United States of America
Letter mail
Parcel
EMS
Prohibited articles list
Weight / size limit admitted:
üPostcard – maximum weight 20g. maximum size - 240X340mm; maximum thickness – 5mm.
üLetter – maxsimum weight 250g. maximum size - 240X340mm; maximum thickness: 5mm.
üSmall packets – maxsimum weight 2kg. maximum size - 240X340mm; maximum thickness: 50mm.
üM bag – can`t be sent;
Insured* letters admitted – no;
Maximum insured value –
On-line tracking provided – yes;
Payments for inbound items in case, when content is a goods:
ü Customs clearance fee - $5.50;
ü Threshold level below which items are free of customs duties and other taxes - $100 / for gifts $200;
Numbers of customs declarations required for inbound letter – 1;
Languages in which customs declarations must be completed – English;
Delivery charge for small packets exceeding 500 g – 0 SDR**;
Period of retention for letters – 30 days;
*Insured Parcel–Type of Registered Parcel, which is insured at cost declared by the sender. Insured value should not be more than the actual cost of the package content and should not exceed 10 000 GEL.
**SDR–Monetary unit (Special Drawing Rights) created by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - The value of the SDR in terms of the US dollar is determined daily based on exchange rates quoted at noon each day in the London market and posted on the IMF’s
***Custom declaration for letter post is required only in case, when content is a goods.
Weight / size limit admitted:
ü Max weight – 20 kg
ü Max size - 1,05m X 1,05m X 1,05m (or 2m length & greatest circumference);
Insured* parcels admitted – yes;
Maximum insured value - 3448 SDR**;
On-line tracking provided – yes;
Numbers of customs declarations required for inbound parcels – 1;
Languages in which customs declarations must be completed – English;
Payments for inbound parcels:
ü Customs clearance fee - $5.50;
ü Threshold level below which parcels are free of customs duties and other taxes - $100 / for gifts $200;
To customers’ address:
ü Free – yes;
ü Paid service – yes;
Period of retention for parcels:
ü Min – 30 days;
ü Max –
*Insured Parcel–Type of Registered Parcel, which is insured at cost declared by the sender. Insured value should not be more than the actual cost of the package content and should not exceed 10 000 GEL.
**SDR–Monetary unit (Special Drawing Rights) created by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - The value of the SDR in terms of the US dollar is determined daily based on exchange rates quoted at noon each day in the London market and posted on the IMF’s
Weight / size limit admitted:
ü Max weight – 20 kg
ü Max size - 1,05m X 1,05m X 1,05m (or 2m length & greatest circumference);
Maximum insured value:
for documents: 4000 GEL
for merchandise: 10 000 GEL
Numbers of customs declarations required for inbound EMS – 1;
Languages in which customs declarations must be completed – English;
Payments for inbound parcels:
ü Customs clearance fee - 5.5 USD;
ü Threshold level below which parcels are free of customs duties and other taxes:
For private customers - 800 USD;
For business customers - 800 USD;
How many attempts at delivery are made: 1
Period of retention for EMS items: 5 days;
Coverage: entire territory
Days of the week on which EMS items are delivered: 1/2/3/4/5/6
EMS item delivery to P.O. Box: Yes
National holidays on which EMS items are not delivered: 1,21 January, 18 February, 27 May, 4 July, 2 September, 14 October, 11,28 November, 25 December
*SDR–Monetary unit (Special Drawing Rights) created by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - The value of the SDR in terms of the US dollar is determined daily based on exchange rates quoted at noon each day in the London market and posted on the IMF’s
The amount of insurance paid by the customer should not exceed the actual value of the contents of the parcel
Definition of Terms
· Prohibited items – items whose import into the country is prohibited.
· Items admitted conditionally – items whose importation into the country is allowed with the term if a document issued by the relevant authorities of the exporting country is presented.
· Items admitted without conditions – items whose import into the country is allowed.
Detailed information on the HS codes and their titles can be found on the Revenue Service web-page (http://www.rs.ge/4509) or at the following address: http://www.foreign-trade.com/reference/hscode.htm
For easy search for a desired item, you can use the “ctrl+F” combination. A search field will appear in the right upper corner where you can write the title of the item. Pressing the “Enter” button will highlight the search word provided by you throughout the text in a different color.
The below information is based upon the official source of United States of America
Part I:
List of articles prohibited as imports (or in transit) or admitted conditionally
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Section I
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Live animals; animal products
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Chapter 1
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Live animals
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Prohibited articles
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01.01-01.06
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All live animals, except honey bees, silkworms, certain insects and leeches.
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All dead animals, except insects and reptiles.
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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See Part II, § 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.4 and 2.5.
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Chapter 2
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Meat and edible meat offal
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Prohibited articles
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02.01-02.10
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All fresh, chilled or frozen beef, mutton, lamb, pork, or meat from goats, other ruminants or swine originating in any country where foot-and-mouth disease exists.
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All fresh, chilled or frozen pork from countries with hog cholera, swine vesicular disease or African swine fever.
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All fresh, chilled or frozen poultry and products (including eggs) are restricted (prohibited) from countries known to have exotic viscerotropic velogenic (exotic) Newcastle disease.
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Table eggs from countries infected with Salmonella Enteriditis phage Type 4.
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Cured and dried meat.
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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See Part II, § 1.4.
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Chapter 3
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Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates
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Heading
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HS code
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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03.01-03.07
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See Part II, § 2.1 (a).
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Chapter 4
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Dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Prohibited articles
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04.01-04.10
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Milk, cream, or other secretions, organs, glands, or extracts from ruminants or swine from countries
in which there is rinderpest or foot-and-mouth disease, and/or from countries where hog cholera, swine vesicular disease, or African swine fever is known to exist.
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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See Part II, § 1.5.
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Chapter 5
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Other products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Prohibited articles
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05.01-05.11
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Inedible by-products derived from ruminants or swine, such as skins, hair, bones, organs or other parts not suitable for food, including intestines not prepared for use, casings originating in a country where foot-and-mouth disease or rinderpest exists, and/or where, swine diseases such as hog cholera, swine vesicular disease, or African swine fever exists.
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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See Part II, § 1.6.
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■ Prohibited articles
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05.05
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Feather on skin of any bird.
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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See Part II, § 1.7.
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Section II Vegetable productsChapter 6 Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
06.01-06.04 Except as provided, plants, and plant products which are subject to restrictions or prohibitions of plant quarantines or regulatory orders of the U.S. Department of Agriculture may not be imported into the United States through the mails and should not be accepted for transmittal to that country.
■ Articles admitted conditionally
See Part II, § 2.
Chapter 7 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
07.01-07.14 Vegetables, roots and tubers.
■ Articles admitted conditionally
See Part II, § 2.
Chapter 8 Edible fruit or nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
08.01-08.14 Fruits, nuts and citrus peels.
■ Articles admitted conditionally
See Part II, § 2.
Chapter 9 Coffee, tea, maté and spices
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
09.01 Coffee.
■ Articles admitted conditionally
See Part II, § 2 and 10.
Chapter 10 Cereals
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
10.01-10.08 Cereals.
