US on guard against chocolate eggs
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,967
US on guard against chocolate eggs
It must be Easter season!
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/us-guard-ag...11836-288.html
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/us-guard-ag...11836-288.html
The United States takes its ban on chocolate eggs with toys inside very seriously, a Canadian woman discovered when she was threatened at the border with a 300-dollar fine over a Kinder Surprise, media said Tuesday
#4
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 2,974
Ah ha! This article finally explains what happened to me last year at the SFO airport port-of-entry. I always declare any food items at customs and on this trip we brought back a good sized chocolate Easter egg that the Hilton Rome Cavalieri gave us.
We got tagged for a secondary and the inspector zeroed in on the chocolate egg. He said he had to run it through the x-ray to make sure it was empty. Which it was. He then gave us back the egg and I asked him what he was looking for (I'm thinking drugs). He explained they look for small toys that can be a choking hazard for children. I thought that was a little strange at the time.
We got tagged for a secondary and the inspector zeroed in on the chocolate egg. He said he had to run it through the x-ray to make sure it was empty. Which it was. He then gave us back the egg and I asked him what he was looking for (I'm thinking drugs). He explained they look for small toys that can be a choking hazard for children. I thought that was a little strange at the time.
#7
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 569
Would anyone like to bet on this? Take the toy OUT of the chocolate egg and the border guards would NOT have a problem with either the chocolate OR the small toy.
They are following the book... They might not know what a Nexus card is... But a toy in chocolate? That's it, up against the wall you nefarious smuggler!
Very soon the average IQ is going to be 50
They are following the book... They might not know what a Nexus card is... But a toy in chocolate? That's it, up against the wall you nefarious smuggler!
Very soon the average IQ is going to be 50
#9
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: RDU, Delta GM/1MM, Hilton Diamond (for now), Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 3,443
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,967
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/saf...nder-eggs.html
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/...9/01092009.xml
Newark, N.J. - U. S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Jersey City International Bulk Mail Facility continue to intercept shipments of Kinder chocolates which contain a surprise toy within a plastic capsule. Kinder chocolates are widely sold throughout the U.S. however, this particular candy has been banned by the Consumer Product Safety Commission because the toy surprise hidden inside can pose choking and aspiration hazards to children younger than three. The chocolate eggs also violate the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938 which prohibits embedding non-food items completely inside food items.
...
One of CBPs roles as the unified border agency is to protect American children from these potentially dangerous toys, stated Robert E. Perez, CBP Director of Field Operations
...
One of CBPs roles as the unified border agency is to protect American children from these potentially dangerous toys, stated Robert E. Perez, CBP Director of Field Operations
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
Big
I asked my friend to bring one for my kid when he came from Germany as my son's gotten them from past trips from me and friends. Had no idea they were banned. He balked and said they were banned. I was dumbfounded.
Completely idiotic.
I asked my friend to bring one for my kid when he came from Germany as my son's gotten them from past trips from me and friends. Had no idea they were banned. He balked and said they were banned. I was dumbfounded.
Completely idiotic.
#13
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 414
Would anyone like to bet on this? Take the toy OUT of the chocolate egg and the border guards would NOT have a problem with either the chocolate OR the small toy.
They are following the book... They might not know what a Nexus card is... But a toy in chocolate? That's it, up against the wall you nefarious smuggler!
Very soon the average IQ is going to be 50
They are following the book... They might not know what a Nexus card is... But a toy in chocolate? That's it, up against the wall you nefarious smuggler!
Very soon the average IQ is going to be 50
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,967
I like this part of the article:
While it may seem trivial to some, US authorities followed up with a seven-page letter asking Bird to formally authorize the destruction of her seized Kinder egg, she told CBC.
"I thought it was a joke. I had to read it twice. But they are serious," she said.
The letter reportedly stated if Bird wished to contest the seizure, she would have to pay a minimum 250 dollars for it to be stored as the two sides squabbled over the egg
"I thought it was a joke. I had to read it twice. But they are serious," she said.
The letter reportedly stated if Bird wished to contest the seizure, she would have to pay a minimum 250 dollars for it to be stored as the two sides squabbled over the egg
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,726
These days the "toy" consists of a lame puzzle or picture on some weak cardboard-like substance. None of the neat things we got as kids.