US on guard against chocolate eggs
#76
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
I feel so much safer.
I used to play with these types of eggs when I was a kid. They were our reward for behaving during social events.
I used to play with these types of eggs when I was a kid. They were our reward for behaving during social events.
#78
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: BA blue, LH Senator, KQ (FB) gold
Posts: 8,215
I am of two minds on this one.
1) This regulation has been around for a long time and has been enforced for a long time. This shouldn't be a story. Also, the regulation which CBP is enforcing isn't theirs, it comes from elsewhere in the government.
2) The regulation is overprotective. Neither Europe nor Canada have a problem with these eggs. Why should we?
1) This regulation has been around for a long time and has been enforced for a long time. This shouldn't be a story. Also, the regulation which CBP is enforcing isn't theirs, it comes from elsewhere in the government.
2) The regulation is overprotective. Neither Europe nor Canada have a problem with these eggs. Why should we?
#79
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
The ironic thing is, you can go into ethnic grocery stores near where I live (and I expect in Seattle, too) and buy either Kinder eggs or cheaper knock-offs. So no real need to "smuggle" them.
#80
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
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The rule is absurd. It means CBP is spending too much time looking for eggs when they could be opening up more entry lines or looking for real contraban.
As noted, Europeans and Canadians are not dropping dead from them. By CBPs logic, coins, legos, buttons and basically anything else smaller than a half dollar should be banned since children could choke (and I say this with two small kids, I know parents must by vigilant)
#81
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: DTW
Programs: Dirt Status w/ All
Posts: 5,040
A kinder egg or bottle of Canadian Club is just an excuse to rummage through your car and run your passport against criminal databases.
#82
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PDX
Posts: 908
I think people here are too quick to blame CBP for a rule that was enacted by the legislature and has existed for a very long time. As for searching a car, they do not need any specific reason, especially Kinder surprise - they can do without any excuse.
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
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#84
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
Can someone cite the actual statute or regulation being enforced here?
All I can find about food with inedible, non-functional ingredients refers to sale in the United States and wouldn't apply to personal-use imports. In a similar fashion, you're allowed to import booze without the Surgeon General's warning and food without English labelling but it'd be illegal to sell it.
I understand it's not CBP's rule, but it *is* CBP's choice to start enforcing it now. I saw thousands and thousands of Kinder eggs when I worked for CBP and knew full well that their sale was banned in the US, but we took no action against personal-use imports in baggage.
All I can find about food with inedible, non-functional ingredients refers to sale in the United States and wouldn't apply to personal-use imports. In a similar fashion, you're allowed to import booze without the Surgeon General's warning and food without English labelling but it'd be illegal to sell it.
I understand it's not CBP's rule, but it *is* CBP's choice to start enforcing it now. I saw thousands and thousands of Kinder eggs when I worked for CBP and knew full well that their sale was banned in the US, but we took no action against personal-use imports in baggage.
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
Can someone cite the actual statute or regulation being enforced here?
All I can find about food with inedible, non-functional ingredients refers to sale in the United States and wouldn't apply to personal-use imports. In a similar fashion, you're allowed to import booze without the Surgeon General's warning and food without English labelling but it'd be illegal to sell it.
I understand it's not CBP's rule, but it *is* CBP's choice to start enforcing it now. I saw thousands and thousands of Kinder eggs when I worked for CBP and knew full well that their sale was banned in the US, but we took no action against personal-use imports in baggage.
All I can find about food with inedible, non-functional ingredients refers to sale in the United States and wouldn't apply to personal-use imports. In a similar fashion, you're allowed to import booze without the Surgeon General's warning and food without English labelling but it'd be illegal to sell it.
I understand it's not CBP's rule, but it *is* CBP's choice to start enforcing it now. I saw thousands and thousands of Kinder eggs when I worked for CBP and knew full well that their sale was banned in the US, but we took no action against personal-use imports in baggage.
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia...alert_107.html
*** Import Alert 34-02 was created as the Agency was made aware of a product called "Kinder Surprise Eggs", and similar articles containing imbedded, non-nutritive objects, being offered for sale in the United States. The imbedded non-nutritive objects in these confectionary products may pose a public health risk as the consumer may unknowingly choke on the object. ***
#86
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salish Sea
Programs: DL,AC,HH,PC
Posts: 8,974
The imbedded non-nutritive objects in these confectionary products may pose a public health risk as the consumer may unknowingly choke on the object.
Is there a 'detention center' per se at the border ? I've been selected for secondary several times and because of the general fustercluck it can take up to 2 hours. I doubt they were banged up in a cell, but yeah you can't leave until The Man says so.
#87
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: BA blue, LH Senator, KQ (FB) gold
Posts: 8,215
I understand it's not CBP's rule, but it *is* CBP's choice to start enforcing it now. I saw thousands and thousands of Kinder eggs when I worked for CBP and knew full well that their sale was banned in the US, but we took no action against personal-use imports in baggage.
#88
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
The NBC story has a more alarming figure - 1,700 seizures of 25,000 eggs in 2010. 'Feds scrambling' is frankly a little bizarre sounding - no wonder this subject is the source of so much amusement amongst German friends and colleagues. http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local...120524819.html
#89
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Between EWR & PHL
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Posts: 1,586
Funny thing is, I crossed the border from Canada back into the US at Queenston/Lewiston yesterday - and the duty free store had Kinder eggs sitting right at the register! When I mentioned something about it to the cashier, she insisted that since everything in the store had to be exported, the eggs were perfectly legal. I tried to tell her about the Consumerist article & the FDA ban, and the fact that travelers caught with Kinder eggs have been booked on smuggling charges, but she was insistent that the eggs were perfectly legal to import to the US. Her colleague on bagging duty mentioned that I wasn't the first to say something about the eggs...but something tells me the eggs are still sitting at the register, the world's worst impulse buy.
#90
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
These are banned in the United States under the 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and have never been available in the U.S. The United States is the only country that bans the eggs.
The Wikipedia article is a bit weak on details but can be found here. The link goes to the section on the U.S. ban of the eggs.
CBP press release
The Wikipedia article is a bit weak on details but can be found here. The link goes to the section on the U.S. ban of the eggs.
CBP press release