■ Articles admitted conditionally
See Part II, § 2.
Chapter 11 Products of the milling industry; malt; starches, inulin, wheat gluten
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
11.01 Wheat products.
11.09
■ Articles admitted conditionally
See Part II, § 2.
Chapter 12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fr uits; miscellaneous grains, seeds a nd fruit; industria l or medicinal plants; straw and fodder
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
12.01-12.14 Fruits, seed, grains, and fodder.
■ Articles admitted conditionally
See Part II, § 2.
Chapter 13 Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
13.02 1302.11 Opium.
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Chapter 14
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Vegetable plaiting materials; vegetable products not elsewhere specified or included
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Prohibited articles
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14.01-14.04
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Vegetable products.
■ Articles admitted conditionally
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See Part II, § 2.
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Section III Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats;
animal or vegetable waxesChapter 15 Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats;
animal or vegetable waxes
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
15.01-15.22 Fats, oils, waxes and cleavage products.
■ Articles admitted conditionally
See Part II, § 1.4 and 5.1.
Section IV Prepared foodstuffs; bev erages, spirits and v inegar; tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutesChapter 16 Preparations of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
16.01-16.05 Meat and fish products.
■ Articles admitted conditionally
See Part II, § 1.4 and 5.1.
Chapter 17 Sugars and sugar confectionery
Heading HS Code
17.01-17.04 Articles admitted unconditionally.
Chapter 18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations
Heading HS Code
18.01-18.06 Articles admitted unconditionally.
Chapter 19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk, pastrycooks' products
Heading HS Code
19.01-19.05 Articles admitted unconditionally.
Chapter 20 Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants
Heading HS Code
20.01-20.09 Articles admitted unconditionally.
Chapter 21 Miscellaneous edible preparations
Heading HS Code
21.01-21.06 Articles admitted unconditionally.
Chapter 22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
22.03-22.08 All taxable, flammable, potable beverages of 5% alcoholic content by weight.
Chapter 23 Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal fodder
Heading HS Code ■ Articles admitted conditionally
23.01 See Part II, § 1.6 and 2.
Chapter 24 Tobacco and manufactured substitutes
Heading HS Code ■ Articles admitted conditionally
24.01-24.03 See Part II, § 11.
Section V Mineral productsChapter 25 Salt, sulphur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement
Heading HS Code
25.01-25.30 Articles admitted unconditionally.
Chapter 26 Ores, slag and ash
Heading HS Code
26.01-26.21 Articles admitted unconditionally.
Chapter 27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillati on; bituminous substances; mineral waxes
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
27.01-27.15 Flammable fuels, oils and their products
■ Articles admitted conditionally
See Part II, § 3.
Section VI Products of the chemical or allied industriesChapter 28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
28.01-28.53 Explosives, flammable materials, such as pyrophoric, flammable, or combustible liquids, and flammable solids, oxidizers, corrosives, liquid or solid, compressed gases and poisons, radioactive materials.
■ Articles admitted conditionally
See Part II, § 3, 4 and 5.5.
Chapter 29 Organic chemicals
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
29.01-29.42 Narcotics; opium, opiates and the derivatives thereof, and any narcotic, hallucinogenic, stimulant, or depressant drug listed as a controlled substance.
■ Articles admitted conditionally
See Part II, § 5.
Chapter 30 Pharmaceutical products
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
30.01-30.06 Sera. Adulterated or misbranded foods, drugs, diagnostic or therapeutic devices, cosmetics, articles containing them, new drugs, biological products, infectious substances, serums and radiation-emitting electronic devices, articles intended to prevent conception or produce unlawful abortion, as well as prints of all kinds furnishing information on that subject.
■ Articles admitted conditionally
See Part II, § 5.
Chapter 31 Fertilizers
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
31.01 3101.00 Bird guano, without heat treatment and permit. Soil conditioners/amendments, except peat, prohibited as soil.
Chapter 24 Tobacco and manufactured substitutesHeading HS Code ■ Prohibited Articles
Regardless of quantity, cigarettes (including roll-your-own tobacco) and smokeless tobacco are prohibited in any type of international mail into the United States. The U.S. Postal Service may not accept for delivery or transmit any package that it knows or has reasonable cause to believe contains nonmailable cigarettes or smokeless tobacco.
Nonmailable cigarettes and smokeless tobacco sent in international mail are subject to seizure and forfeiture. Any nonmailable cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products may be subjectto seizure or forfeiture, and may be destroyed or retained by the Federal Government for the detection or prosecution of crimes or related investigations and then destroyed.
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Chapter 32
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Tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their derivatives; dyes, pigments and other colouring matter; paints and varnishes; putty and other mastics; inks
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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32.01-32.15
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See Part II, § 3.
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Chapter 33
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Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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33.01-33.07
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See Part II, § 3.
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Chapter 34
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Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, lubricating preparations, artificialwaxes, prepared waxes, polishing or scouring preparations, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, "dental waxes" and dental preparations with a basis of plaster
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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34.01-34.07
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See Part II, § 3.
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Chapter 35
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Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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35.01-35.07
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See Part II, § 3.
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Chapter 36
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Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Prohibited articles
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36.01-36.06
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Explosives, inflammable materials, and mechanical, chemical or other devices of compositions which may ignite or explode, including caps and loaded metal cartridges. Matches.
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Chapter 37
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Photographic or cinematographic goods
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Heading
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HS Code
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37.01-37.07
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 38
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Miscellaneous chemical products
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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38.01-38.25
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See Part II, § 3.
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Section VII
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Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof
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Chapter 39
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Plastics and articles thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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39.01-39.26
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See Part II, § 3.
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Chapter 40
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Rubber and articles thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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40.01-40.17
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Section VIII
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Raw hides and skins, leather, furskins and articles thereof; saddlery and harness; travel
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goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silk-worm gut)
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Chapter 41
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Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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41.01-41.15
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See Part II, § 1.6.
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Chapter 42
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Articles of leather, saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers;
articles of animal gut (other than silk-worm gut)
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Heading
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HS Code
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42.01-42.06
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 43 Furskins and artificial fur; manufactures thereof
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
43.01-43.03 Furs or skins of ermine, fox kolinsky, marten, mink, muskrat and weasel which have originated in the Russian Federation or in the People's Republic of China; also suchfurs or skins, regardless of origin, which have been dressed or dyed in either of the countries named.
Section IX Wood and articles of w ood; w ood charcoal; cork and articles of cork; manufactures of straw, of esparto or of other plaiting materials; basketware andwickerworkChapter 44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
44.01 4401.30 Charcoal briquettes.
Chapter 45 Cork and articles of cork
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
45.01 Ground cork.
■ Articles admitted conditionally
See Part II, § 2.3.
Chapter 46 Manufactures of straw, of esparto or of other plaiting materials; basketware and wickerwork
Heading HS Code
46.01-46.02 Articles admitted unconditionally.
Section X Pulp of w ood or of othe r fibrous cellulose material; w aste and scrap of pa per or paperboard;
paper and paperboard and articles thereofChapter 47 Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulose material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard
Heading HS Code
47.01-47.07 Articles admitted unconditionally.
