What Can I Bring Home?
 

What are the rules about what you can and can't bring back from a trip to Italy? Does everything need to be declared, and what is considered ok (wine, cheese, etc.)?

Thanks

I found this guy's comments helpful:

http://www.reidsguides.com/t_mo/t_mo_customs.html

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id..._travelers.xml

"We regret that it is necessary to take agricultural items from your baggage. They cannot be brought into the United States because they may carry animal and plant pests and diseases. Restricted items include meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, soil, and products made from animal or plant materials."

For a more complete listing:

https://help.cbp.gov/cgi-bin/customs...i=&p_topview=1

"Dairy items such as milk, yogurt, butter are generally admissible, although this is subject to change, depending on disease outbreaks. Eggs may be admissible, although frequent outbreaks of Exotic Newcastles Disease and avian flu make it very likely that they will be denied entry. Hard cured cheese such as parmesan or cheddar are generally admissible, soft cheeses such as brie and soft curd cheese and cheese in water(ricotta, feta, etc.) are not."

Everything needs to be declared as far as I know. Where are you going in Italy? Some people buy special sleeves to protect wine bottles in checked luggage (can't be brought as carry one). Some food vendors in the most tourist oriented places will sell items vacuum packed.

Be aware that much of the best Italian food and wine simply does not travel well.

One time when we were coming back from Spain, we had Jamone iberico (Spanish Ham) in our suitcases. I said I had nothing to declare. My brother said he had the ham. He spent 45 minutes in a segregated section of Immigration while I sat on the floor and waited. In the end, they allowed him to keep the ham. I don't know why.

Thanks all. Zeppole, we are going to Rome, Florence, and Venice.

Sounds like we can avoid feeds if we limit our total to $800 of goods. We can only bring 1 litre of wine (per traveler?), which must be checked. Also, we can bring hard cheeses, coffee beans, and candy.

No one will enforce the 1-liter wine rule. I've seen folks with a couple of dozen bottles. That said, it's such a pain to haul wine around, and it's never as good when you've schlepped it home.

There are plenty of things you can bring back in addition to what you've mentioned: almost anything jarred or tinned and labeled; olive oil, pasta, those wonderful packets of beans and herbs for making soups, spices, sauces, chocolates, ...really, an endless number of things.

You must declare all food items, including the wine over 1L. It's never a good idea lie on a government form, especially one that you sign.

The duty on wine is about $0.25 or so per bottle (that's 25c). It's so low that the customs agents have never bothered to collect the $1-2 that I owe.

Oh, ok....I had no idea it would be so cheap to pay for a few extra bottles of wine if we go that route. And thanks StCirq, I do plan to get some olive oil and balsamic vinegar while I'm there :)

Any suggestions on packaging for this stuff so it doesn't break in your suitcase, or is it best to mail it home?

Bring lots of bubble wrap and pack the bottles between layers of clothing and bubble wrap in your check-in bag. I have done this many times and had no trouble.
There are quite a few threads here on this subject so you might want to do a search for further info.

There isn't a place on the declarations form to specify how many bottles. You simply note the value of items being brought in. Certainly if asked about wine, tell them how many bottles you have. The duty is very cheap and most likely they will wave you through because it's not worth collecting.

Contrary to some above opinions, we always bring home some special bottles of wine and enjoy them thoroughly. We don't consider it a bother.

Check out Wine Mummies at winemummy.com. Basically a bubble wrap zip loc sleeve that holds a bottle. Benefit is that you can seal it - in case of breakage, nothing leaks. Would work well for olive oil too. Have always used bubble wrap and duct tape before though and never had anything break.

In most states you cannot legally mail home wine from Italy. Import is limited to those with an import license.