pests and diseases. Regulations of each branch of the armed services 
summarize agricultural quarantine restrictions, and each branch assists 
in their enforcement. 
Outlying areas of the United States--Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, 
Guam, the Virgin Islands--share with the continental area the protective 
system for preventing the entry of agricultural pests. The USDA has in- 
spection and quarantine officers at ports in these areas. 
Harmless-looking souvenirs sometimes constitute a serious hazard 
in pest introduction. Baggage inspectors are continually alert for the 
popular items that tourists acquire in foreign market places, that contain 
‘‘plant and animal’’ material in disguise. Tourists can give valuable aid 
by looking over their acquisitions and presenting for inspection such trinkets 
as these: beads made from foreign seeds or berries; dolls made of yams; 
any souvenir that shows signs of being stuffed with raw cotton or straw; 
and varied other mementoes that travelers, as well as officials, can learn 
to recognize. 
Animal trophies, such as heads, borns, hide, bones, hooves may 
harbor organisms of serious animal diseases. 
Some of these mementoes pass inspection and can safely be brought 
in. Some may be fumigated and returned to the owner. Those that are 
prohibited entry are destroyed. 
Permit requirements rather often cause problems for tourists, 
through lack of understanding. 
The most common situation in which tourists require a permit is to 
bring in foreign material to grow--such as cuttings, bulbs, seed. Tourists 
who plan to bring in such material are strongly advised to apply for a 
permit in advance of a trip. A permit for permissible material is issued 
free. Having a permit in advance speeds clearance on arrival. If the mate- 
rial wanted is a prohibited kind, knowing this in advance saves loss of the 
goods. If a traveler presents material without the necessary permit, a 
U.S. inspection officer at the port of entry will assist him to obtain a 
permit, provided the material is not a pest risk. 
Small quantities of approved fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, and meats 
brought in by a traveler for personal use may be released on an oral 
permit, if found upon inspection to be free of pest risk. 
Tourists occasionally present animals or birds for entry as pets, and 
the loss of a prohibited kind may be a keen disappointment. A permit is 
required to bring in poultry, both domestic and wild, including eggs for 
hatching; also any cloven-footed animal except from Canada or from 
certain States in Mexico. A permit for any of these items should be applied 
for in advance. 
Addresses of USDA headquarters offices that issue plant permits and 
animal permits are given on page 12. 
Pets such as cats, dogs, parrots or parakeets, and monkeys must 
meet certain health requirements established by the U.S. Public Health 
Service. Added information about their importation may be obtained from 
11 