Chapter 48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard
Heading HS Code
48.01-48.23 Articles admitted unconditionally.
Chapter 49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing indus try; manuscripts, typescripts and plans
Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles
49.01-49.11 Any articles whatever which violate the copyright law of the United States and articles bearing names or marks violating registered United States trademarks, unless imported with the written consent of the trademark owners.
Tickets, advertisements or circulars of lotteries. Chain letters known as "snowball letters". Reproductions of obligations or securities of any Government including all bonds, certificates of indebtedness, National Bank currency, Federal Reserve notes, Federal Reserve Bank notes, coupons, U.S. notes, treasury notes, gold certificates, silvercertificates, fractional notes, certificates of deposit, bills, checks, or drafts for money drawn by or upon authorized officer of the U.S. stamps and other representatives of value, of whatever denomination, issued under any Act of Congress, and cancelled U.S. stamps; except as permitted by Section 504 of Title 18, United States Code.
Imitations of postage stamps except that black-and-white illustrations of the following are admitted for philatelic publications:
– foreign revenue stamps if from plates so defaced as to indicate that the illustrations are not adapted or intended for use as stamps;
– foreign postage stamps;
– United States postage stamps of a size less than three-fourths or more than one-and-a-half times that of a genuine stamp.
■ Articles admitted conditionally
See Part III, § 5.
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Section XI
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Textiles and textile articles
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Chapter 50
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Silk
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Heading
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HS Code
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50.01-50.07
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 51
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Wool, fine or course animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Prohibited articles
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51.01
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Wool, unless relatively free of blood and manure.
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Chapter 52
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Cotton
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Heading
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HS Code
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52.01-52.12
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 53
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Other vegetable textile fibres, paper yarn and woven fabrics of paper yarn
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Heading
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HS Code
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53.01-53.11
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 54
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Man-made filaments; strip and the like of man-made textile materials
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Heading
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HS Code
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54.01-54.08
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 55
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Man-made staple fibres
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Heading
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HS Code
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55.01-55.16
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 56
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Wadding, felt and non-wovens; special yarns; twine, cordage; ropes and cables and articles thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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56.01-56.09
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 57
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Carpets and other textile floor coverings
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Heading
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HS Code
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57.01-57.05
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 58
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Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace; tapestries; trimmings; embroidery
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Heading
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HS Code
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58.01-58.11
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 59
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Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use
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Heading
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HS Code
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59.01-59.11
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 60
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Knitted or crocheted fabrics
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Heading
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HS Code
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60.01-60.06
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 61
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Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted
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Heading
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HS Code
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61.01-61.17
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 62
Heading
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HS Code
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Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted
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62.01-62.17
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 63
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Other made-up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags
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Heading
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HS Code
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63.01-63.10
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Section XII
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Footwear, headgear, umbrellas, sun umbrellas, walking-sticks, seat-sticks, whips, riding-
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crops and parts thereof; prepared feathers and articles made therewith; artificial flowers;
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articles of human hair
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Chapter 64
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Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles
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Heading
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HS Code
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64.01-64.06
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 65
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Headgear and parts thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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65.01-65.07
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 66
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Umbrellas, sun umbrellas, walking-sticks, seat-sticks, whips, riding-crops and parts thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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66.01-66.03
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 67
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Prepared feathers and down and articles made of feathers or of down; artificial flowers; articles
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of human hair
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Heading
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HS Code
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67.01-67.04
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Section XIII
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Articles of s tone, pla ster, c ement, a sbestos, mic a or s imilar ma terials; ceramic products;
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glass and glassware
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Chapter 68
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Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Prohibited articles
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68.11-68.13
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Asbestos.
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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68.01-68.10
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In sift-proof packaging.
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68.14-68.15
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Chapter 69
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Ceramic products
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Heading
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HS Code
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69.01-69.14
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 70
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Glass and glassware
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Heading
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HS Code
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70.01-70.20
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Section XIV
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Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals cladwith precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin
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Chapter 71
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Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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71.01
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See Part II, § 6.
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Section XV
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Base metals and articles of base metal
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Chapter 72
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Iron and steel
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Heading
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HS Code
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72.01-72.29
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 73
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Articles of iron or steel
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Heading
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HS Code
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73.01-73.26
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 74
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Copper and articles thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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74.01-74.19
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 75
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Nickel and articles thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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75.01-75.08
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 76
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Aluminium and articles thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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76.01-76.16
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 77
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(Reserved for possible future use in the harmonized system)
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Chapter 78
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Lead and articles thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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78.01-78.06
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 79
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Zinc and articles thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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79.01-79.07
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 80
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Tin and articles thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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80.01-80.07
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 81
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Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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81.01-81.13
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 82
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Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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82.01
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See Part III, § 4.
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Chapter 83
Heading
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HS Code
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Miscellaneous articles of base metal
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83.01-83.11
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Section XVI
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Machinery and mechani cal appliances; electrical equipm ent; parts thereof; sound recorders
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and reproducers, television image and s ound re corders a nd re producers, a nd pa rts a nd
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accessories of such articles
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Chapter 84
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Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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84.01-84.87
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 85
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Electrical ma chinery a nd e quipment a nd pa rts the reof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound reco rders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles
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Heading
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HS Code
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85.01-85.48
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Section XVII
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Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment
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Chapter 86
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Railway o r tramw ay lo comotives, ro lling-stock an d p arts th ereof; railw ay o r tramway track fixtures an d fittin gs an d p arts th ereof; mech anical (inc luding e lectro-mechanical) trafficsignalling equipment of all kinds
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Heading
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HS Code
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86.01-86.09
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 87
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Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock and parts and accessories thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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87.01-87.16
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 88
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Aircraft, spacecraft and parts thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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88.01-88.05
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 89
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Ships, boats and floating structures
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Heading
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HS Code
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89.01-89.08
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Section XVIII
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Optical, photographic, ci nematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical
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instruments and apparatus; clocks and w atches; musical instruments; parts and accessories
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thereof
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Chapter 90
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Optical, photographic, cine matographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Prohibited articles
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90.18
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Articles intended to prevent conception or produce unlawful abortion, as well as prints of all kinds furnishing information on that subject.
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90.22
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Radiation-emitting electronic products.
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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See Part II, § 5.5, and Part III, § 4.
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Chapter 91
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Clocks and watches and parts thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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91.01-91.14
Chapter 92
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See Part III, § 4.
Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles
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Heading
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HS Code
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92.01-92.09
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Section XIX
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Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof
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Chapter 93
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Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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■ Prohibited articles
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93.01-93.06
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The transportation of caps and of metal cartridges and of matches is not permitted. Firearms capable of being concealed on the person. Knives.
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■ Articles admitted conditionally
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See Part II, § 7 and 8, and Part III, § 4.
