Incubated Chick-Hatching Eggs From Europe Seized At Philly Port

PHILADELPHIA — A parcel labeled wine glasses headed to Maine from Europe was found to contain unpermitted foreign eggs, according to Customs and Border Protection officials in Philadelphia

Officials said CBP agriculture specialists intercepted 40 incubated chick-hatching eggs that arrived from the Netherlands in air cargo to Philadelphia on July 24.

The parcel, manifested as “wine glasses,” was destined to an address in Maine.

Agriculture specialists opened the parcel and discovered the hatching eggs concealed below a layer of plastic wine glasses atop a plastic foam packing sheet.

With some exceptions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service prohibits live avian commodities — including eggs for hatching — from countries or regions due to the risk of foreign animal diseases, such as highly-pathogenic avian influenza.

All imported hatching eggs must be accompanied by a USDA import permit VS Form 17-129, except through a land border port from Canada.

USDA Veterinary Services ordered the hatching eggs destroyed.