Authorities warn against importing eggshells
BROWNSVILLE — With Easter nearly here, authorities are reminding residents that bringing confetti-filled eggshells into the country is prohibited.
Also banned is the importation of large quantities of empty, colored eggshells for commercial use.
Import regulations allow no more than 10 empty eggshells per person.
"We are not trying to pick on them, to mess up someone's holiday; it's because of what (diseases) they can bring," said Eduardo G. Perez, supervisory public affairs liaison for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "As long as one of them is dirty, they are all dirty."
The only eggshells allowed to be crossed are those that are cleaned, empty and decorated.
"That's not clean," Perez said, pointing inside a seized eggshell that had the remains of an egg yolk stuck to it.
Authorities said the ban on confetti-filled eggshells and limits placed on empty eggshells are intended to prevent the spread of exotic Newcastle disease, or END. Capable of being spread through contaminated eggshells, END is a contagious, potentially fatal viral disease to some birds.
The disease is so potent that many birds die without having shown any clinical signs of infection, authorities said. The disease can also infect and cause death in vaccinated poultry.
On Friday morning, CBP officers stationed at the Gateway International Bridge in Brownsville had a collection of about 16 dozen eggshells that had been seized overnight.
Some of the eggshells were decorated and filled with confetti, while others were ostensibly empty but still showed signs of egg yolk in them.
Customs Officer David Ramirez said once a substantial quantity has been collected, the eggshells are taken to an incinerator.
Although authorities have made several eggshell seizures in the past week, they are not seeing as much of the Easter-related contraband as in years past.
Perez attributed the decrease to residents being more aware of the regulations and CBP sending out public notices about the regulations. However, authorities expect the eggshell seizures to continue up to and past the Easter holiday celebrations.
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Laura B. Martinez is a reporter for The Brownsville Herald.
