Food, Plant, and Animal Products Warning
Clearing customs in any country requires thoughtfulness with the forms you fill out and your knowledge of what you have with you when entering a foreign country. Please read the forms carefully and think about what you are carrying when you fill them out.
Many countries seek to specifically protect their agricultural interests and tend to be very interested in any food products, vegetables, fruits, plants, or any by-products of plants or animals. This includes any processed by-products that you may buy in a grocery store, such as peanuts, sunflower seeds, microwave popcorn, dried fruits, beef jerky, honey, coffee, etc.
We strongly recommend that you do not transport these types of items into the countries where you are going to serve. If you have these items in your possession, please make sure to declare them. If they are declared, worst that can happen is that they will be taken away. If you don't declare them, they will be taken away and you will be fined.
For example, here is the text from the actual declaration form for Chile:
Dear traveler:
Please help us protect agricultural, forest and animal health in Chile. This affidavit must be filled in by any person being 18 years or older. Affidavits for children under 18 years must be filled in by their personal representatives. According to Chilean lawss, to make any misrepresentation in a SAG Affidavit is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine.
What PLANT PRODUCTS must I declare?
Any kind of fresh, dried, or dehydrated fruits and vegetables.
Any kind of plant reproductive material, including but not limited to live plants, plant parts, cuttings and corms.
Any kind of seeds, including dual-purpose seeds.
Any kind of spices, herbs, and plant condiments.
Soil or any plant that may contain soil.
Any kind of wood ornaments or carvings.
Any kind of conifer cones.
Any kind of biological material.
What ANIMAL PRODUCTS must I declare?
Live animals and any live animal species you are carrying: pets, birds, etc.
Fresh meat of any kind and/or meat products
Any animal product for daily consumption such as fresh milk, cheese, butter, eggs.
Honey, pollen, bee pupae.
Other reproductive material, such as semen.
Unfortunately, we've had visitors stopped and fined for undeclared items such as store-bought beef jerky, microwave popcorn, dried fruit, and trail mix. When in doubt, declare it and let customs decide.
Check-In Times
Please make sure to leave plenty of time for checking in with the airlines, particularly if you are checking extra bags filled with supplies or tools. It is always better to be waiting at the gate with a cup of coffee than to be rushing through ticketing, running to the gate, and missing your flight.