Reports of international travelers not being diverted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agricultural specialists for secondary screening after they had indicated on their Customs form that they had animal contact at African swine fever (ASF) and foot-and-mouth-disease (FMD) endemic destinations has the U.S. swine industry concerned.
This information was reported to CBP, according to the latest Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) newsletter, and a contact immediately responded saying, "...flights from that area of the world should be a tactical focus and there will be follow-up with the agents at the airport.”
SHIC Executive Director Paul Sundberg reminds international travelers to do their part to protect the U.S. swine herd.
When returning to the U.S. after visiting a farm or being in contact with animals in a country (or countries) with foreign animal disease, declare this information to CBP via written form, airport kiosk or verbally. After doing so, you should be diverted for an ag secondary screening by an ag specialist.
If you are NOT diverted*, Sundberg requests travelers send the following information by email to psundberg@swinehealth.org:
- Your name (optional - please specify if you do NOT want your name shared)
- Country (or countries) visited
- Date and time of return
- Airline and flight number
- Arrival airport
- Declaration method (written form, kiosk, or verbal)
- Customs and Border Patrol employee name, if possible (displayed on right side of shirt)
- Any other pertinent circumstances
Sundberg is aggregating this information and the organizations will share with CBP to help identify any weaknesses in their protocol and systems.
4 International Travel Reminders
1. Decrease risk of fomites. Select clothing and shoes that you only use for international travel. If you will be on a farm or have contact with animals, markets or raw meat products, buy cheap shoes and clothing that you can leave in the country before returning to the U.S.
2. Don’t bring any pork or pork products back with you.
3. Declare it. After visiting a farm or traveling in a country that’s positive for ASF or any other foreign animal disease, declare this information to CBP via written form, airport kiosk or verbally. Then you should be diverted for an ag secondary screening by a CBP ag specialist. If this doesn’t happen, demand that it does*.
4. Plan for downtime. The National Pork Board recommends a minimum of 5 nights of downtime after international travel before returning to a farm in the U.S. However, make sure you know each operation’s protocol. Many groups are including a safety factor of additional nights off-farm upon return to the U.S.
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