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Section XX
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Miscellaneous manufactured articles
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Chapter 94
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Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions a nd similar stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings not elsew here specified or included; illumina ted signs, name-plates and the like; prefabricated buildings
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Heading
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HS Code
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94.01-94.06
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 95
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Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof
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Heading
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HS Code
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95.01-95.08
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Chapter 96
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Miscellaneous manufactured articles
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Heading
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HS Code
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96.01-96.18
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Section XXI
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Work of art, collectors' pieces and antiques
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Chapter 97
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Work of art, collectors' pieces and antiques
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Heading
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HS Code
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97.01-97.06
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Articles admitted unconditionally.
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Part II:
Conditions of admission of articles imported or in transit
1. Animals and animal products
1.1 Bees. Live adult honeybees from Canada are unrestricted to United States destination. Experimental shipments from the countries are authorized under permit when addressed to the Bee Disease Laboratory, Agricultural Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705.
1.2 Silkworms. Shipments of silkworms bearing tags or labels issued by Plant Protection and Quarantine Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
1.3 Insects and reptiles. Dead insects and reptiles, when thoroughly dried or in a preservative.
1.4 Meat. General rule:
(a) All meat (beef, pork, mutton or poultry) or meat products can enter if fully cooked in a hermetically-sealed container so as to be shelf stable without refrigeration.
(b) All cured and fully dried meat or product derived from ruminants or swine, originating in any country where rinderpest or foot-and-mouth disease exists must be accompanied by an official processing certificate of the country of origin, indicating specific United States requirements.
(c) Cured and dried pork from countries declared by the United States as infected with hog cholera, swine vesicular disease and African swine fever is prohibited or permitted to go to a United States Department of Agriculture approved establishment for further processing before release.
Permits. The following products can only move in the mails under a permit. To obtain additional information, write to Permit Office, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – Veterinary Service, Federal Building, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782.
Animal casings require a certificate from the animal health official in the country of origin.
1.5 Edible animal products. These products are prohibited unless such products are imported for pharmaceutical or biological purposes with authorization of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – Veterinary Services of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Animal Products.
1.6 Other animal products. These products are admitted only if processed in a manner approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture either in a foreign country or the United States. Specific requirements vary with the product.
1.7 The importation of feathers on skin of any bird is prohibited, except the following:
– importation of clean feathers (without skins);
– importation for scientific or educational purposes;
– fully manufactured artificial flies used for fishing;
– the feathers and skins of certain species of birds imported under permit issued by the United States Secretary of the Interior for use in the manufacture of artificial flies for fishing or for millinerypurposes, and must go to an establishment approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for further processing. This applies to feathers-on-skin from any species of birds from a countryknown to be infected with exotic Newcastle disease.
2. Plants and plant products
2.1 Prohibitions and restrictions:
(a) Fruits, vegetables and fish which easily decompose, as well as substances which exhale a bad odour.
(b) The plants and plant products listed below when originating in the countries or regions shown, are subject to prohibitions or restrictions of plant quarantines or regulatory orders of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Plants and plant products
Acorns, fresh
Bagasse of sugarcane
Bamboo seeds, including seeds of all species of the tribe Bamsuseae
Broadbean (Vicia faba) (see Vicia) Broomcorn (see Sorghum vulgare)
Buds and budsticks
Chestnuts, fresh
Chionachne, Polytoca, Sclerachne and Trilobachne
species, plants and all parts thereof, including seeds
Citrus peel, unprocessed or air dried
Cocos nucifera plants and nuts for planting
Coffee, unroasted beans, berries or fruits, plants and leaves when addressed to Puerto Rico or Hawaii
(see exceptions)
Corn (including green corn-on-the-cob and corn husks)
Cotton, plants and parts thereof, including seed
and ginned or unginned cotton lint and linter, cotton wastes and hulls (see exceptions)
Cut flowers of azalea, camellia, cape jasmine, gardenia, lilac, rhododendron, and roses
Cut flowers of chrysanthemum
Cuttings
Fruit, fresh
Grain sorghums (see Sorghum vulgare)
Job's tears (Croix lachryma-jobi), plants and parts thereof, including seed
Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense), plants and parts thereof, including seed (see exceptions)
Lentils
Maize (Zea mays), plants and parts thereof, including seed (see exceptions)
Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), plants and parts thereof, including seed (see exceptions) Nursery stock (see plants and parts thereof)
Nuts, fresh, acorns and chestnuts
Okra (Hibiscus esculentus), seeds of
Pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucum), plants and parts thereof, including seeds (see exceptions)
Plants and parts thereof, other than seed, if capable of propagation
Polytoca species (see Chionachne, etc.)
Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)
Rice (Oryza sativa), including straw, hulls and the grain in the hull
Roots, tubers and other underground portions of plants other than bulbs and corms
Countries of origin
All countries, except Canada
All countries, except when addressed to Guam
All countries
All countries
All countries, except Canada
All countries
All countries All countries All countries
All countries, except British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, Mexico and Central and South America
All countries
All countries, except Canada
Venezuela
All countries
All countries, except fruit grown in and shipped from Canada
All countries
All countries
All countries
All countries
All countries
All countries
All countries, except Canada
All countries
All countries
All countries
All countries, except Canada (not including Newfoundland and the land district of South Saanich on Vancouver Island of British Columbia) and Bermuda
All countries
All countries
Plants and plant products
Scions
Sclerachne species (see Chionachne, etc.)
Seeds of palms and of all trees, shrubs, and other plants of a woody nature
Soil
Sorghum vulgare and its varieties, plants and all parts thereof, including seed (see exceptions) Sudan grass (see Sorghum vulgare)
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), plants and all parts thereof, including seed, also sugarcane bagasse (see exceptions)
Sweetpea seeds and seeds of other species of
Lathyrus
Sweet or saccharine sorghums (see Sorghum vulgare)
Teosinte (Euchlaena luxurians), plants and parts thereof
Vegetables, fresh (except potatoes, and sweet potatoes)
Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas)
Vetch, seeds of, and other species of Vicia
Wheat (Triticum spp.) grain and wheat products of the milling process except wheat flour, and wheat straw, hulls and chaff thereof, including seed (see exceptions)
Countries of origin
All countries
All countries
All countries
All countries All countries All countries
All countries
All countries, except Canada
All countries
All countries
Afghanistan, Algeria, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria (Rep.), Chile, China (People's Rep.), Cyprus, Dem People's Rep of Korea, Egypt, Falkland Islands, Greece, Guatemala, Hongkong (China),
Hungary (Rep.), India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep), Libyan Jamahiriya, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Pescadores, Portugal, Quemoy and Matsu Islands, Romania, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan (China), Tanzania (United Rep.), Tunisia, Turkey and Venezuela
2.2 Exceptions to prohibitions affecting plants and plant products. The following exceptions are made to permit the use of the mails for the shipment to the United States of plant material listed above:
(a) Parcels bearing a green and yellow mailing tag or label issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and furnished to the shipper by the person authorized to import the plant material. Each tag or label will bear the address of a plant quarantine station where inspection and any required treatment will be given. The tag or label should be affixed securely to the outside of the parcel and the name and address of the ultimate addressee should not appear on the outside but should be
enclosed within the parcel. Upon arrival in the United States parcels bearing such mailing tags or labels will be dispatched promptly to a plant quarantine station. If upon inspection the contents are found to be enterable under the corresponding import permit and are found to be pest-free or can be rendered free of injurious plant pests, the parcel will be readdressed and forwarded to the permittee under the original postage.
