Customs seizes 39 hatching eggs in Louisville

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has seized 39 hatching eggs in Louisville, Kentucky. The eggs were confiscated in three separate shipments between March 6 and March 20. The first two shipments were headed to New York and Nevada from Turkey. The third shipment was coming from Romania and was en route to Costa Rica. These eggs contained live chicks of various birds, including game birds and racing pigeons. Hatching eggs are highly regulated in the U.S. due to the potential risk of diseases like avian influenza, or bird flu. The agency warned that smuggled eggs can carry these harmful pathogens. If there is demand for a particular type of bird, smugglers often attempt to import their hatching eggs. These eggs are meant for incubation, hatching, and raising, contributing significantly to agricultural practices. In 2024, CBP in Louisville intercepted 25 shipments, amounting to 519 eggs, from countries such as Turkey, Belgium, Romania, and Singapore. LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, the Director of Field Operations at CBP in Chicago, emphasized the importance of these interceptions. She stated that they protect the U.S. food supply from diseases not present in the country. This highlights the ongoing efforts and vigilance of CBP Agriculture Specialists in maintaining safety at U.S. borders.