Could an American member please translate this for me?

[Ratwagon1600]

Now, I work in a, lets say "Regulatory Environment" for the Aussie Government.

 

Im no stranger when it comes to stringing a few sentences together, hell I even teach my coworkers the subtle art of sarcasm, as well as how to write in plain English.

 

Im about to send some vegemite to an American Ratsun member, and prior to doing so thought id contact the US Food and Drug administration just to confirm I didnt need to get an import clearance for the Aussie goodness.  I spent a fair bit of time searching the FDA's website and was 99.99999% sure I didnt need a prior notice, but hey, it always pays to check these things.

 

My question below, and the response I received:

 

 

To whom it may concern.

 

I would like to send a commercially made product (Vegemite) from Australia to a United States citizen.

 

The product is a non-perishable item.

 

I propose to send the item by post, and am doing so acting in a private capacity, and as a gift to the intended recipient.

 

Could you please confirm if I am required to submit an application for prior notice.

 

 

And, the FDA's answer:

 

 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in receipt of your email requesting requirements for sending a non-perishable food product to the United States. The Public Health Security and the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 established a requirement that FDA be notified in advance of foods being imported into the United States. FDA reviews this information to determine whether to inspect the imported food. Food imported or offered for import into the United States without adequate prior notice may be refused entry and may be subjected to other appropriate enforcement actions.

 

However, FDA and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) typically consider not taking any regulatory action when there is a prior notice violation (e.g., no prior notice) and the food is imported for non-commercial purposes with a non-commercial shipper. Generally, a non-commercial purpose is one where the food is purchased or otherwise acquired by an individual for non-business purposes, and a non-commercial shipper is one where the shipper is an individual (e.g., the individual delivers the food to a post office or common carrier for delivery to self, family member, or friend for non-business purposes, i.e., not for sale, resale, barter, business use, or commercial use.).  You can review information on sending gifts and other foods to the United States at this website.

 

Thank you for contacting the Food and Drug Administration. If you have any additional questions, please send a follow up email.

 

S. J. Turpin, RD, MPA

Information Specialist

Information Center Branch

Office of Analytics and Outreach

Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition

U. S. Food & Drug Administration

 

 

 

FWIW, I would have replied with something like:

 

Dear XXXX:

 

In response to your email dated xxxxx, in the circumstances you have outlined, no prior notice is required.  Further information on sending gifts and other foods to the USA is available here (insert URL).

[king bee66]

tl;dr  

 

we have short attention spans

[Tristin]

Sounds like youre good. Ship away... as I read that, as long as youre not doing it as a business and the guy receiving the items is not a business you can send whatever you want. 

[bananahamuck]

It says your fine.

[king bee66]

no but, seriously, it says if you arent selling it, leave them alone they dont care

[Rollover_Red]

from what i understand, you should be good. its basically telling you that you food may be confiscated if you didnt give prior notice to the board of health and safety. its going to go through US customs no matter what, but if notice is forewarned, you wont get it confiscated...

[Ratwagon1600]

Thanks guys.

 

I was sure I was fine, I just posted this cause im bored.

 

0700 here and im at work, browsing through Ratsun :thumbup:

[Skib]

yeah your good

[bananahamuck]

I re-read it and it does seem that you might want to 1st send a envelope with the vegimite dried and mashed into a fine white powder ,,, so that it would be easier to test for impurities and such.

[Ratwagon1600]

I re-read it and it does seem that you might want to 1st send a envelope with the vegimite dried and mashed into a fine white powder ,,, so that it would be easier to test for impurities and such.

:rofl:

 

Great idea, just PM me your address again please so I can confirm its the right one B)

[bananahamuck]

They probably already know my address,,,,,, :devil:

[darrel]

Just as long as it isn't coffee cake my grandma used to make. The drug sniffing dog failed.

[izzo]

Translation

 

 

 

:rofl:

[Guest roseyroseyrose]

who r u sending vegemite to? and y do u hate them so much? haha

[72240z]

S. J. Turpin has a hell of a job sending that bullshit out all day lol. 

[Ratwagon1600]

who r u sending vegemite to? and y do u hate them so much? haha

Kirden.

 

He mentioned something about a dungeon and lots of rope as well.

 

Hey, who am I to question what he does in his spare time :)

[Kirden]

Lol, how did I miss this thread. Can't wait to get the spreadable awesomeness... Sounds kinda kinky but whatever.

 

From what I understand, if the customs officer is angry and wants to be a dick, he will eat my vegemite himself and say it wasn't legal... Hope he chokes on it! However, its most likely that they will just not open the package and I will get my nummies in 2-4 weeks :P

[Guest roseyroseyrose]

ahhhhhh, the smell of vegemite, leather and smoking hot nipple clamps........

[Ratwagon1600]

ahhhhhh, the smell of vegemite, leather and smoking hot nipple clamps........

OMG, where is my thread going :rofl:

[Guest_kamakazi620]

It also says "make sure to add anthrax or an ied (bomb)" cuz murricain will want to be dead after eating dat shitz.....

[crackerjack69]

That's just sick. Send some cheese instead. We can easily buy vegemite here, not Australian cheese.

[Kirden]

I live in bumfuct GA, the only thing around here is the Brittish Pantry, and they only sell Marmite. Besides, its made from beer (sorta) whats not to like :P

[Ratwagon1600]

That's just sick. Send some cheese instead. We can easily buy vegemite here, not Australian cheese.

King Island Cheese is some of the best in the world.

 

I can only imagine the fucking meltdown old SJ Turpin would have if I tried to send some of that over!

[yellowdatsun]

I had a friend in England ship me some marmite and other "english" food stuff, and there wasn't any issues.

[MikeRL411]

In most larger American cities, if you can find an area with Pubs with the Union Jack displayed or even flown outside, then there's likely a Mom and Pop grocery store nearby with Marmite, Vegemite and even Green Lable English Heinz 57 Baked Beans for sale.