Is there an import tax to the US for edible bird's nest from Asia?

Question

My parents-in-law are planning on bringing over some edible bird's nest when they visit us from China next week. Does it need to be declared to U.S. Customs and is it a banned item since it technically comes from an animal? I don't want the US Customs to confiscate it because it's expensive stuff.

Answer 1

IM SORRY I THINK IT IS CUZ ITS ANIMAL AND FOOD AND SOMETIMES THEY DONT ALLOW YOU TO BRING FOOD!10PTS PLZ!

Answer 2

When I was a chef and came back from working in Japan I brought back food stuffs to Canada, the U.S is like us here, no meat product, indangered species like ivory or dried animal skins, live animals and plants that could be ecologically dangerous to the local species, so dried birds nest if brought back in there check baggage would not  come up on the security x-ray checks as a suspicious or dangerous goods, and your going to be consuming it, it is not like they are bringing a suitcase full to sell in the U.S.

If your not sure go to the government website or F.D.A even U.S.D.A and see what products are not allowed, it all comes down to the insepction of the products when entering the country. I was in the U.S and had to bring back some sample containers for a seafood operation, I was also a beer bottle collector, when the customs people here saw the empty bottles and container, they had me put a monetary value on them for some reason, so have your parent's make sure it is packed in there checked baggage in the airplane.