Moving food over country borders, is it legal?

[partyvi]

I am planning to go abroad on the boat first time.


A lot of countries have restrictions what kind of food you may and may not have when crossing border. At least it is pretty hard enforced on the ground.


Are these rules applied to cruising boats? Is there some exclusion?

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by partyvi

I am planning to go abroad on the boat first time.


A lot of countries have restrictions what kind of food you may and may not have when crossing border. At least it is pretty hard enforced on the ground.


Are these rules applied to cruising boats? Is there some exclusion?

Often they are.


If you add info as to where you intend to sail and where from you can get much more precise info.

[boatman61]

The only country I have visited that had restrictions on food was Australia, they confiscated pretty much everything.
S Pacific Islands none, Caribe none, UK and Europe none, Tunisia and Morocco none.

[JPA Cate]

Our experience in the South Pacific was that almost everything fresh was confiscated: meat, if any; butter, fresh vegetables, dairy products and eggs. Each country has its own regulations (including advance warning of arrival), and each holds you responsible for informing yourself. Fortunately, one can do this via on board e-mail. Our experience also has been that if we are friendly and cooperative with them, they are friendly and easy to deal with to us. They have rules (quarantine or agriculture) that they have to enforce, to protect their own sources. So there are no exclusions for a particular sailboat. We have had canned meats confiscated, also, it depends on where you got it from. And we have had honey confiscated, also. Make it easy for them, get out all the stuff they want before you arrive. And eat down all the fresh stores. It's hard to see good food go away, to be destroyed, but it is the way it is, so be emotionally prepared.

On Edit:

We always carried canned goods for 1/2 again the days at sea than we thought he trip would last, as a safety margin. It took me years what to do with it, but what I like best is offering it to a church or a food pantry, because we really prefer freshies. And who wants to eat canned food when fresh is available? Ymmv.

Ann

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Our experience in the South Pacific was that almost everything fresh was confiscated: meat, if any; butter, fresh vegetables, dairy products and eggs. Each country has its own regulations ...

... On Edit:

We always carried canned goods for 1/2 again the days at sea than we thought he trip would last, as a safety margin. It took me years what to do with it, but what I like best is offering it to a church or a food pantry, because we really prefer freshies. And who wants to eat canned food when fresh is available? Ymmv.

Ann

We also cleaned out our pantry [yearly], donating non-perishable [shelf stable] foodstuff [that hasn’t reached its “best before”, or “sell-by” date ], to a local food bank.
Additionally, some food banks accept [unopened] personal care, and household items.

[PippaB]

Originally Posted by partyvi

Are these rules applied to cruising boats? Is there some exclusion?

There is no exclusion. There are some rules about "Ship's Stores" that may or may not apply (and may require that you keep them under lock and key, bonded, while visiting) and there are places where you may be treated with some leniency. It is a fine line between bringing in more than might otherwise be allowed because you are on a boat, and smuggling.

Personally, we have had food confiscated in the US, Hawaii (I list that separately because the rules for Hawaii are different than for the other 49), Canada. In the Cook Islands we had not only food collected, but handicrafts woven of palm fronds in the Tuamotus (and in plain sight, I'm sure they would not have asked nor we have even thought to mention them if they were in some cupboard). Australia. South Africa. Can't recall any place we had food taken in the Atlantic/Caribbean, but doesn't mean it didn't happen - so accepted that we don't consider it unusual.

And it's not just food, look at the rules in NZ and other places that require that you document that your boat's bottom is clean and anti-fouled and that you are not importing any hitchhikers underwater. And Australia where wooden portions of your boat are subject to inspection and (costly) fumigation to prevent transfer of wood-destroying insects.

It has not been Slocum's cruising for a long time (but then again, neither are the boats).

[barnakiel]

There are import limits mostly anywhere.


I found authorities extremely lenient with these. I have moved big supplies (say 6 months' value of pasta) between very very bureaucratic countries (e.g. NZ and AUS) and they did not punish me. They looked at me as a kind of a freak, I guess.


On another occasion a Customs officer looked at my collection of French Caribbean rhum bottles and asked me "and what is that?". I explained, humbly : "one is for my friend Pablo, one for Jose, one for my ex-girlfriend Paloma, and the remaining 6 are for me, because I only go there once every 3 years". I also assured the officer the rhum was of the highest quality and NOT for sale. She smiled and told me my ex-girlfriend was a lucky person.



And yet. I know one skipper who went ahead and offended French Customs by requesting a clearance late on a Sunday. They came, they found his stock of cigarettes ... BIG fee. BIG BIG fee. Cigarettes confiscated too.


So. tldr yes there are rules and yes you mostly get NOT caught unless you really really want to get caught.


barnakiel

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by partyvi

I am planning to go abroad on the boat first time.


A lot of countries have restrictions what kind of food you may and may not have when crossing border. At least it is pretty hard enforced on the ground.


Are these rules applied to cruising boats? Is there some exclusion?

Where? It’s entirely dependent on the country

[boatman61]

Marqueasas, never asked about stores..
Samoa, as above..
Vanuatu, as above..
Panama, never asked..
Grenada all the way to BVI's, as above..
Azores, never asked..
Darwin.. stripped the boat..

[DEAN2140]

My only experience was entering Radio Bay in Hawaii from Tahiti in 1989. Two officials in hazard suits visited us and confiscated everything that was fresh. Otherwise, no problem.

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by GordMay

We also cleaned out our pantry [yearly], donating non-perishable [shelf stable] foodstuff [that hasn’t reached its “best before”, or “sell-by” date ], to a local food bank.
Additionally, some food banks accept [unopened] personal care, and household items.

I am getting of the age, that I am beyond my "best used by date."

[Montanan]

Every country and often specific States or Provinces have restrictions of importing fresh fruits and vegetables. Some have restrictions on meats and diary.
There are restrictions on other plant based products, such as lumber and some kinds of packaging and as to animals.


Just review the published regulations of each place before one approaches the border.

By way of example linked below is to the list of restrictions for fruits and vegetables for entry to California.

Heck, we even have quarantine zones between counties of Montana.

https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/factsh...gies_to_CA.pdf

[Montanan]

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol
Frontline Defense Against Agriculture Threats

https://www.cbp.gov/frontline/cbps-frontline-defense-against-agriculture-threats

[Jim Cate]

Add New Caledonia to the list of countries that will usually confiscate fresh foods.

Jim

[paul2884]

Originally Posted by boatman61

The only country I have visited that had restrictions on food was Australia, they confiscated pretty much everything.
S Pacific Islands none, Caribe none, UK and Europe none, Tunisia and Morocco none.

The UK has restrictions on meat and dairy, another foot and mouth outbreak in Europe so new restrictions