(b) The following products are admissible without green and yellow mailing tags or labels subject to such treatment as inspection findings require:
– bulbs;
– cereal, processed;
– chestnuts from Canada;
– coffee beans, unroasted, when addressed to locations other than Puerto Rico or Hawaii;
– corms, except gladiolus corms;
– corn-on-the-cob (green or dried) from Provinces of British Colombia and Alberta, Canada, South America, Central
America and Mexico;
– corn husks, same as corn-on-the-cob;
– corn silks;
– cotton lint as packing, if free of seed;
– cotton samples, commercial;
– cottonseed cake and meal;
– fruits and vegetables of Canadian origin (except sweet potatoes; black currants and potatoes when originating in Newfoundland or the land district of South Saanich, British Columbia);
– fruits and vegetables from all sources if cured, dried, or otherwise processed, or believed to be for medical, analytical or manufacturing purposes;
– hellgrammites;
– herbarium materials, except noxious weeds and endangered species;
– honeybees from Canada;
– leeches;
– lichens free of soil;
– Mexican jumping beans;
– mushrooms;
– mushroom spawn;
– pine cones and dried seed pods, and other dry seed-bearing plant parts;
– rice, polished;
– seed of field crops, vegetables, and annual, biennial and perennial flowers which are essentially herbaceous in character (except seed of alfalfa, corn, kenaf, lathyrus, lentils, okra, rice, safflower, sorghum, vicia and wheat);
– shamrocks;
– truffles;
– vegetables – see fruits and vegetables.
2.3 Parcels containing straw, grasses, and other plant material used as packing for other articles should not be accepted for transmittal to the United States. Approved packing materials include the following if free of soil and when they have not previously been used with living plants:
– buckwheat hulls;
– charcoal;
– coral sand from Bermuda (when free from surface soil and certified as such by the Director of Agriculture in Bermuda);
– excelsior;
– ground cork;
– ground peat;
– perlite;
– polymer stabilized cellulose;
– sawdust;
– shavings;
– sphagnum;
– vegetable fibre when free of pulp (including coconut fiber and Osmunda fiber, but excluding sugarcane and unmanufactured cotton fibre).
Note: Parcels accepted for transmittal to the United States which contain or are contaminated with plant material the entry of which into that country is not authorized may be destroyed or returned to the country of origin as prohibited material in accordance with existing regulations.
2.4 Insects and soil. Shipments of living insects, bacteria, fungi, other living organisms, and samples of soil or earth bearing tags or labels issued by the Plant Protection and Quarantine Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
2.5 Genetically engineered organisms. Shipments of living, genetically engineered, plants, bacteria, fungi, viruses, insects, mites, nematodes, slugs, snails, protozoa, or other invertebrate animals, parasitic plants, or any entity related to the foregoing must bear a label issued by Biotechnology, Biologics and Environmental Protection Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
3. Hazardous materials
The articles prohibited by article 20 of the 1989 Washington Postal Parcels Agreement, and article 41 of the 1989 Washington Universal Postal Convention, i.e. explosives, flammable materials such as pyrophoric, flammable, or combustible liquids, and flammable solids, oxidizers, corrosives, liquid or solid, compressed gases and poisons.
4. Radioactive material
Radioactive material, includes only those which are classified as limited quantities of radioactive materials, except instruments, articles and devices or articles containing natural uranium or thorium, provided that the activity content of any package, instrument or article does not exceed the following limits:
5. Pharmaceutical products
5.1 General. Adulterated or misbranded foods, drugs, diagnostic or therapeutic devices, cosmetics, articles containing them, or any new drug for which no approved application is in effect, which are subject to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of
25 June 1938, as amended, and in violation of section 801 of that Act.
5.2 Biological products. Any biological product which has been propagated or manufactured and prepared at an unlicensed establishment or any establishment holding a suspended or revoked licence. Any biological product which is not properly marked in accordance with 42 USC 262, Public Health Service Act, Biological Products.
5.3 Infectious substances. Infectious substances (substances containing viable micro-organisms or their toxins which are known, or suspected, to cause disease in animals or humans), not exceeding 50 milliliters only if packed in the following manner:
i the primary container must be packaged in a securely sealed and watertight test tube, vial, etc., enclosed in a second sealed and watertight durable container;
ii the space at the top, bottom and sides between the primary and secondary containers must contain cushioning material to absorb the entire contents in case of leakage. These containers must be enclosed in fiberboard or equivalent strength shipping containers;
iii all infectious substances which may cause disease in domestic animals require a permit issued to the importer by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, Washington, D.C. 20250.
5.4 Serums. All serum, vaccine, virus or other biological products intended for the treatment of domestic animals; all vector, cultures or collections of organisms or viruses, or their derivatives, that may introduce or disseminate diseases of animals, require a permit issued to the importer by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, VeterinaryServices, Washington, D.C. 20250.
5.5 Radiation-emitting products. Any radiation-emitting electronic product which does not comply with an applicable standard prescribed pursuant to 42 USC 263, unless covered by an exemption.
6. Registered articles
Registered articles (with the exception of small packets) containing coins, manufactured or unmanufactured platinum, gold
or silver, or other precious articles, as well as any values payable to the bearer, are not excluded from the mails, but if found liable to duty they are treated in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Laws.
7. Firearms
7.1 Marking. Each article containing a firearm (i.e. any weapon which expels projectiles by explosive force, mechanical action, air or gas pressure) must be marked on the outside "FIREARM" in capital letters at least 1 inch (2.54 cm) high and of corresponding width.
7.2 Concealable firearms:
(a) The following firearms are classed as capable of being concealed on the person: pistols and revolvers; shotguns having barrels less than 18 inches (45.72 cm) long; rifles having barrels less than 16 inches (40.64 cm) long; shotguns or rifles which have been shortened to a total length of less than 26 inches (66.04 cm) or adapted in any manner so as to be concealed on the person. Such firearms are admitted only if address to be used in the exercise of their official functions
to officer of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps or Organized Reserve Corps; to officers of the National Guard or Militia of a State, Territory or District; to officers of the United States or of a State, Territory or District whose official functions consist in serving warrants for arrest or commitment; to employees of the Postal Service; officers and employees of enforcement agencies of the United States; to custodians charged with guarding properties of the United States or of a State, Territory or District; or to manufacturers of firearms or bona fide dealers. The mailer must also be a manufacturer, dealer or person in one of the above-named authorized categories.
(b) Articles containing concealable firearms must be plainly marked, in addition to the word firearm, with the addressee's qualifications, for example, "For Army Officer", "For Dealer", etc., as the case may be. The shipment must be accompanied by an affidavit attesting that the addressee really belongs to one of the classes authorized to receive firearms by mail, with a certificate from a competent authority in the United States that the arms are really intended for legitimate purposes.
