CBP Reminds Travelers and Importers that New USDA Regulations Regarding importation of Cooked Pork Rinds goes into Effect this Week
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Jan 14, 2010, 0 Comments
Courtesy Richard Pauza,
LAREDO , Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers will begin enforcing new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requirements regarding the importation of cooked pork skins or chicharrones on January 14. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will require that cooked pork skins entering as personal importations or commercial cargo from countries/regions affected with certain exotic animal diseases be accompanied by an original certificate issued by an official of the National Government of the country/region of origin.
This new certification requirement will impact personal importations of cooked pork skins; including personal importations by passengers and pedestrians from Mexico . Currently, CBP officers are required to ensure that the pork skins are thoroughly cooked; the pork skins or rinds must be crisp and should crumble easily when bent.
“Since all of the Mexico states that border the Laredo Field Office area of operation, Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon and Coahuila, are impacted by this certification requirement, we want to take this opportunity to advise the traveling public and importers that an official certificate is now required for personal and commercial importation of chicharrones,” said Leticia Moran, Director of Field Operations, Laredo Field Office.
With the new requirement, cooked pork skins importations originating from Mexican states other than the states of Chihuahua , Baja California , Baja California Sur , Campeche , Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa , Sonora , or Yucatan must be accompanied by an official certificate fulfilling one of two following requirements.
The pork skins were cooked in oil for at least 80 minutes when oil temperature is consistently maintained at a minimum of 114 degrees Celsius or that the pork skins were dry-cooked at a minimum of 260 degrees Celsius for approximately 210 minutes after which the pork skins were cooked in hot oil (deep-fried) at a minimum of 104 degrees Celsius for an additional 150 minutes. Importations presented without the required certification will be seized or refused entry.
As a reminder, travelers are encouraged to declare all food items to CBP officials. Failure to declare prohibited agricultural items can result in civil penalties. Penalties for personal importations of undeclared, prohibited agricultural items, depending on the severity of the violation, can run as high as $1,000; and up to more than $250,000 for commercial importations.
CBP Field Operations is responsible for securing our borders at the ports of entry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers’ primary mission is anti-terrorism; they screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States , while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the United States . Their mission also includes carrying out traditional border-related responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration law, protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases, and enforcing trade laws.
