Read more: Local, Crime, Valentine's Day, Flowers, Insects, Pests, Customs, Customs and Border Protection, Cbp, International Bridges, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Mexico
Federal officials at local international bridges are busy making sure that flower imports used in Valentine’s Day bouquets are free from insects and diseases.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said on Tuesday that they are ready to inspect thousands of commercial floral shipments and passengers carrying flowers from Mexico.
Agricultural inspectors will be looking for insects and disease that could harm the agricultural and floral industries of the United States.
Customs officials said there special restrictions on importing chrysanthemums, gladiolas, choysia, juniper and limonaria. Failure to declare cut flowers and greenery may result in delays or penalties
Assistant Commissioner for the CBP’s office of field operations Thomas Winkowski said innocent-looking flowers can cause big problems.
“Although these items appear to be harmless, there could be hidden threats in those shipments of fresh flowers that could seriously threaten U.S. agriculture, our natural resources and our economy,” Winkowski said.
