Bagaimana sebenarnya kebijakan pengiriman makanan ke Amerika? Pertanyaan ini dilontarkan oleh seorang Mommy yang ingin menitip mengirimkan makanan via udara untuk keluarga adiknya yang tinggal di Ohio, Amerika, namun ditolak dengan alasan ketatnya peraturan di Amerika. Berbagai jawaban muncul dari para Mommies yang tinggal di Amerika, maupun yang pernah mengirim makanan ke Amerika.

Mommy 1:

Pengalaman membawa makanan lewat udara dari Indonesia ke Amerika. Bumbu kering dan bumbu instant tidak ada masalah, membawa bumbu pecalpun tidak bermasalah. Waktu di bandara JFK melapor ke custom kalau membawa bumbu pecel juga tidak bermasalah. Pengalaman Mommy ini malah lebihketat pemeriksaan di Bandara Changi daripada di Bandara JFK.

Mommy 2 :

Ayahanda mommy datang ke Amerika April 2006, tak bermasalah dengan makanan yang dibawa masuk ke Amerika. Mommy sendiri sewaktu datang ke Amerika November 2005, bisa membawa mpek mpek, bakmi Gajah Mada, roti bread talk sampe empal gentong karena emang tidak lapor. Pengalaman Mommy ini, membawa makanan ke Amerika tidak seketat ke Australia. Sewaktu adik mommy melahirkan, ibunda mommy membawa jamu dibungkus kertas kado.

Mommy 3:

Menurut mommy ini, produk yang dilarang masuk adalah : produk pertanian yang segar dan produk ternak. Untuk beberapa orang, yang dikhawatirkan adalah dendanya.Menurut mommy ini, sebaiknya kalau memang ybs. menolak untuk dititipi dengan 1001 alasan, ya sebaiknya jangan menitip. Karena menurut pengalamannya, biarpun kita menitip barang yang "berbahaya", tapi kalau ybs. memang bersedia dititipin ya mereka nekat membawa.

Mommy ini pernah menitip kencur segar ke teman dengan persetujuan teman tsb. Sewaktu di bandara di US temannya tenang sehingga lolos dari pemeriksaan. Kadang karena melihat kita cemas atau grogi, petugas menjadi curiga. Sehingga malah diperiksa dengan teliti.

Kadang susah juga ya buat yang dititipin. Soalnya seringkali si penitip barang tidak kira-kira menitipnya. Banyak sekali dan berat! Misal satu orang menitip "cuman" 2 kilo. Kalau yang nitip 10 orang, kan jadi 20 kilo (kira-kira 50 lbs). Satu koper sendiri tuh. Sekarang mommy ini berhati-hati kalau mau menitip. Kalau barang itu langka/susah dijumpai di US dan mommy ini sangat membutuhkan, barulah menitip. Tapi kalau barang itu bisa dibeli/dibuat di US dengan harga yang sedikit mahal, mommy tidak akan menitip.

Mommy 4:

Mertua mommy ini baru datang berkunjung ke Denver dan mommy ini juga baru 10 bulan tinggal di sana. Berdasarkan pengalaman mommy ini, yang dilarang keras itu makanan yang terbuat dari ayam dan sapi, sedangkan bumbu-bumbu tidak boleh bumbu yang seger misalnya daun kunyit seger, sereh dsb (kalau sudah dikeringkang tidak apa-apa), jahe dkk harus dalam kondisi bersih .Bawang (merah dan putih) biasanya suka disita kecuali kalau kita bilang ini untuk konsumsi kita sendiri bukan untuk ditanam.

Ikan asin bisa masuk tidak ada masalah, cabe giling bisa juga, makanan juga bisa masuk karena titipan kering kentang tidak diambil petugas. Jamu juga tidak masalah karena baik mommy maupunibu mertua mommy dapat membawa tanpa ada masalah. Pengiriman lewat pos biasanya lebih enak, bisa mengirim makanan dari daging juga, ibu mommy sudah beberapa kali kirim-kirim kesini Alhamdulillah lancar. Kecuali kalau mengirim memakai fed ex agak banyak urusannya.

Demikian sharing para Mommies.