(c) The addressee of every article containing a concealable firearm, except for manufacturers or dealers known to the postmaster, is required to present himself at the post office and establish his identity before taking delivery. The name and address of each person receiving a firearm by mail is reported by the postmaster to the police authorities of the locality.
7.3 Permits. A permit issued by the Department of State must be presented by the addressee to the customs authorities for the importation of rifles, carbines, revolvers and pistols, except those of 0,50 caliber (1,27 cm) or less manufactured prior to 1898; also for all machine guns, machine pistols and fully automatic rifles.
7.4 Antique firearms. Antique firearms manufactured prior to 1898, sent as curios or museum pieces, are exempt from the foregoing restrictions.
8. Knives
Knives have a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle, or by operation of inertia, gravity or both, are mailable only when sent to:
(a) the following designated supply or procurement officers and employees ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives for use in connection with the activities of their respective governments or organizations:
i civilian or armed forces supply or procurement officers and employees of the Federal Government;
ii supply or procurement officers of the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the Militia of a State, Territory, or the
District of Columbia;
iii supply or procurement officers or employees of the municipal government of the District of Columbia or of the government of any State or Territory, or of any country, city or other political subdivision of a State or Territory;
(b) manufacturers of such knives, or bona fide dealers therein, in connection with a shipment made pursuant to an order from any person designated in 124.55 of the Domestic Mail Manual.
9. General conditions
The following prohibitions apply to all articles admitted with or without conditions:
(a) any article the outside of which bears an inscription having an injurious or threatening character;
(b) all articles mined, produced or manufactured wholly or in part in any foreign country by convict labour and/or forced labour and/or indentured labour under penal sanctions.
10. Food products admitted conditionally as imports
As a result of new regulations issued by the Food and Drug Administration under the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, as from 12 December 2003, all shipments of articles of food to the United States must be preceded by a prior notice of shipment. This applies to articles shipped for commercial purposes or as gifts. Articles of food include (but are not limited to) food for humans or animals, dietary supplements, nutritional supplements, vitamins, food and color additives. Articles of food which are non-commercially prepared by an individual in his own residence and sent to another individual as a (non-commercial) gift are exempt from submission of this prior notice.
This prior notice may be submitted and a prior notice conformation number obtained via the Internet at:
Mail shipments containing food articles for which a prior notice conformation number has not been entered on the customs declaration may be returned to the sender or (if no return address is included) destroyed.
Should you require information on what must be submitted with a prior notice, consult the Food and Drug Administration’s website:
Person to contact:
Joseph L. McCallion
Deputy Director
Division of Import Operations and Policy (HFC–170) Food and Drug Administration
Tel.: (+1 301) 443 6553
11. Revised information concerning the importation of cigarettes into the United States of America
The importation of cigarettes into the United States of America for personal use is generally prohibited, and imported cigarettes may be subject to forfeiture and destruction under the laws of the United States. Cigarettes may be imported legally into the United States only if the conditions specified in title 19, section 1681a, of the United States Code are met. The conditions specified in section 1681a include requirements that the importer submit at the time of entry:
– a certificate signed by the manufacturer (or an authorized official of such manufacturer) stating that such manufacturer has submitted to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services lists of ingredients added to the tobacco in the manufacture of the cigarettes;
– a certificate signed by such importer certifying that the packaging of the cigarettes bears the warnings prescribed by law;
– a certificate signed by such importer certifying that it complies with and will continue to comply with a rotation plan approved by the Federal Trade Commission; and
– when the cigarettes bear a United States trademark registered for such cigarettes, a certificate signed by the owner of the trademark registration (or a person authorized to act on behalf of such owner) stating that such owner consents to the importation of the cigarettes into the United States.
There are three exceptions to the obligations set forth above:
The first exception is for a personal-use quantity of cigarettes being brought into the United States by a traveller, whether a resident or non-resident of the United States, in quantities that are allowed entry free of tax and duty under subchapter IV of chapter 98 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (generally 200 cigarettes). The cigarettes may be imported
by the traveller as part of his accompanied baggage upon his arrival in the United States, or, alternatively, the cigarettes may be shipped to the United States for the traveller's account.
The second exception is for cigarettes imported into the United States solely for analysis and in quantities suitable for that purpose. However, to import cigarettes under this exception the importer must certify in a form required by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury that it is a manufacturer of cigarettes, a federal or state government agency or a university, or is otherwise engaged in bona fide research; that the cigarettes will be used solely for analysis; and that the cigarettes will not be sold in domestic commerce in the United States.
The third exception is for cigarettes intended for non-commercial use, re-export, or repackaging. To import cigarettes under this exception, the importer must certify that the owner of the U.S. trademark registered for the cigarettes has consented to the importation and provide certification by the manufacturer or the export warehouse to which the cigarettes are to be delivered to the effect that it will not distribute the cigarettes into domestic commerce unless, prior to such distribution it has complied with section 1681a and other applicable federal and state laws. For specific information on the requirements, see the U.S. Customs
and Border Protection website at:
There are also substantial restrictions on the reimportation of cigarettes manufactured in the United States for export. Such cigarettes may be reimported by an arriving traveller or shipped to the United States for the traveller's account, in quantities allowed entry free of tax and duty under subchapter IV of chapter 98 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. Otherwise, such cigarettes may be imported to the United States only by the original manufacturer or an export warehouse operator authorized by the manufacturer to receive them. Those cigarettes may not be sold in the United States or held for sale in the United States unless they are removed from their export packaging and repackaged by the original manufacturer into new packaging that does not contain an export label.
Finally, any person who engages in the business of importing cigarettes must obtain a Tobacco Importer's Permit from the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and pay excise taxes imposed by title 26, chapter 52, of the United States Code. Permits are administered by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Furthermore, any person who receives tobacco products by mail or commercial delivery service must pay applicable excise tax and duties, unless eligible for an exemption (e.g. personal use by returning traveller). In addition, any person who sells cigarettes or transfers cigarettes on which no state excise taxes have been paid to anyone in a state other than a distributor licensed by or located in such state must file a monthly report with the tax administrator in thestate in which the cigarettes are sold or transferred.
11. Controlled substances
Except as provided below, all controlled substances identified in 21 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) 1308 are prohibited. A list of controlled substances may be found at:www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov
A controlled substance is any narcotic, hallucinogenic, stimulant, or depressant drug identified in Schedules I to V of the Controlled Substances Act in 21 United States Code U.S.C. 801 and the implementing regulations in 21 C.F.R 1300. Controlled substances may be mailed under limited circumstances by authorized and/or registered senders to authorized
recipients when all the following requirements are satisfied: (i) the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. §§ 801 et seq. and 21
C.F.R. Part 1300 et seq.); (ii) the Import and Export of Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. §§ 951 et seq. and 21 C.F.R. Part 1312 et seq.); (iii) 18 U.S.C. 1716; and (iv) the United States Postal Service Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 601.11.11.
