krazykitkat: (bugger)
[personal profile] krazykitkat
Story via [livejournal.com profile] bantha_fodder. Didn't the Federal govenment insist on a Vegemite clause in the FTA???

From here:

THE United States has slapped a ban on Vegemite, outraging Australian expatriates there.
The bizarre crackdown was prompted because Vegemite contains folate, which in the US can be added only to breads and cereals.

Expatriates say that enforcement of the ban has been stepped up recently and is ruining lifelong traditions of having Vegemite on toast for breakfast.

Former Geelong man Daniel Fogarty, who now lives in Calgary, Canada, said he was stunned when searched while crossing the US border recently.

"The border guard asked us if we were carrying any Vegemite," Mr Fogarty said.

"I was flabbergasted." Paul Watkins, who owns a store called About Australia in San Antonio, Texas, said he had been forced to stop importing Vegemite six months ago.

"We have completely stopped bringing it in," he said.

"(US authorities) have made a stance and there is nothing that can be done about it."



Mum just asked whether they can get around the ban by relabelling it as axle grease.

eta: and they only allow folate to be added to breads and cereals? I can understand legislating that it must be added to those foods, but to restrict it to only those foods? How does that make any sense?

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 05:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sternel.livejournal.com
They won't let my friend in Melbourne send me Timtams either. I need to finish this stupid degree and move to freakin Canada already.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 05:18 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] krazykitkat.livejournal.com
???? I've sent Tim Tams to friends in US with no problem.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 05:20 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sternel.livejournal.com
You can't send food through the mails from Australia, according to the statutes on the books now. If you don't declare it, and the xrays don't catch it...well, ain't nobody needs to know. I still have a packet sitting here that's probably stale, but it's my last one and I keep putting off eating it because of that.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 05:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] krazykitkat.livejournal.com
When did that happen? And that makes no bloody sense. Australia has the toughest quarantine laws in the world and we let most processed foods through.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 05:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sternel.livejournal.com
Was a year? Two years ago? And I don't think it has very much to do with quarantining, and more to do with economics, or some feeble grasp thereof.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 05:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] krazykitkat.livejournal.com
Ummmm...I sent Tim Tams (declared) to NYC a few months ago. And I sent Tim Tams and other various chocolate to Oklahoma last year...no problems at all.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 05:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sternel.livejournal.com
Hmm. It's entirely possible they reversed it and I never heard. I try not to bug Kirstee too much, the postage gets expensive. 0=) I'll have to look into that.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 06:18 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] krazykitkat.livejournal.com
I think I just found the legislation you were talking about, but then found this from here (http://www.parcelforce.com/portal/pw/content1?catId=26000671&mediaId=7800122):

The United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) have informed all parcel carriers that as from 12th August 2004, they are going to start strictly enforcing the legislation which was put into effect in December 2003. This will impact on all business customers exporting food items to the USA . Parcelforce Worldwide recommends that customers read the briefing fully.

The key change since its introduction is that whilst this legislation no longer applies to private individuals, it remains essential for all business customers; and the FDA are clamping down. Business customers must comply, or face parcels being returned to sender or destroyed.


and

All manufactured food and drink for human or animal consumption posted to the US by business customers, from countries all around the world, will be subject to prior notice being obtained before the item can be accepted for posting. The only exemptions are food made by an individual at home sent as a personal gift to an individual in the USA, and a manufactured item sent by a private individual. Businesses must comply with this legislation.

and from the US Embassy in Spain (http://madrid.usembassy.gov/fas/traveleren.html#3):

How do I send Parcels containing Food Gifts Through International Mail?

If you plan to send a food article by international mail, you must request and receive prior approval from the FDA. The parcel must be accompanied by FDA confirmation. For more information or to submit your request electronically

Among the food articles exempt from prior notice are:
* Homemade goods shipped as gifts
* Food contained in household goods
* Food (as a gift) shipped/mailed from an individual to an individual


I think they realised it was bloody ridiculous and impossible to police individuals.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 06:20 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sternel.livejournal.com
Or the postal workers complains. You do know the derivation of the phase "going postal," right? 0=)

Good to know, thanks!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 05:48 am (UTC)
ext_2138: (river (sullypants))
From: [identity profile] danamaree.livejournal.com
I sent people jaffa cakes from the UK to Australia, and had no problem.

