The USDA is after me for ordering French Rations - NEW 5/21 UPDATES! This is happening! To everybody :-(

[SNiiP3R]

Are they implying French RCIRs are pet food quality? Very insulting.

They are implying the main meals may contain frogs.

[mikeoverhere]

Are they implying French RCIRs are pet food quality? Very insulting.

You've given me an idea of what to do with the strong liver paté. Seriously though, I think Veterinary cares because they are trying to stop things like Mad Cow disease from infecting our animals and food chain.

[rareauldmealtimes]

Wow. This is nuts! Please keep us up to date. Pretty hard to believe this much time and effort by our government on a private transaction of a single item for personal consumption. It's almost like this was an automated system that flagged you and got the USDA and Veterinarians involved when it saw the keywords "France" "Beef". I can't rationalize that a person sits and monitors ebay for single small purchase transactions like this. Absolutely nuts. Also sort of alarming!

So, just for clarity... Did you receive the ration with no problem and then you got the letter after? What was the timeline on that?

Sorry, your going through this. Absolutely asinine.

[ViperGTS]

I can see them stopping rations from unfriendly/communist countries. But France...really? My Russian ration, straight from Russia, it was accurately declared as food on the customs label by the seller, and they didnt touch it or send a letter. Ebay buy too.

[Dvalin]

They are going after EVERY ration you buy, not just french. This is only the begining.

It sounds like you know more about this? Id there more info you can share?

[mikeoverhere]

So, just for clarity... Did you receive the ration with no problem and then you got the letter after? What was the timeline on that?

Yes, I received the ration with no problems, unopened and un-inspected. I ordered it on January 3th, 2019 from MREZone which somehow got turned into a different seller a different auction number, and a later date (13th) and then I received it a few weeks later if I remember correctly. I ate it and moved on with my life. I then received the posted letter the first week of April, 2019. It wasn't even the only auction and French RCIR that I ordered that day. The other one was also shipped from France from a different seller. No mention of that ration auction in the letter.

I'm still waiting for USDA to get back to me about the resolution after I pointed out the exemption in the law (9CFR94.11.(b)). That will come in the email so I should be able to post their response.

[mikeoverhere]

The response from USDA. Everybody needs to hear this. This is very, very bad news. This bodes very badly for the foreign MRE community. Now, USDA APHID is clear as to their position. Be prepared for further action, much action, and beware. That is my assumption.

At the bottom of the letter is a warning that disclosure or use of the email I received may violate the law which could result in civil or criminal penalties so I can't even post the letter.

The only way I'll be able to import rations from a foreign country is if the shipper has a permit and follows shipping requirements, or it's hand carried back in luggage and declared. I don't know how I would determine if a shipper meets these requirements before it is shipped.

The USDA's position is ANY meat products being imported through the mail are considered commercial, and therefore subject to restrictions no matter if they are canned and sterilized or not. ALL animal products making entry into the United States by mail require a permit and veterinary certification by an authorized official in the country of origin, and must be declared as a commercial entry on all documents. The only exception is if It is brought in baggage sometimes depending on what and where it came from, and it is declared to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agriculture. I am not even sure if it is shipped via a method other than USPS is an exception. The recipient of such products is considered the importer and subject to these restrictions. Perhaps if I order and receive foreign rations from a shipper located in the US, I may not be declared the importer but I can't say for sure.

My shipment from France was subject to special regulations to prevent Mad Cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy).

I cannot share whether or not if I will be facing prosecution but I am relieved this was my first and only offense.

Good luck to you all, I'm out as far as importing foreign rations from outside the country. Damn.

[Mackeson]

Good grief Mike what an awful experience....

I only hope that somehow this has been a 'perfect storm' of an overzealous official just happening to notice your particular Ebay transaction. Following this going on through official channels with no one in the chain having enough initiative or courage to stop it.

In other words you have had very bad luck, and everyone else will be able to carry on taking their chances with reasonable hope of getting their goods.

Mack

[housil]

Good luck to you all, I'm out as far as importing foreign rations from outside the country. Damn.

I´m very sorry for the trouble you have/had.

To me in person, these are no new news as that is it as it always has been before. "Importing" meat, dairy etc. was never allowed, neither into Europa nor into US. The only new thing is, that US authorities are "scanning" foreign auctions etc. and investigate the US based buyer.

The solution is, back to don´t-buy-straight-off-nonUSebay but ask somedody "local" to get it and forward it to you

[carlosflar]

If you find a eBay add you like, send the seller an email and pay them with PayPal...
On the bad side, some people won't reply
On the good side you can haggle a bit