The Controlled Substances Act can be found on the Internet at:
or at:
The Controlled Substances Act regulations can be found on the Internet at:
The Import and Export of Controlled Substances Act can be found on the Internet at:
or at:
The Import and Export of Controlled Substances Act regulations can be found on the Internet at:
18 U.S.C. § 1716 can be found on the Internet at:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+18USC1716
DMM 601.11.11 can be found on the Internet at:
Changes to the US Food and Drug Administration's requirement of submitting prior notice before the dispatch of food products to the USA
By IB circular 408 of 24 November 2003, member countries were informed of the US Food and Drug Administration's requirement of submitting prior notice before the dispatch of food products to the USA.
For the purpose of prior notice, ''food'' means:
(1) articles of food or drink for man or other animals, (2) chewing gum, and
(3) materials used as components of any such article, except that it does not include food contact substances or pesticides.
In response to the concerns expressed by the International Bureau and various postal administrations of the UPU member countries, the US Food and Drug Authorities have agreed to relax the requirement of obtaining prior notice before the dispatch of food products to the USA.
According to the Compliance Policy Guide, revised June 2004, issued by the US Food and Drug Administration, the requirement of prior notice does not apply to food arriving by international mail,food carried by or otherwise accompanying an individual, food made by an individual in his/her personal residence and sent as a personal gift for non-business reasons to an individual in the United States or food imported or offered for import for non-commercial purpose. Examples of foods imported or offered for import that may be covered by this non-commercial category are:
– food in household goods, including military, civilian, government agency and diplomatic transfers;
– food purchased by a traveller and mailed or shipped to the traveller's U.S. address by the traveller;
– gifts purchased at a commercial establishment and sent by the purchaser. If the commercial establishment posts the goods on its behalf, the prior notification will still apply.
Businesses wishing to send manufactured food products via UPU member countries must continue to obtain a prior notification reference number from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).To obtain the required information, they can access the website: www.access.fda.gov
Part III:
Special provisions, Customs and other
1. Drawing up of customs declarations
Irrespective of the country of origin, customs declarations furnishing exact information as to the contents and value must accompany every parcel and be pasted to the article or securelyaffixed thereto.
2. Need to insert ordinary or consular invoices, etc.
(a) A customs declaration on the form provided by the Universal Postal Union, giving an accurate description and the value of the contents, shall accompany each parcel-post shipment and be securely attached to the parcel. If the shipment is of
a commercial nature, it shall also be accompanied by a commercial invoice which shall be placed in the parcel bearing the customs declaration.
(b) Unless the form CN 22 affixed to articles containing merchandise is completed to give an accurate description of the content and a correct statement of the value, it is necessary to enclose a form CN 23 or an invoice. The latter procedure is always recommended in the case of commercial shipments of material value. Packages other than parcel post must bear on the address side a label, form CN 22, or the endorsement "May be opened for Customs purposes before delivery", or similar words definitely waiving the privacy of the seal and indicating that customs officers may open the parcel without recourse to the addressee.
(c) When the aggregate value of a shipment exceeds US$500, a special customs invoice must be furnished unless the merchandise is of a class specifically exempted from this requirement by the United States Customs Regulations. Information in this regard can be obtained at any United States consular office, which will also furnish the forms in question. Customs entry to the United States will be facilitated if the special customs invoice is sent with the shipment.
No other invoice or statement of value is then required.
(d) Each article containing an invoice shall be marked on the address side "Invoice enclosed". If the invoice cannot conveniently be enclosed within a sealed article, it may be securelyattached to the article.
(e) Failure to comply with any of the requirements set forth above will result in delay in the clearance of mail shipments through the United States Customs.
(f) If the value of the mail imported exceeds US$1000, the addressee must prepare and file a formal customs entry
(consumption entry) for it at the nearest customs port. A commercial invoice is required with the entry.
Note: A nominal charge on all dutiable or taxable mail, in addition to the duty is collected from the addressee. In the event the full amount of customs duty is subsequently refunded on a mail shipment, the postal fee is also refunded.
(g) Unaccompanied shipments of wearing apparel or textile products from places like Hongkong (China), Guam, etc., require formal entry regardless of value.
Articles classified in subchapters III and IV, chapter 99, HTSUS
Bill folds and other flat goods
Feathers and feather products
Flowers and foliage, artificial or preserved
Footwear
Fur, articles of Furniture Gloves Handbags
Headware and hat braids
The limit on these articles is set at US$250.
3. Need to insert certificates of origin, import permits, etc.
Leather, articles of Luggage Mattresses
Millinery ornaments
Pillows and cushions
Plastic, miscellaneous articles of Rubber, miscellaneous articles of Textile fibers and products Trimmings
With certain exceptions set forth below, every article of foreign origin or its container (except as noted below) when the article itself is excepted, imported into the United States shall be marked in a conspicuous place legibly, indelibly and permanently as the nature of the article or container will permit in such a manner as to indicate to an ultimate purchaser in the United States the English name of the country of origin of the article. The following articles are exempt from the requirement of markings:
i articles incapable of being marked;
ii articles which cannot be marked prior to shipment to the United States without injury;
iii articles which cannot be marked prior to shipment to the United States at an expense economically prohibitive of their importation;
iv articles the marking of a container of which will reasonably indicate the origin of such articles. The marking of the container of an article will reasonably indicate the origin of such article if the container is sealed and the article is usually sold to the ultimate purchaser with the container being opened to make the article readily available for inspection;
v articles which are crude substances;
vi articles imported for use by the importer and not intended for sale in their imported or any other form;
vii articles to be processed in the United States by the importer or for his account otherwise than for the purpose of concealing the origin of such articles and in such a manner that any mark of the country of origin would necessarily
be obliterated, destroyed or permanently concealed;
viii articles the country of origin of which any ultimate purchaser, by reason of the character of such articles, or by reason
of the circumstances of their importation, must necessarily know, even though the articles are not marked to indicate their origin;
ix articles which were produced in the 20 years prior to their importation into the United States;
x articles listed in Treasury Decisions 49690, 49835 and 49896;
xi articles which cannot be marked after importation except at an expense which is economically prohibitive unless there is intention to evade the marking requirements;
xii articles valued at not more than US$1 which are passed without customs entry;
xiii articles imported into a foreign-trade zone or a bonded warehouse for immediate exportation or for transportation and exportation;
xiv products of American fisheries which are free of duty;
xv products of possessions of the United States;
xvi products of the United States exported and returned;
xvii bona fide gifts from persons in foreign countries to persons in the United States, provided the aggregate value of articles imported by one person on one day and exempted from the payment of duty shall not exceed US$10.
The usual containers of articles exempt under vi, vii, viii, xii and xvii above, are also exempt from the marking requirement. When any article subject to the above marking requirements is normally wrapped or enclosed when it reaches the ultimate purchaser, the container or wrapper must be marked to show the country of origin, unless the container is of transparent material so that the necessary marking is plainly visible on the article itself.
4. Special markings required on certain articles of foreign origin imported in to the United States
(a) Watch movements and similar time-keeping mechanisms must have cut, engraved or die-sunk conspicuously and indelibly on one or more of the top plates or bridges the following: name ofcountry of manufacture, name of maker or purchaser, in words the number of jewels and number and classes of adjustments. Those markings may, if necessary,
be applied after importation.
