruits and Vegetables Import Requirements (FAVIR) database at www.aphis.usda.gov. Select the type of fruit or vegetable in the "Approved Name:" field, then select the country of origin in the "Country/Region:" field.

You will receive one of the following results:

·      0 entries found means the fruit or vegetable is NOT allowed into the United States.

·      # entry(ies) found (followed by the name of the commodity and the name of the country). Click on "CIR".

·    If  the import requirements indicate: 1 Subject to Inspection: This commodity is subject to inspection at the port of entry and all general requirements of 7 CFR 319.56-3. The fruit or vegetable is allowed into the United States pending inspection.

·   If the import requirements indicate: Condition of entry treatment: The fruit or vegetable is NOT allowed into the United States in passenger baggage.

Note: Every fruit or vegetable must be declared to a CBP Agriculture Specialist or CBP Officer and must be presented for inspection - regardless of its admissibility status.

Propagative Plant Material (Plants/Plant Parts for Planting)

Many plants may enter the United States from foreign countries, provided they meet certain entry requirements. Entry requirements may vary by plant, but the following requirements universally apply:

· If you bring back 12 or fewer articles of admissible plants that have no special restrictions, you do not need a permit. Special restrictions may include requirements such as a permit, post-entry quarantine, treatment, or ESA or CITES documentation.

· Plants must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin showing that the plants meet entry requirements for the United States. 

· Plants should be bare rooted (no growing media attached to the roots).

· You should perform a basic visual inspection of plants. Look for insects or sickly looking plant parts.

· Wrap plants in damp newspaper or similar material to prevent them from drying out. Roots may be secured in a plastic bag.

Twelve or fewer plants are inspected by CBP at the first port of entry. Thirteen or more plants will be inspected by APHIS personnel at the nearest Plant Inspection Station. If the officer finds plant pests that could cause harm to other plants, or if the plants do not meet entry requirements, they will be refused entry. This means you must forfeit the plants, which will either be destroyed or returned to the country of origin.

Travelers are advised to consult with their nearest APHIS PPQ Plant Inspection Station to determine the admissibility of propagative plant material (including live plants, bulbs, corms, cuttings, root crowns, seeds, etc.).          

You can learn more about admissibility and entry requirements for certain plants by calling Permit Services at (301) 851-2046 or toll-free at (877) 770-5990 or by email at Permits@aphis.usda.gov.

List of Plant Inspection Station Addresses and Contact Information:

ARIZONA

USDA, APHIS, PPQ
Plant Inspection Station
200 N. Mariposa Rd. B-500
Nogales, AZ 85621
Phone (520) 285-5400 - Fax (520) 287-2117

CALIFORNIA

USDA, APHIS, PPQ
Plant Inspection Station
222 Kansas Street
El Segundo, CA 90245
Phone (310) 955-3258 - Fax (310) 321-0035

USDA, APHIS, PPQ
Plant Inspection Station
389 Oyster Point Blvd., Suite 2
South San Francisco, CA 94080
Phone (650) 876-9093 - Fax (650) 876-9008

USDA, APHIS, PPQ
Plant Inspection Station
9777 Via de la Amistad, Room 140
San Diego, CA 92154
Phone (619) 661-3316 - Fax (619) 661-3047

FLORIDA

USDA, APHIS, PPQ
Plant Inspection Station
6302 NW 36 Street
Miami, Florida 33122
Phone (305) 492-1800 - Fax (305) 492-1796

USDA, APHIS, PPQ
Plant Inspection Station
3951 Centerport St.
Orlando, FL 32827
Phone (407) 825-4222 - Fax (407) 648-6859

GEORGIA

USDA, APHIS, PPQ
Plant Inspection Station
1220 Toffie Terrace
Atlanta, GA 30354
Phone (404) 260-7830 - Fax: (404) 260-7744

GUAM

USDA, APHIS, PPQ
Plant Inspection Station
17-3306 Neptune Avenue
Tiyan, Barrigada, GU 96913
Phone (671) 475-0854 - Fax (671) 475-0853

HAWAII

USDA, APHIS, PPQ
Honolulu Inspection Station
Honolulu International Airport
300 Rodgers Blvd., #58
Honolulu, HI 96819-1897
Phone (808) 834-3240 - Fax (808) 861-8500
Email: Honolulu.PIS@aphis.usda.gov

MARYLAND

USDA, APHIS. PPQ
National Plant Germplasm Inspection Station
Building 580, BARC-East
Beltsville, MD 20705
Phone: (301) 313-9327 - Fax: (301) 313-9232
(For noncommercial research materials imported under a 588 Departmental permit or Controlled Import Permit.)

NEW JERSEY

USDA, APHIS, PPQ
Linden Plant Inspection Station
1500 Lower Road
Linden, NJ 07036
Phone (908) 986-9200 - Fax (908) 862-2095

NEW YORK

USDA, APHIS, PPQ
Plant Inspection Station
230-59 International Airport Centers Boulevard
Building C-Suite 100-Room 109
Jamaica, New York 11413
Phone (718) 553-3500 - Fax (718) 553-3510

PUERTO RICO

USDA APHIS PPQ
Plant Inspection Station
150 Central Sector
Building C-2, Warehouse 3
Carolina, PR. 00979
Phone (787) 253-7850 - Fax (787) 253-4514

TEXAS

USDA, APHIS, PPQ
Plant Inspection Station
P.O. Drawer Box 399
100 Los Indios Boulevard
Los Indios, TX 78567
Phone (956) 399-2085 - Fax (956) 399-4001

USDA, APHIS, PPQ
Plant Inspection Station
19581 Lee Road
Humble, TX 77338
Phone (281) 982-9540 - Fax (281) 982-9550

WASHINGTON

USDA, APHIS, PPQ
Plant Inspection Station
835 South 192nd Street, Suite 1600
SeaTac, WA 98148-2394
Phone (206) 878-6600 - Fax (206) 870-8043

USDA, APHIS, PPQ

National Plant Germplasm Inspection Station

Building 580, BARC-East

Beltsville, MD 20705

Phone (301) 504-8141 Ext. 1

Fax (301) 504-8539

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