The products CBP needs to prevent from entering the United States are those that would injure community health, public safety, American workers, children, or domestic plant and animal life. Sometimes the products that cause injury, or have the potential to do so, may seem fairly innocent. But appearances can be deceiving.

Here are some of the more “interesting” items that people have tried to bring through Customs and Border Protection and the actual rules governing their entry to the U.S.

• Dog and cat fur: It may sound strange, but as recently as April 2006, the London Telegraph reports, dog and cat fur is “flooding” from China into the European Union. In the United States, it is illegal to import, export, distribute, transport, manufacture, or sell products containing dog or cat fur. As of November 9, 2000, the Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000 calls for the seizure and forfeiture of each item containing dog or cat fur. The Act provides that any person who violates any provision may be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each separate knowing and intentional violation, $5,000 for each separate gross negligent violation, or $3,000 for each separate negligent violation.
• Fish and wildlife: With bird flu a pending concern, this restriction takes on greater urgency than ever. On May 2, Robert G. Webster, a virologist at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., told the Washington Post that he believes bird flu will arrive in the U.S. eventually, “possibly carried by infected birds illegally brought into the country.” We recommend that you contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before you depart if you plan to import or export any of the following: Wild birds, land or marine mammals, reptiles, fish, shellfish, mollusks, or invertebrates; any part or product of the above, such as skins, tusks, bone, feathers, or eggs; products or articles manufactured from wildlife or fish.
• Game and hunting trophies: People smuggle animal heads into the United States more often than one might think! If an individual plans to import game or a hunting trophy, they should contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 800.358.2104 before leaving. Trophies may also be subject to inspection by CBP for sanitary purposes. Also, federal regulations do not allow the importation of any species into a state with fish or wildlife laws that are more restrictive than federal laws. If foreign laws were violated in the taking, sale, possession, or export to the United States of wild animals, those animals will not be allowed entry into the United States.
• Soil: Soil is considered the loose surface material of the earth in which plants, trees, and scrubs grow. In most cases, the soil consists of disintegrated rock with an admixture of organic material and soluble salts. Soil is prohibited entry unless accompanied by an import permit. Soil must be declared and the permit must be verified. In May 2005, CBP officers performing anti-terrorism operations at the Santa Teresa port of entry made an unusual discovery: Recently installed technology helped them discover 49 sandwich-size baggies of soil being smuggled from Mexico to the U.S.
• Biological specimens: A U.S. Department of Agriculture permit may be needed to import biological specimens, including bacterial cultures, culture medium, excretions, fungi, arthropods, mollusks, tissues of livestock, birds, plants, viruses, vectors for research, biological or pharmaceutical use. Permit requirements are located under “Permits” on the USDA Website at www.aphis.usda.gov. For some permits one may have to contact the Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov.

Before leaving for a trip abroad, it makes sense to ask CBP about the items one plans to bring back to be sure they’re not prohibited or restricted. Prohibited means the item is forbidden by law to enter the United States. Examples of prohibited items are dangerous toys, cars that don’t protect their occupants in a crash, or illegal substances like absinthe and Rohypnol. Restricted means that special licenses or permits are required from a federal agency before the item is allowed to enter the United States. Examples of restricted items include firearms, certain fruits, vegetables, and some animals.