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Exotic, palatable food is always irresistible for travelers, yet the potential dangers of foreign food is arousing governmental concern.
Introducing the policy
Meat products are invariably the priority of importing and exporting food. We must obtain meat inspection certificates from relevant governmental departments, and a stamp of approval is essential.
In the United States, the regulations are strict. Trying to import fresh, dried, or canned meats or meat products from most foreign countries into America is just like banging your head against a brick wall. Anything containing meat products will face a rebuff. Nevertheless, many prepared foods can get access to American domestic market.
Besides meat products, importing insect-attracting food, such as rice, can also be a thorny task all over the world. Fresh vegetables and fruits are always under strict inspection too. The United States, for example, prohibits nearly all fresh vegetables and fruits grown outside North America. Importing vegetables and fruits without definite origin is also impossible. Compared with fresh vegetables and fruits, packaged dried fruits and vegetables, as well as canned and frozen fruits and vegetables could gain an easier access.
In addition, diseases outbreaking in some countries also lead to changes of regulations and policies. For example, Canadian government issued a list of restricted commodities from a country infected with Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in 2005 when the contagious disease was rampant all over the world, prohibiting fresh (chilled or frozen) meat of ruminant or swine origin and fresh (chilled or frozen) products derived from ruminants or swine. Other countries, confronting the similar situation, followed suit without any hesitation. Therefore, we must keep ourselves well informed in case these diseases cause unpredictable economic loss. In the event of such outbreaks, an importer can apply to the administrative section dealing with such affairs and present it with a detailed account describing the safety condition of the food. Proved free from pandemic virus, the food may be allowed entry with governmental certificates.
Where to get authorized
Effective communication with relevant governmental institutions and perfect familiarity with laws on food safety are of great importance for importing or exporting food. If you want to bring food into the United States, for instance, you are supposed to know the stipulations of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (Bioterrorism Act or BTA). Apart from that, you should consult with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) beforehand. If you fail to present a prior notice to BTA, your effort of importing food will turn out to be an abortive attempt.
In some countries (as in the U.S.), food that bought in a foreign shop and sent to someone in the USA as a personal gift by non-business means (post office, for example) does not belong to the items that BTA administrates. Nevertheless, if the food is sent for business purposes (by the foreign shop itself), BTA will be involved for sure.
Cultural restrictions
Take culturally prohibitive and restrictive food into account. Some special cultures and religious faiths could also be influential factors that lead to certain food prohibition.
