Eggs Hidden as Jackets Seized at US Port: What Importers Must Know
A shipment from Germany arrived in Cincinnati labeled as winter jackets. When CBP agriculture specialists opened it, they found 337 live hatching eggs hidden in foam — no paperwork, no permit, and a federal ban on exactly this type of import. The case is a sharp reminder that what you bring into the US, and how you label it, can have serious legal consequences.
On May 27, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at the Cincinnati Port of Entry stopped a shipment from Germany that was labeled as winter jackets. Inside, they found 337 hatching eggs hidden in layers of foam — with no proper import documents.
Why This Matters for Anyone Bringing Items Into the US
The shipment was headed to Alaska. CBP officers used intelligence and their own expertise to flag it for a closer look. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) bans hatching eggs from countries that have reported highly pathogenic avian influenza (a dangerous bird disease). Germany is one of those countries. The eggs were handed over to the local USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for handling.
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Hatching eggs cover all bird species — poultry, game birds, racing pigeons, and others. CBP says these eggs are treated the same as live animals under US law because they can carry serious diseases like Newcastle disease and avian influenza. Both diseases can devastate the US food supply if they enter the country. Port Director Eric Zizelman said CBP specialists work every day to stop non-native pests and diseases from crossing US borders.
Trying to bring in restricted agricultural items — even if you did not know they were banned — can lead to civil or criminal penalties. Declaring all items you bring from abroad is required by law. Hiding goods or mislabeling shipments makes the legal consequences much worse.
What to Do
- Before importing any animal or plant material, check the CBP Information Center on the CBP website or call (877) 227-5511 to confirm what is allowed.
- Always declare every item you bring from another country to CBP officers when you arrive — even if you are unsure whether it needs to be declared.
- If you receive a notice that a shipment has been seized, do not ignore it. Contact an immigration or customs attorney as soon as possible to understand your options.
- If you are a business that imports goods, make sure your shipment manifests (the official list of what is inside a package) are accurate and complete before shipping.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
Anyone whose shipment is seized by CBP has the right to contest the seizure through a formal petition process, but deadlines are strict — typically 30 days from the seizure notice. If you receive a seizure notice, do not simply walk away from the goods; the outcome of that process can affect whether you face additional fines or criminal referral. A customs attorney can review the specific violation and advise whether a petition, offer in compromise, or other remedy is appropriate for your situation.