International Traveler: Milk, Dairy, and Egg Products

Most milk and dairy items from countries with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) are not allowed. To find out a country’s status for FMD, visit Animal Health Status of Regions.

There are three exceptions:

1. Liquid milk and milk products for infants or small children are allowed in small quantities (enough for several days’ use)
2. Products containing powdered or dry milk (baby/infant formula, baking mixes, soup mixes, drink mixes) are allowed in small quantities, if they are properly labeled.
3. Commercially packaged and labeled, cooked, shelf-stable, fully finished food items in unopened packages are allowed.

Travelers may bring back milk or dairy products from countries without FMD if they have official documentation to prove the product’s country of origin. Any of the following items are considered official documentation: 

• Package label
• Written documentation
• Proof of travel (passport or travel itinerary) 
• Origin of flight
• Receipt of sale
• CBP document (based on the officer’s interview of the traveler)
• A meat inspection certificate
• Certificate of origin

Exemptions

Certain items may enter from any country. These include:

• Butter
• Butter oil
• Solid hard or soft cheeses (as long as the cheese does not contain meat or pour like a liquid such as ricotta or cottage cheese)

Camel Milk

Contact us directly regarding the requirements for camel’s milk.

Breast Milk

USDA does not regulate breast milk. Contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at 301- 796-0356 or www.fda.gov for more information.

USDA does not allow travelers to bring back most eggs or egg products from countries affected with certain serious poultry diseases:

• Highly pathogenic avian influenza
• Virulent Newcastle disease

To find out a country’s status for these diseases, visit Animal Health Status of Regions.

There are two exceptions:

1. Commercially packaged and labeled, cooked, shelf-stable, fully finished food items from affected countries that are in unopened packages are allowed.
2. Cooked eggs or egg products from affected countries will be inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Items appearing to be “thoroughly cooked throughout” will be allowed entry. Items that do not appear “thoroughly cooked throughout” will not be allowed without special certification and an import permit.  

Travelers may bring back fresh or preserved eggs from countries without these diseases if they have official documentation to prove the product’s country of origin. Any of the following items are considered official documentation: 

• Package label
• Written documentation
• Proof of travel (passport or travel itinerary)
• Origin of flight
• Receipt of sale
• CBP document (based on the officer’s interview of the traveler)
• A meat inspection certificate
• Certificate of origin

Egg Shells

Egg shells (with egg white and egg yolk removed) may enter in passenger baggage if they are decorated/etched/painted. They must be clean and dry, and passengers may not bring back more than 12 per person.

Moon Cakes

There are specific requirements for moon cakes entering in passenger baggage:

• Moon cakes that do not contain meat, egg, or egg yolk may enter.
• Moon cakes containing egg or egg yolk that appear “thoroughly cooked throughout” are allowed.
• Moon cakes containing egg or egg yolk that do not appear “thoroughly cooked throughout” are not allowed.
• Moon cakes that contain meat are not allowed.