Spices to United States

firsttime

Traveling throughout India during February 2008. Not sure of Indian or US Customs' regulations regarding whole or fresh spices. Will I be able to either leave India with cooking spices and of couse, enter the United States with them? Thanks for any guidance.

the opoponax

I'm pretty sure non-perishable things like spices, oils, etc. are OK to bring into the US. I'd check out some government websites (immigration? customs?) to make sure, though.

And of course I'd imagine that only small quantities are allowed.

Darmabum

You "will", most likely, be able to leave India with spices. In my five return flights from India my baggage has never been checked. Now, and this is your question, "can" you . . . afraid I can't help, only offer my own experiences. I have come back with spices, many times, mostly in small quantities (film cannister size, for those who remember when there were film cannisters), though once with a kilo bag of really nice, freshly ground, chai masala from a market in Jodhpur. What ramifications there are for bringing them in and being caught, I don't know. Should you err on the side of caution (not the side I err on), as the opoponax suggested, check out Uncle Sam's Do's and Don't's . . .

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ashokm

Don't even think about leaving India with with sandalwood (without proper documentation), ivory, narcotics etc could get you into a lot of trouble. Spices and other commodities are totally fine and I have been coming out of India at least one a year with all sort of spices and mom's special dishes etc.

I am not sure about the US Customs, but I heard Oz is a bit tight on what you can bring in. UK on the other hand does mention that you should declare if you have dairy etc (meat products I think, not sure) with you when coming into the country.

the opoponax

You can't bring sandalwood out of India in any quantity?

Weird.

I have quite a few little knicknacks around the house that are made of sandalwood and were either exported from India or brought back as souvenirs. Are they fake sandalwood?

Darmabum

Some "sandalwood" is just wood rubbed with sandal oil. "Quantity" is a relative term. "A few little knicknacks" are probably OK, unless you get some heavy-handed-overly-officious-got-up-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-bed-Customs Agent (who knows his woods).

ashokm

Recently (not sure how recent, I didn't know about it until last month, but may be 2006) Government of India introduced to controls and restrictions on sandalwood trade. Since the new rule, afaik, you are supposed to have proper documentation (proof of purchase) to prove that you have not acquired it illegally or from unauthorized sources etc. I am sure its probably not a big deal for small show items done in sandalwood..!

May be someone here knows more about this..?

the opoponax

Ah, OK. All my "sandalwood" is quite possibly fake, and definitely came into the country before 2006 changes to the law would have gone into effect.

Nick-H

As far as I know, the restriction on sandalwood concerns raw, unworked sandalwood, not carved items.

If you are charged a large amount of money for a piece by a reputable shop, it will almost certainly be real. I have often picked up pieces and asked if they were sandal and been told no; the guys could easily have taken advantage of me!

The Sandalwood tree shares the same kind of peril as the elephant. Its wood is ridiculously, absurdly valuable, and it is poached, dealt on the black market and smuggled. I believe this is how the famous bandit Veerapan made his money.

A couple of years ago a Sandal tree was cut down and removed from Guindy Park in Chennai in the night!

I think you may be allowed a small quantity of sticks, maybe about half kilo.

Certainly no probs taking spices out. Remember that many Indian households would only use shop-bought chilly powder as a last resort. I once took four kilos back to UK for a friend!

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the opoponax

If it's not "shop bought", then where does it come from? The family spice bushes back home?

Or you mean "shop bought" as in "bought in a typical English supermarket with the usual crap selection"?

pmvelu

Hi,

I had been to California (Mountainview) for a year around 1999 with Lots of indian spices with NO issues and My port of entry is Chicago . BUT not sure 9/11 did any changes to this .

Regards
Velu

the opoponax

If 9/11 changed anything, it's really just that it upped the likelihood that the contents of your bag will be discovered. Virtually all luggage coming through the US via commercial flight is at least x-rayed, if not hand searched (outside your presence).

That said, some friends brought me pasta and olive oil from Italy last year. And I doubt they had to go to any subterfuge to do it.

Alohaguy

Depends on the port of entry. In Honolulu, you can bring any spices that are ground but not in seed form. For example, they will take away your Cumin seeds and Coriander seeds. The State of Hawaii is careful about allowing any species of plants or seeds that might do damage to native plants. So, they just don't allow any spices in seeds form unless they have been certified and inspected according to their procedures. In general bringing spices is no problem at all.

pmvelu

And I am working in IT & I see / hear people travel to USA with indian Spices in both H1B and also in L1B ofcourse for their own use.

I mean to say , Indian spices might not be an issue.

Regards
Velu

Khandoma

Hi Friends,

Ahem... Sorry to be a spoilsport, but spices, just like tea and other dry foods, are completely forbidden by US Customs regulations.

And this is not 9/11.

It is written on the Immigration form you fill when you enter the territory. It is a hygiene rule, aimed at barring entrance to nasty viruses.

I was living in Florida in the year 1987 - 1988. Back home for Christmas, I stock up on good Chinese tea, as the only tea you could find in my neck o'the woods was instant . 400 gr of top-grade Oolong go into my suitcase. Also brought real cinnamon, good white pepper, basic spices.

At customs, I was searched - no luck. Tea and spices were found. Seized. Most likely destroyed. And I had a hell of a time arguing myself out of a heavy fine.

So, as other posters argued, if you're not caught, you'll be fine. If you're caught, you'll be... fined, and considering how the times have changed and depending on your nationality, you could well be refused entry, as well. If you're a US citizen you'll probably get a good scolding.

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