Over the years, Agudath Israel of America’s Washington Office has worked closely with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency to help alleviate potential problems facing Jewish travelers to the U.S. carrying sets of arba minim. This year, CBP has again issued pre-Sukkos guidance on the agricultural issues and procedures involved in the entry of esrogim, lulavim, hadasim and aravos from foreign countries — and we present it below, with several explanatory comments that we have added as an introduction. We hope this will clarify some of the questions that have arisen in the past and help travelers carrying arba minim plan accordingly.

INTRODUCTION

1. Country of Origin — The guidance below applies only to arba minim that were grown in certain countries.
The guidance for esrogim applies to those grown in several countries, including Greece, Israel, Italy and Morocco — the main sources of foreign esrogim for yom tov.)
The guidance for lulavim applies to those grown in several countries, including Egypt, Israel and Spain — the main sources of foreign lulavim for yom tov.)
The guidance for aravos applies to those grown in several countries, including Canada, Europe, and Israel — the main sources of foreign aravos           for yom tov.
The guidance for hadasim applies to those grown in all foreign countries.

2. Airports and Border Crossing — Esrogim brought into the U.S. on international flights will not be allowed entry at all airports and by ground    transportation across all border crossings . They will only be allowed entry — if inspected and released — at Northern Atlantic and Northern Pacific airports and border crossings, which are located in: Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri (Kansas City), Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire,, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia (Dulles), Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Esrogim brought into the U.S. on international flights will NOT be granted entry at airports and border crossings in the following states:   Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri (St. Charles) Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia (Norfolk and Richmond). Esrogim brought into these locations will be disposed of by CBP. Travelers should make arrangements to purchase esrogim locally.

3. Direct/Indirect Entry — Please note that the non-entry of esrogim to these locations applies only when directly brought in on international flights or across border crossings. If a esrog has entered through an approved location, it can then be transported on a domestic flight to any location. (i.e., if a traveler’s esrog enters and is released in New York, he/she can then take it to Atlanta or Los Angeles without problem.)

4. Declaration and Fines — All arba minim carried by travelers to the U.S. must be declared to CBP, no matter the airport or border crossings at which entry into the U.S. is made. Failure to do so could result in a fine of       $300 and seizure of the arba minim.

5. Inspection and Release — Entry of the arba minim into an approved airport does not mean that they will be allowed into the U.S. All items are subject to inspection by CBP.  If pests, stings or other problems (as outlined by the guidance) are found, the items will be seized.  If not, they will be released.

CBP Advisory for Sukkot Travelers

The travel period for the upcoming Jewish holiday of Sukkot is from September 26 through October 23, 2011. The holiday begins October 12 (at sundown) through October 19, 2011.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection understands that observant Jewish travelers entering the United States during the Sukkot holiday might carry religious items (ethrogs, palm fronds, twigs of willow and myrtle) in their vehicles if arriving at land borders, or in their personal baggage if they are arriving by aircraft.

These items are regulated to prevent the introduction of invasive pests and diseases, however, these items might be allowed into the U.S. after inspection by CBP agriculture specialists. Thus, the following guidance is provided for travelers:

Ethrogs:

Personal shipments of ethrogs are allowed entry through North Atlantic and Northern Pacific ports of entry after inspection by agriculture specialists. North Atlantic ports are defined as Atlantic ports north of and including Baltimore; ports on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway; Canadian Border ports east of and including North Dakota; and Washington D. C. (including Dulles) for air shipments. Northern Pacific ports are defined as Pacific ports north of California including Alaska, Canadian Border ports west of and including Montana, excluding Hawaii.

Travelers will be asked to open the container with the ethrog and unwrap it. The agriculture specialist will inspect the ethrog. If either insect stings or pests are found, the ethrog will be prohibited from entering the United States. If neither is found, the traveler will be allowed to rewrap and re-box the ethrog for entry into the United States.

Palm Fronds:

Single palm fronds will be inspected by agriculture specialists and released if no pests or symptoms of disease are found.

Twigs of Willow:

If the twigs of willow are from Europe, they will be prohibited from entering the United States. If they are from other than Europe, they will be inspected by agriculture specialists and released if no pests or symptoms of disease are found.

Also, if the twigs of willow are green in color, have soft tissue present, or have buds that sprouted, then they are capable of being grown and are prohibited from entering the United States.

Twigs of Myrtle:

Twigs of myrtle will be inspected by agriculture specialists and released if no pests or symptoms of disease are found.

If travelers have any concerns resulting from the inspection of their religious items at a port of entry, a CBP supervisor is always available to answer questions and address concerns.

As always, CBP is committed to treating all travelers, including travelers who may be observing Sukkot, with respect and dignity at all U.S ports of entry.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)