We are leaving for Costa del Sol next week. I've been reading about the wonderful food and wine. I know that we are only allowed one bottle of liquor per person through customs, but what about food items such as cheese, ham, olive oil? Anyone know what the implications might be to ship any of this home? (My home is the USA) Thanks so much for your help. You fodorites have been lifesavers!!!

Here's a brochure that you might find helpful:<BR><BR>http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/pubs/taking.html<BR><BR>Basically, the restrictions are in place to prevent the spread of disease, so fresh, unprocessed meat, fruits, and vegetables are generally no-nos. Processed stuff like olive oil, hard cheeses and canned ham would be OK. Anything made from any part of a wild animal is also prohibited.<BR><BR>Failing to declare a prohibited item can bring a fine of up to $1000, so if you have any questions, ask in advance!

Foodstuffs are generally the domain of the Dept of Agriculture not customs. There are USDA agents at airport arrival areas.<BR><BR>I can tell you that I have had a USDA agent root through a lunch bag, quite ignoring cheese, both wrapped and unwrapped, a half-eaten sandwich, etc - - and confiscate from me an apple that was given to me by the airline as part of a snack. They also went on to not even take a glance at my suitcase (duffel bag), which contained 14 bottles of wine.<BR><BR>I think you can bring home all the wine, cheese, ham and olive oil you can carry.<BR><BR>My story is an anecdote of one. Take it with a grain of salt.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Rex, it is true that these are USDA regulations. But Customs is the agency that enforces the regulations of USDA and dozens of other government agencies (such as Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, etc.). <BR><BR>Imagine if arriving visitors had to run a gauntlet of representatives from all these agencies! Thank goodness Customs undertakes it all. <BR><BR>No doubt they do have support from agency representatives to take on people who try to smuggle in contraband like boxes of rifles or lunchbags with produce, but Customs is the bottom line agency.<BR><BR>http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/trave...ricted%20Items

I can't say for sure if I have encountered USDA agents at every arriving airport in my 20-plus trips back home from Europe. But I think that they are usually there to handle this aspect of the inspection, when foodstuffs questions exist.<BR>

This always reminds me of the story that the actress Shelley Winters told. She brought back some expensive cheese from Europe, but it was confiscated at JFK airport. She said "I know some security guard in Queens is eating my expensive cheese".<BR><BR>Keep in mind that whatever you buy may be confiscated. Can you afford to lose the money you've spent on the item(s)?

to the top<BR>