(b) Dials for the foregoing, whether or not attached thereto, must have the name of the country of manufacture indelibly and conspicuously stamped, cut, engraved or die-sunk on an exposed part thereto. This marking may, if necessary, be applied after importation.
(c) Cases, containers or housings for any of the foregoing movements or mechanisms, other than simple shipping containers, must have the complete name of the maker or purchaser and the country of manufacture conspicuously and indelibly cut, engraved, or die-sunk on the inside of the back cover. This may be done after importation if necessary.
(d) Clocks, clock movements and devices for measuring speeds, distances or cumulative quantities or for controlling the speed of mechanical devices must have cut, engraved or die-sunk conspicuously and indelibly on the most visible part of the front or back plate the name of the country of manufacture, the name of the maker or purchaser and the number of bearing jewels if any. This may be done after importation if necessary. Cases, containers or housings for any of the
foregoing, whether attached thereto or imported separately, must have stamped, cut, engraved or die-sunk conspicuously and indelibly on the back the name of the country of manufacture.This may be done after importation if necessary.
(e) Subject to the exceptions prescribed by law, the following articles must be marked legibly and conspicuously to indicate their origin by die-stamping, cast-in-the-mould lettering, etching (acid or electrolytic), engraving, or by means of metal plates which bear the prescribed marking and which are securely attached to the article in a conspicuous place by welding, screws or rivets (TD 53455):
– knives having a folding or movable blade;
– knives with fixed blades, including forks, steels and cleavers;
– clippers, shears and scissors, and blades thereof;
– safety razors and parts thereof, for safety razor blades;
– surgical needles including hypodermic needles, other surgical instruments and dental instruments, scientific and laboratory instruments and apparatus, surveying and mathematical instruments, and drawing instruments made wholly or partly of metal, and parts thereof; also pliers, pincers, nippers and hinged tools for handling wire, finished or un- finished;
– thermostatic containers constructed with a vacuum or partial vacuum to maintain the temperature of the contents, or blanks and pistons of such articles.
5. Customs and other provisions
(a) The following are admitted free of customs duty:
– any admissible article other than tobacco products and perfume containing alcohol sent as a bona fide gift, provided that the total volume of such articles received by one person in one day does not exceed US$25;
– any admissible article other than tobacco products have a value less than $10 unless it appears to be a part of a larger shipment sent separately for the purpose of evading the Customs Regulations;
– samples which are to be used in the United States only for soliciting orders for products of foreign countries
if the value of a sample does not exceed $1 or if the sample is marked, torn, perforated, or otherwise treated, in such a manner that it is unsuitable for sale or for use otherwise than as a sample;
– books, bound and not bound pamphlets;
– printed matter suitable for use in the production of such books as would themselves be free of duty;
– printed matter issued by literary or scientific institutions for their subscribers or exchange;
– printed matter of individuals, not advertising matter, for gratuitous private circulation;
– international customs forms (carnets), and parts thereof, in English or French (whether or not in additional languages);
– newspapers;
– periodicals;
– music in books or sheets;
– maps, atlases and charts;
– photographs, engravings, etchings, lithographs and wood cuts, and pictorial matter produced by relief or stencil printing process, sound or not bound, printed over 20 years at timeof importation;
– printed matter printed by a lithographic process on paper not over 0.020 inches thick is generally dutiable at the rate of 6 cents per pound; other printed matter susceptible of authorship is dutiable at the rate of 2% ad valorem, and otherwise dutiable at the rate of 7,5% ad valorem.
(b) Tea is exempt from duties, but is subject to examination by the Customs with a view to ascertaining its purity, quality and fitness for consumption. However, this verification is not necessaryfor samples of tea imported in articles originating in producing countries, up to the weight of 2 pounds when not intended for sale.
6. Provisions concerning the seizure of postal items by the customs authorities as a result of false declaration of their contents
The merchandise sent is subject to seizure on account of false declaration.
The Customs Regulations of the United States provide that all articles which are prohibited importation and all articles subject to seizure as being imported or brought into the country contrary to law,including articles subject to seizure under the Customs Laws because of a false or fraudulent invoice or declaration covering the same, or for any wilful act or omission on the part of any consignor, seller, owner, importer, consignee or agent, by means whereof the United States may be deprived
of the lawful duties, shall be immediately seized and turned over to the customs officers for appropriate treatment under the Customs Laws. All articles known or believed to contain merchandise, ofwhich the addressee refuses to take delivery, or declines to make formal entry where the appraised value exceeds the value declared, shall be delivered to the customs officers for treatment under the Customs Laws upon production to the postmaster of satisfactory evidence of fraudulent intent on the part of any of the persons mentioned above. In all cases where articles are seized bycustoms officers, they shall notify the addressee of that fact and the reason thereof. Such reason is also noted on the receipt covering registered articles.
7. Territories of the United States of America coming within the Union's jurisdiction by virtue of article 23 of the Constitution
– Guam, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Virgin Islands of the United States of America.
– Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands comprising the Marshall Islands (including Kwajelein, Eniwetok and Majuro), the Caroline Islands (including Kosrae, Ponape, Truk, Ulithi, Yap and the Palau Islands) and the Mariana Islands (including Saipan and Tinian, but not the United States Possession of Guam).
8. Prohibited items
Items prohibited in the United States of America are also prohibited in its Territories. However, the information under section II concerning the importation of plants, etc., does not apply to Guam,Samoa or the Virgin Islands of the United States of America. This information does apply, however, to Puerto Rico.
The designated operator of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, the United States Postal Service (USPS), wishes to inform the designated operators of other Union member countries of a change in national legislation relating to the mailability of electronic nicotine delivery systems. From 21 October 2021, electronic nicotine delivery systems are prohibited in all inbound and outbound international items. An “electronic nicotine delivery system” is defined as any electronic device that, through an aerosolized solution, delivers nicotine, flavour or any other substance to the user inhaling from the device. Examples include e-cigarettes, e-hookahs, e-cigars, vape pens, advanced refillable personal vaporizers and electronic pipes. Also prohibited is any component, liquid, part or accessory of an electronic nicotine delivery system, regardless of whether it is sold separately from the device. Despite the terminology, the prohibition applies regardless of whether an item actually contains or is used to deliver nicotine. Details of goods subject to prohibitions and restrictions in the United States can be found in the UPU Prohibitions Compendium (prohibitions.ptc.post) and in the countryspecific list of prohibitions (www.upu.int/en/Postal-Solutions/Programmes-Services/ Postal-Supply-Chain/Customs), in accordance with article 19.1.3 of the UPU Convention. Non-mailable electronic nicotine delivery systems are subject to seizure and forfeiture, and senders of electronic nicotine delivery systems are subject to criminal penalties under US law. The USPS mailing standards, which include definitions of these products, may be accessed via the following link: www.federalregister.gov/ documents/2021/10/21/2021-22787/treatment-of-e-cigarettes-in-the-mail. USPS requests that designated operators take steps to avoid accepting international postal items destined for the US that contain electronic nicotine delivery systems, and that designated operators remind their customers that these articles are prohibited in shipments to the US. Y
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