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Sebenarnya bagaimana sih hukumnya? Silahkan Mommies sekalian yang berkeinginan mengirim makanan baik lewat udara maupun lewat pos, untuk menyimak peraturan custom di Amerika Serikat.

Link-link berikut ini dapat dilihat : http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/send_to_us.xml http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/prohibited_restricted.xml

Food Products (Prepared)

 You may bring bakery items and certain cheeses into the United States. The APHIS web site features a Travelers Tips section and Game and Hunting Trophies section that offers extensive information about bringing food and other products into the country. Many prepared foods are admissible. However, almost anything containing meat products, such as bouillon, soup mixes, etc., is not admissible. As a general rule, condiments, vinegars, oils, packaged spices, honey, coffee and tea are admissible. Because rice can often harbor insects, it is best to avoid bringing it into the United States.

Some imported foods are also subject to requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Prior Notice for Food Importation

The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (Bioterrorism Act or BTA), Public Law 107-188, established the requirement that food items, imported (or offered for import) for commercial use, including hand-carried quantities, be properly reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prior to arrival of those items in the United States. The FDA prior notification timeframes (by transport mode) are two hours by land, four hours by rail or air, eight hours by vessel and prior to the “time of mailing” for international mail.

Food that was made by an individual in his/her personal residence, or food purchased by an individual from a vendor that is sent by that individual as a personal gift (for non-business reasons) to someone in the United States is not subject to BTA requirements. However, food that is sent to an individual in the U.S. by a business is subject to special requirements of the Food and Drug Administration. For instance, if you go to a food shop in England and buy a gift basket, then take it to the post office or a courier service to send to a friend, the shipment is not subject to BTA requirements. But if you go to that same shop and ask them to send the gift basket for you, the shipment is subject to BTA requirements, and the vendor will have to file Prior Notice. Many travelers are finding that vendors will not ship food directly to U.S. residents because the reporting requirements can be time-consuming to complete.

In general, failure to provide complete, timely and accurate prior notice for BTA regulated items, can result in refusal of admission of the merchandise, movement of the goods to an FDA registered facility (at importer expense) and/or civil monetary penalty liabilities for any party that was involved in the import transaction.

For full details regarding the latest FDA BTA requirements, including those food items exempt from these requirements, access the FDA Website at www.fda.gov/oc/bioterrorism/bioact.html ( The Bioterrorism Act of 2002 ) .

Meats, Livestock, and Poultry

The regulations governing meat and meat products are very strict. You may not import fresh, dried, or canned meats or meat products from most foreign countries into the United States. Also, you may not import food products that have been prepared with meat.

The regulations on importing meat and meat products change frequently because they are based on disease outbreaks in different areas of the world. APHIS, which regulates meats and meat products as well as fruits and vegetables, invites you to contact them for more information on importing meats. You may write to USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services National Center for Import/Export (NCIE), 4700 River Road, Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; or call (301) 734-7830.

Plants and Seeds

Some plants, cuttings, seeds that are capable of propagation, unprocessed plant products, and certain endangered species are allowed into the United States but require import permits; some are prohibited entirely. Threatened or endangered species that are permitted must have export permits from the country of origin.

Every single plant or plant product including handicraft items made with straw, must be declared to the CBP officer and must be presented for CBP inspection, no matter how free of pests it appears to be. For information write to USDA-APHIS-PPQ, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737; call (301) 734-8645; or visit the APHIS web site at www.aphis.usda.gov/travel/ ( APHIS Travel ) .

Fruits and Vegetables

Bringing fruits and vegetables can be complicated. For instance, consider the apple you bought in the foreign airport just before boarding and then did not eat? Whether or not CBP will allow the apple into the United States depends on where you got it and where you are going after you arrive in the United States. The same would be true for those magnificent Mediterranean tomatoes. Fresh fruits and vegetables can carry plant pests or diseases into the United States.

One good example of problems imported fruits and vegetables can cause is the Mediterranean fruit fly outbreak during the 1980s, The outbreak cost the state of California and the Federal Government approximately $100 million to get rid of this pest. The cause of the outbreak was one traveler who brought home one contaminated piece of fruit. It is best not to bring fresh fruits or vegetables into the United States. However, if you plan to, contact either CBP or check the Travelers Information section on the USDA-APHIS web site for a general approved list on items that need a permit. (HI/WRM)