Mexican Agricultural Products

En Español

The following is a partial list of fruits and vegetables that are allowed entry into the United States from Mexico for personal consumption, but only after they have passed inspection and have been found free of any pests or diseases:

Aloe vera leaves
Avocados—without seeds (no avocados are admitted into California)
Bananas
Berries (blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries)
Cabbage
Corn and corn smut galls
Dates
Garlic
Grapes
Herbs (cilantro, mint, rosemary, sage, and watercress)
Jicama
Lemons, Persian limes, and sour limes—all lemons/limes must be washed; no leaves or stems
Lettuce and spinach
Melons (cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon)
Nuts (acorns, almonds, cocoa beans, chestnuts, coconuts [without husks or milk], peanuts, pecans, piñon [pinenut], and walnuts)
Onions (including green onions and chives)
Peppers (bell, chili, and jalapeno peppers; manzano peppers are not allowed)
Pineapples
Potatoes, yams, and sweet potatoes (cooked only)
Prickly pears (nopales pad or tuna fruit; pitaya are not allowed)
Sugarcane “chews”—peeled without nodes
Tamarind bean pods
Tomatoes and tomatillos

This list of admissible products is subject to change.  For more information or for a complete list, please visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) online fruit and vegetable import requirements database at www.aphis.usda.gov/favir.  Under the “Country” search, type “Mexico” and select a particular commodity for more information.  Open the Commodity Import Report (CIR) to see the detailed import requirements for the item selected.

Live Plants and Seeds
Plants and seeds imported for propagation require a phytosanitary certificate from the Government of Mexico.  The import of any soil is prohibited.

Meats and Animal Products
The following types of meats and animal products are allowed to be imported: canned shelf-stable pork, canned shelf-stable poultry, beef, and thoroughly cooked poultry.  Other meats, animal products, animal trophies, and scientific or research samples may require an import permit, government certification, or transport to an APHIS-approved establishment for additional treatment to prevent the introduction of animal diseases.  APHIS-approved establishments will treat materials against anthrax and other diseases.

Live Birds
To import pet or wild/game birds, please visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices/ to obtain contact information for local USDA offices responsible for imported birds.  All imported birds, including chickens, are subject to quarantine in a USDA facility.

Factsheet

Printable version