U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it has seen an increase in eggs being brought across the border – a practice it says is technically illegal.
The price of eggs has skyrocketed — a 60% increase in December, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, with an average price of a dozen of $4.25.
Much of that increase is due to widespread bird flu — and CBP said people are trying to ship eggs “because they’re significantly cheaper in Mexico than they are in the US.”
“The San Diego Field Office recently noted an increase in the number of eggs intercepted at our ports of entry,” said Jennifer De La O, director of field operations for the San Diego sector. “As a reminder, uncooked eggs may not be brought into the United States from Mexico. Failure to declare agricultural items can result in penalties of up to $10,000.”
US Customs and Border Protection officers seized at the Paso Del Norte inland crossing in El Paso on January 18, 2023.
CBP
CBP spokesman Roger Maier said the same can be seen elsewhere.
“This is also happening more frequently in other places on the southwestern border,” he said.
US Customs and Border Protection officers seized at the Paso Del Norte inland crossing in El Paso on January 18, 2023.
CBP
CBP said that if people declare eggs at the southwest border, the eggs will be confiscated but people will not be charged.
“CBP agriculture specialists will collect the eggs (and other prohibited food/agricultural products) and then destroy them, as is routine practice,” Maier said in a statement to ABC News. “In the last week there have been a very small number of cases where the eggs were undeclared and then discovered on inspection. If this happens, the eggs will be confiscated and the person will be subject to a $300 civil penalty. Penalties may be higher for repeat offenders or commercial-size imports.”