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Importation of Alcohol diseases. Prohibited or restricted items may include meats, fresh fruits and
A person traveling into Texas from another state or country can bring a vegetables, plants, seeds, soil and products made from animal or plant
maximum of 1 gallon of distilled spirits, 3 gallons of wine; and 24 twelve- materials. For generally allowed food items please visit USDA Animal and
ounce containers of beer every 30 days. You must be 21 years of age to pos- Plant Health Inspection Service.
sess alcoholic beverages, if you are not 21, the alcohol will automatically Declared agriculture items, in non-commercial quantities, that are found
be confiscated. If you show false or altered personal identification, the ID to be prohibited or restricted by the CBP Agriculture Specialists can be aban-
will be confiscated, and you will be prosecuted. There are no substitutions doned at the port of entry should the traveler wish to continue into the
between the types of alcoholic beverages. The importation of alcoholic U.S. However, undeclared prohibited agriculture items will be confiscated,
beverages must be for personal use, and the person making the importa- and can result in the issuance of a civil penalty to the traveler for failure to
tion must accompany the alcoholic beverages. Minors (persons under 21 declare the prohibited item. All agricultural items that are abandoned or con-
years of age) or intoxicated persons may not bring alcoholic beverages fiscated at ports of entry are destroyed in accordance with USDA approved
into Texas. All alcoholic beverage containers imported into Texas are destruction methods to prevent spread of pests and diseases.
subject to the state liquor tax and a $3.00 administrative fee. This fee is Agricultural pests and diseases are a threat to U.S. crop production and
included in the posted tax rates. Payment of the fees and taxes are docu- to the livestock industry. Some animal diseases can be highly contagious
mented by a tax stamp placed on the bottle. Please note that failure to pay and could cause severe economic damage to livestock and result in losses in
the tax and obtain the appropriate stamp will subject violators to a fine production, which could lead to increased costs for meat and dairy products.
ranging from $100 to $1,000 and/or a jail term of up to one year. Plant pests and disease, as well as invasive plant material can cause crop loss
and also damage lawns, ornamental plants, and trees. Plant pest infestations
Importation of Cigarettes can result in increased costs to consumers due to pest eradication efforts as
TABC Ports of Entry personnel are also responsible for ensuring that the laws well as lower crop yields. High risk plant pest and animal disease outbreaks
relating to cigarettes are observed. Persons 18 years of age or older may import within the U.S. could also adversely affect the economy as a result of reduced
one carton of both Mexican and duty-free cigarettes. A tax of $1.50 is due on trade of U.S. origin goods to countries around the world.
each pack of cigarettes imported into the state, and a stamp is placed on The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Homeland
each cigarette pack to indicate payment of the tax. Security are partners in the effort to protect American agriculture against
the introduction of pests and diseases at our nation’s ports of entry.
Bringing Food into the U.S. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service determines what
Many agriculture products are prohibited entry into the United States agricultural products are admissible into the U.S. and what products pose a
from certain countries because they may carry plant pests and foreign risk and should be prohibited or restricted entry. U.S. Customs and Border
animal diseases. All agriculture items must be declared and are subject to Protection enforce these agricultural rules and regulations at ports of entry.
inspection by a Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialist at For more information regarding traveling to and from Mexico go to:
ports of entry to ensure they are free of plant pests and foreign animal http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/cbp-reqs-mexico J

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