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Increase in Egg Smuggling Amid U.S. Shortage

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has seen a notable surge in egg smuggling incidents, reflecting the ongoing egg shortage in the nation. This increase is largely attributed to the rise in bird flu cases affecting poultry farms across the country.

The shortage has created a scenario where many individuals are attempting to smuggle eggs into the U.S., particularly at the southern border with Mexico, where agents have reported a significant uptick in these activities. Many smugglers find themselves under scrutiny at the border, often being caught red-handed.

In a recent announcement from CBP, it was revealed that over 90 attempts to smuggle eggs across the border were recorded in the El Paso area during January alone. Sidney Aki, the director of field operations for the San Diego section of the agency, acknowledged on social media that there has been a marked increase in the interception of eggs at U.S. ports of entry.

The statistics are telling, showing a 29% rise in the illegal transport of eggs—considered prohibited imports alongside other agricultural goods like poultry and various fruits—between October 2024 and February 2025 as compared to the prior year. Aki emphasized, “As a reminder, raw eggs are prohibited entry from Mexico into the U.S.” He urged travelers to declare all agricultural products to prevent incurring penalties.

While many individuals seeking to bring eggs into the U.S. do so to escape rising domestic prices, some blatantly disregard regulations, choosing to smuggle the eggs instead.

Those caught risking penalties may face severe fines, which can escalate to as much as $10,000 based on the situation, while first offenses can lead to civil penalties reaching $1,000.

In January alone, CBP agricultural specialists in El Paso issued 16 civil penalties, with fines totaling nearly $4,000. All these penalties were associated with attempts to smuggle prohibited agricultural imports, including raw eggs. The agency notes that the entry of raw eggs and similar products is tightly controlled due to concerns over diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and Virulent Newcastle disease (ND). The regulation prohibits any fresh eggs, raw chicken, and live birds from entering the country.

The avian flu outbreak has been particularly devastating, causing substantial losses in chicken populations across American farms. A report from the University of Minnesota indicates that since the onset of this outbreak in 2022, over 156 million birds have been lost. Economist Bernt Nelson from the Farm Bureau highlighted that 43 million birds succumbed to the outbreak just in January and February of this year—accounting for nearly 25% of the total birds affected.

This stark decline in chicken populations has significantly impacted egg prices due to disrupted supply chains. To counteract this crisis, the U.S. government has initiated a plan to import more than 16,000 tons of eggs from Turkey by July. In contrast to the smuggled eggs, these imports are being conducted under regulatory approval to stabilize the American market amidst the current shortage.

Source
www.foodandwine.com