That's weird. Stupid rules.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 05:50 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] krazykitkat.livejournal.com
I've had no problems sending food to the US.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 05:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sternel.livejournal.com
It's nothing to do with Australia, it's what the US will allow in. Apparently we need the federal government to go to huge, great lengths to be sure we Buy American, or the bread-producing industry will collapse under its own yeasty weight. Or something.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 06:03 am (UTC)
ext_2138: (river (sullypants))
From: [identity profile] danamaree.livejournal.com
Isn't the American wheat farmers, or whatever, one of the biggest (or biggest) market in the world?

Although, that would explain why Australian farmers are always pissed about US Government Protection. Free market, what's that?

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 05:37 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] littlemissscifi.livejournal.com
Thats just rediculous.

Why is folate only able to be added to bread products?

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 05:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] krazykitkat.livejournal.com
Heh! I just added that exact question to the post. I can understand legislating that it must be added to those foods, but to restrict it to only those foods?

Absolutely ridiculous.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 06:49 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] littlemissscifi.livejournal.com
Crazy Americans....

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 05:47 am (UTC)
ext_2138: (river (sullypants))
From: [identity profile] danamaree.livejournal.com
I don't understand, that's absolutely bizarre.

And like, dude, we're good allies, we're like the good little puppy dog, when the President asks the Prime Minister to do something, Mr Howard says 'yes sir, straight away sir'.

So, you know, you'd think considering all that, they would bloody well take our exports, vegemite, Steve Irwin and all.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 05:49 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] krazykitkat.livejournal.com
*nods*

I hope a reporter picks it up and demands answers from the Federal government ;) Maybe get a Labor MP to ask in question time...

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 06:00 am (UTC)
ext_2138: (brain (eyesthatslay))
From: [identity profile] danamaree.livejournal.com
Exactly. Wars have started for less then this.

I think our honour has been besmirched. (is that a word?) Maybe Mr Brown can look into it, Labor tends to be expert at doing nothing these days.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 06:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sternel.livejournal.com
Does this cover Marmite, too?

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 06:35 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] krazykitkat.livejournal.com
I'm thinking it probably will.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 06:36 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sternel.livejournal.com
OOoooh. The Queen will Not Be Amused. ::collapses in giggles::

I need a Who icon, methinks.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 06:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gossipcom.livejournal.com
That's just insane. Plus Vegemite with Cereal? That would be an interesting combination.

With the Tim Tams - I had 12 packets + the Tim Tam Balls in my suitcase last December and they let me through at customs (actually the customs guy chuckled when he saw them all in my suitcase) :) And I've sent them regularly since then to US without a problem so far *touches wood*

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 06:53 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] krazykitkat.livejournal.com
lol! Yeah, it looks like sending food to the US through the mail is fine (see above comments, I found the legislation and they exempted individuals). Maybe the vegemite thing is just overzealous officers. Because bringing it in certainly shouldn't be a problem, but the business angle could be.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 06:56 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] baked-goldfish.livejournal.com
We're doing ex-pats a favor! Nobody should have to eat Vegemite or Marmite. Ever. They'll thank us eventually.

In all seriousness, the restriction to cereal and bread is just one more way the US government props up the wheat and grain industry. You can't get enough folic acid from regular foods (at least, not the way most Americans eat), so supplements are needed. By allowing only bread and cereal to be fortified, the US grain industry can say that their products are An Important Source of Vital Folic Acid. And if you've ever had to take vitamin B in pill form, you know why most people would prefer to eat some bread or have a bowl of Wheaties instead.

There are some market controls I like (like, say, banning child labor), but this is just one more example of where a more free market makes more sense.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 07:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] krazykitkat.livejournal.com
I can kinda understand that then leading to a restriction on the business importing (the basic regulation is still stupid), but they seem to be stopping people who've got a jar in their bag for personal use too.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 07:08 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] baked-goldfish.livejournal.com
Yeah, that's our "highly trained" TSA and border patrol workers, there. They probably have no idea what the actual regs are, or the regs are so poorly worded that they don't understand.

I mean, these are the same type of people who'll force a mother to taste her breastmilk before taking it on a plane, but will somehow still let knives and other dangerous objects get through.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 07:38 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] krazykitkat.livejournal.com
I just explained this to mum, and she said, "But you put Vegemite on bread."

(no subject)

Date: 2006-10-22 07:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] baked-goldfish.livejournal.com
Heh, yeah, I know. Didn't say it made sense, did I?

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