Actually phytosanitary enforcement at the borders is quite lacking in the DR, compared to other countries, including the US. Try to bring something uncooked through Miami airport, and expect to be treated like a drugtrafficker. You must be aware that the reason behing phytosanitary transborder control is to prevent the spreading of plagues and diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever, mad-cow disease, and many others.
to prevent the spreading of plagues and diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever, mad-cow disease, and many others.
Actually phytosanitary enforcement at the borders is quite lacking in the DR, compared to other countries, including the US. Try to bring something uncooked through Miami airport, and expect to be treated like a drugtrafficker. You must be aware that the reason behing phytosanitary transborder control is to prevent the spreading of plagues and diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever, mad-cow disease, and many others.
I returned to the DR on 12nov08, thru the POP Airport. My luggage was searched; a "superior" officer from Customs found some flower bulbs;
* I had purchased them @ Wal-Marts for gifts for my DR girlfriend, who has a green thumb.
* All were in the original, small, separate, cellophane bags; all had labels with pictures & text indicating what the were.
* Result?
* Confiscated! Why? All fruits & vegetables are barred, per DR Customs Regulations; placed in the "to be destroyed" bin!
* A joke! Fruit? Vegetable?
* Flower seeds? Que viva la Republica!
So true.
I did try to bring vacuum packed German Black Forest smoked ham into the States once. I was lucky, I declared it and asked if it was OK... Boy, did I start something there! Still, while I was not treated in a hostile manner, since I asked, but yet, after the confiscated it and threw it in a bin for potentially hazardous goods, they searched me and ALL my luggage.
They brought in sniffin' dawgs and I even jokingly offered for them to have the ham... but "nope", the ham had to be D E S T R O Y E D.
It may not make sense in individual cases, but I accept that there is only one way to limit the risk of spreading problems, and that way can certainly not include exceptions.
The lesson learned is, that as a general rule, you should NOT intent to bring plants, seeds, fruits, unprocessed foods, meats and so forth into ANY country, even if you come from the US.
Btw. you may tell your friend he can get quality ground meat from the Bavarian butcher in Sosua. They will show you or let you select the piece(s) you want ground.
... J-D.