Baggage Inspection Required for Travelers Going From Puerto Rico to the U.S. Mainland

Baggage Inspection Required for Travelers Going

From Puerto Rico to the U.S. Mainland

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

(APHIS) prohibits or restricts the movement of many

agricultural products from Puerto Rico to the U.S.

mainland. These products include pork and pork products,

most fresh fruits and vegetables, and certain types of

plants and owers. That’s because these items could

harbor a dangerous stowaway—an invasive pest or

disease. Just one piece of fruit or a single plant that is

carrying an invasive pest or disease could cause millions

of dollars in damage, expensive eradication eorts, and

lost trade revenue.

To prevent the spread of invasive pests and diseases,

APHIS inspects all passenger bags moving from

Puerto Rico to the U.S. mainland at the airport prior to

your departure. Please be prepared to open and close

your own bags. If you have any fresh fruits or vegetables,

plants, owers, souvenirs made from plants or wood,

or other agricultural products with you, please tell the

inspector. Failure to declare these items can result in

delays and possible issuance of civil penalties ranging

from $100 to $1,000 per violation. In addition, if you wish

to ship or mail agricultural items that are allowed into the

U.S. mainland, they must be inspected and/or certied by

APHIS before you take them to an airline cargo oce, the

post oce, or other courier service.

Agricultural Items From Puerto Rico Allowed into the U.S. Mainland After Inspection

n Allium spp. (includes

onion, garlic, and

chives)

n Amaranth, Amaranthus

spp. (leaf, stem)

n Anise

n Annona spp. (leaf)

n Arracacia xanthorrhiza

n Arrowroot

n Artichoke, Jerusalem

n Asparagus

n Avocado

n Balsam apple

n Bamboo shoots

n Banana (fruit, leaf

without stalk or midrib)

n Basil

n Bay leaves, laurel

n Beans, shelled (faba,

lima, string)

n Beans, in pods (faba,

lima, string)—have

geographic restrictions.

For more information,

please contact USDA’s

oces using the

telephone numbers

listed below.

n Beet

n Bitter melon

n Brassica oleracea

(includes cabbage,

broccoli, brussels

sprouts, cauliower,

kale, and collards)

n Breadfruit,

Artocarpus spp.

n Breadnut

n Cacao bean pod

n Cannonball fruit

n Cantaloupe

n Carrot

n Cassava

n Celery

n Chamomile, Anthemis

spp.

n Chayote

n Chervil

n Chickory

n Chinese waternut

n Chrysanthemum spp.

(leaf, stem)

n Cilantro

n Citrus, fresh fruit

(grapefruit, orange,

lemon, lime)

n Coconut (with or

without husk)

n Collard

n Corn (on the cob only)

n Cornsalad,

Vallerianella spp.

n Cucumber (includes

Angola cucumber,

Sicania odorata)

n Cyperus corn

n Dandelion greens

(leaf, stem)

n Dasheen, Colocasia,

Caladium spp., and

Xanthosoma spp.

n Eggs

n Eggplant

n Endive

n Ethrog (fruit)

n False coriander

n Fennel

n Flowers (fresh, cut,

or dried)

n Genip

n Ginger root

n Gourd

n Guava (leaf)

n Herbs (dried or cured)

n Honeydew melon

n Horseradish,

Armoracia spp.

n Indigo, Indigofera spp.

n Insects (dried or

preserved)

n Jackfruit

n Kale

n Kudzu—if not seed,

tuberous roots, or stems

with node (must not be

capable of propagation)

n Lambsquarter

n Lemongrass,

Cymbopogon citratus

n Leren

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. APHIS 81-45-018 | Revised May 2024

Agricultural Items From Puerto Rico Not Allowed

into the U.S. Mainland

n Cactus

n Citrus and citrus-related

plants

n Citrus leaves (fresh)

n Cotton, cotton cuttings

n Fruits (fresh)—all fruits

are prohibited except

those on the preceding

list

n Handicrafts made from

Palm fronds

n Insects (live)

n Pigeon Peas (fresh)

n Plants in soil

n Lettuce

n Lily bulb, edible

n Lotus root

n Maguey

n Mangosteen

n Marjoram, Origanum

spp. (leaf, stem)

n Mint, Mentha spp.

n Mushrooms

n Mustard greens

n Oregano, Origanum spp.

(leaf, stem)

n Palm heart

n Papaya

n Parsley

n Parsnip

n Pepper

n Peas, Pisum sativum (in

pod or shelled)

n Pet birds

n Pineapple

n Plantain (fruit, leaf

without stalk or midrib)

n Plant cuttings and plants

without soil

n Pokeweek greens (leaf,

stem)

n Potato

n Pumpkin

n Purslane

n Radish

n Rhubarb

n Rosemary (leaf)

n Rutabaga

n St. John’s bread

n Salsify

n Savoy

n Snail shells (if empty

and thoroughly cleaned)

n Sorrel, Rumex spp.

n Spinach

n Squash

n Stinking-toe (pod)

n Strawberry

n Sweet potato (leaf only)

n Swiss chard

n Tamarind bean pods

n Taro, Colocasia and

Caladium spp.

n Tarragon

n Thyme

n Tomato

n True

n Turnip

n Vegetable marrow

n Water chestnut

n Watercress

n Watermelon

n Yam, Dioscorea spp.

n Yautia (tanier),

Xanthosoma spp.

Note: Commercially canned

and thoroughly cooked

foods, unless they contain

pork or pork products, are

permitted. All permissible

agricultural products are

subject to inspection.

n Pork and pork products

n Seed cotton and

cottonseed

n Snails (land)

n Seeds or nuts (pulpy)

n Soil

n Sugarcane

n Turmeric (Curcuma

longa)

n Sweet potato

n Vegetables (fresh)—

all vegetables are

prohibited except those

on preceding list

For More Information

Lists are subject to change. For the most up-to-date

information, call the USDA oce at the airport:

Aguada: (787) 986-7280

Aguadilla: (787) 931-7900

Carolina: (787) 710-7282, (787) 710-7443,

or (787) 710-7339

Ponce: (787) 709-4957

San Juan: (787) 919-0585

For more information, please visit APHIS’ website at

www.aphis.usda.gov/travel.

Entry requirements vary depending on the origin of the bird. Please

visit the APHIS’ Pet Travel website at www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel for

details.