One of the lasting memories of a vacation overseas is buying a souvenir. It’s something we can look back on and remember a trip, or it might be a tasty reminder of the incredible food you had while you were there. Most people buy at least one souvenir per trip, ranging from fridge magnets to rugs to artwork to wheels of cheese. However, some of these souvenirs aren’t actually allowed back into the U.S.
From hair accessories made with parts of endangered animals to foodstuffs that require regulation in the U.S., a few common souvenirs might shock you. While some of these souvenirs may seem harmless on the surface, bringing them into the U.S. can be a federal crime and may carry hefty fines.
So, what specifically are these souvenirs that are US federal crimes to bring into the country? Let’s dive in and find out so that you don’t accidentally buy a criminal souvenir on your next trip overseas.
Conch Shells or Coral Branches
When you’re in the Caribbean, bringing back a beautiful Queen conch shell or a piece of stony coral in dazzling colors and shapes seems like a safe souvenir. However, both of these are protected under CITES, an international agreement designed to protect endangered wild animals and plants from harmful global trade.
If you try to import them into the US without the proper permits, it’s a federal crime. You need permits from the host country and clearance from U.S. Fish & Wildlife; otherwise, you’re violating the Lacey Act, and they’re considered illegally harvested wildlife or plants.
Kinder Surprise Eggs
One of the most popular souvenirs to bring back is candies or chocolates, especially for colleagues or family members. However, if you bring back the Kinder Surprise eggs, you might face backlash at the border. These children’s classics are sold all over the world, but one of the most popular places they’re sold is in Mexico. The chocolate shell hides a yellow container, often with a self-assembly toy inside.
It’s this “surprise” that makes it illegal to bring back into the U.S. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938, embedded non-nutritive objects inside confectionery are illegal due to choking hazards. Basically, any foreign, non-food content hidden within food, especially for children, cannot be brought into the US.
In fact, the CBP regularly seizes thousands of these eggs at the various US borders. If you’re caught, travelers can face fines per egg. A strong consequence for bringing back a child’s candy!
Feather Earrings or Indian Dreamcatchers Made with Protected Bird Feathers
If you want to buy some cultural items or home decor from your next trip, be mindful of what they’re actually made of. Dreamcatchers and feather earrings are common souvenirs, especially from Indigenous communities. One of the key factors is bright, colorful feathers that stand out.
However, it all comes down to what bird the feathers come from. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and CITES, it’s a federal crime to import, transport, or possess feathers or parts of thousands of bird species. These include birds such as hawks, eagles, songbirds, and parrots. To transport dreamcatchers or feather jewelry, you need specific federal permits.
Ivory Carvings or Elephant Hair Bracelets
It may come as no surprise that ivory carvings or elephant hair bracelets are banned in the U.S. These are commonly found in markets in Africa and Southeast Asia, but as they’re made from the illegal ivory trade, you cannot bring them back as a souvenir into the U.S.
Of course, there is a near-total ban on the commercial import of African or Asian elephant ivory into the U.S. This is clearly documented under the African Elephant Conservation Act and Endangered Species Act. When it comes to exceptions to this rule, they’re almost non-existent. You’d need to fit extremely narrow circumstances and have a ton of documentation.
Caviar (Over 125 Grams)
If you’re heading to Scandinavia or Eastern Europe, you might be tasting one of the finer things in life. Caviar is one of the most expensive food items in the world and is a delicious delicacy that many people want to bring back as a souvenir. In fact, plenty of European airports sell it duty-free as a last-minute purchase.
Caviar is made of sturgeon roe, and sturgeon are heavily protected under CITES. So much so, you can only import a maximum of 125 grams (about 4.4 ounces) per person. This falls under personal consumption allowances without a permit. If you bring anything higher than that and don’t declare it when you enter the country, it’s a federal crime.
Pre-Columbian Pottery or Ancient Archaeological Artifacts
If you’re on a lovely adventure through antique shops in Peru, Italy, or Egypt, you need to be careful what you buy. Not all antiques are created equal, and what seems like a pretty piece of pottery or an interesting arrowhead could get you in serious trouble when you bring it back across the US border.
The Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act (CPIA) and the National Stolen Property Act are both in place to prevent the theft of cultural heritage artifacts. They expressly forbid importing stolen or illegally exported cultural heritage artifacts, and you could get caught out if you purchase something genuine in an antiques store or market. Many countries have strict laws about declaring all archaeological items as state property. This is especially true of countries with ancient heritage like Peru, Egypt, Greece, and Italy. In fact, bringing them into the U.S. is considered illegal trafficking.
Exotic Wood Goods (e.g., Brazilian Rosewood or Mahogany Carvings)
A popular type of souvenir can be a wooden bowl, statue, set of salad spoons, or even a decorative wooden statue. These items are often small, durable for transporting home, and can have cultural or decorative significance. All in all, seemingly great hallmarks of a perfect souvenir. However, it’s important to check what kind of wood these souvenirs are made out of.
According to CITES and the Lacey Act, there are several protected timber species, like Brazilian Rosewood and types of Mahogany. This means any souvenirs, big or small, made from these kinds of wood could be a federal crime. If you do try to import these items, you need to be able to prove that the wood was harvested legally with all the proper documentation from CITES.
So, while we all love a souvenir to remember a trip, there are a plethora of items that you shouldn’t bring back to the U.S. Other items include fresh meats like Jamón Ibérico from Spain and live plants, such as cacti. As it’s importing and exporting through border control, these are considered serious federal crimes with high fines and sometimes even jail time.
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