The U.S. officials who crossed the border to Mexico last week were greeted by Mexican authorities SubmittedUnusual seizure: More than 100 pounds undeclared cheese
CBP officers stopped an Albuquerque citizen who was arriving from Mexico at Paso Del Norte, Texas. The driver claimed 10 wheels of cheese. However, an officer examined her vehicle and found 50 additional wheels hidden under blankets.
Ray Provencio (CBP El Paso Port Director) stated that travelers can import cheese in proportion to their personal consumption. Statement. A few wheels is fine, but not sixty. The amount was not reported and would constitute a commercial quantity. Additional reporting requirements would also apply.
The cheese seizure last week would have been understandable if CBP was able to identify any immediate safety and health risks posed by dairy products. CBP did not. Please indicateIt seized the undeclared cheese because of safety and health concerns. Roger Maier, spokesperson for CBP says that the CBP did not seize undeclared cheese. There are reasonsIt’s because “132 lbs of cheese is far beyond our personal consumption level.” Maier says that this, together with the fact the cheese was concealed and the bulk of the shipment wasn’t declared, “pointed towards a commercial importation.”
It’s undeniably a lot of cheese—but officials seem to be inferring that the woman intended to sell it rather than stockpile or gift it. CBP eventually confiscated the illegal dairy wheels and fined the woman $1,000 for carrying it.
Maier answers questions about the public benefits of cheese seizuresIt “demonstrates to the public that penalties will be applied to violators,” Maier explains. Maier says that enforcement helps to “build upon and establish the public trust accorded CBP,” “as CBP continues to fulfill our primary homeland safety mission.”
CBP’s “agriculture tag” is quick and easy to scan revealsThere were many unusual seizures that had no relevance for homeland security. This agency boasted about stopping shipments Bologna, sausages, Dried beef, four dragon fruits, more bologna, MangosAnd A few pounds of tomatoes. Fines as high as $2,500 can be imposed for failure to declare certain food products. $10,000.
The seizures are often marketed as an effort to prevent invasive diseases or pests from entering America. Although it is a legitimate concern, CBP doesn’t always back this up with solid logic. Los Angeles Times Frank Shyong was a columnist who wrote about March’s seizures of Chinese prepackaged jerky products.
“I called Jaime Ruiz, a spokesman for CBP…Ruiz was unable to explain the connection between the seizures and infectious disease,” Write Shyong. He said that the meat products had been seized as they did not comply with import tariffs and did not receive a USDA certificate. This prevented them from being subject to a separate inspection in the U.S.
Ruiz directedShyong went to the Department of Agriculture. William Wepsala, a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture said that African swine flu (which) was one of many diseases. Does not spread the diseasePeople) can “resist for up to weeks on undercooked or processed meats.” Shyong is the exception. WriteWepsala could not explain why jerky is made for humans and how it can affect the swine population.
It doesn’t instill confidence in certain regulations which prevent Americans from enjoying delicious food back home. This does not help highlight the need to pay fines as high as $10,000 for undeclared food. However, it is difficult to support the assertion that taking cheese from a woman preserves homeland security.