Eggs
ProhibitedFresh eggs and egg products are commonly prohibited.
Rules differ by destination and by the country your eggs came from, and the official customs or biosecurity authority makes the final decision on entry.
Visual reference
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What this means
Eggs covers fresh shell eggs and most products made from them that a traveler might carry in luggage. Because eggs and poultry products can spread serious bird diseases, many countries restrict or outright ban bringing them across borders. Whether your eggs are allowed depends heavily on which country they came from and that country's current disease status.
What's included
- Fresh shell eggs (chicken, duck, quail)
- Hard-boiled or cooked eggs
- Dried or powdered egg
- Liquid egg products
- Egg-based products such as mayonnaise
- Salted, preserved or century eggs
- Raw egg used in homemade foods
What's not included
- Poultry meat and chicken (see meat-poultry)
- Milk, butter and cheese (see dairy)
- Live birds or poultry (see live-pets)
- Bird feathers or down (see feathers)
Common types & examples
Fresh shell eggs
Most tightly restricted; commonly prohibited from countries with bird-flu or Newcastle disease.
Cooked / hard-boiled eggs
Sometimes allowed if thoroughly cooked throughout, but may still be prohibited from disease-affected regions.
Dried or powdered egg
Often restricted; treated as a poultry product subject to disease rules.
Egg-containing products (e.g. mayonnaise)
Acceptance varies; commercially packaged and labeled items are more likely allowed.
Preserved / salted eggs
Common in some cuisines but frequently restricted as an uncooked poultry product.
Why it's regulated
Eggs and egg products can carry avian influenza (bird flu) and Newcastle disease, so agriculture and biosecurity authorities restrict them to protect domestic poultry flocks. This is a biosecurity and animal-disease control measure rather than a duty or tax issue.
Typical allowance
Rules vary sharply by origin country: some destinations allow commercially packaged or thoroughly cooked eggs while others prohibit all eggs from bird-flu or Newcastle-disease regions; always verify against your specific route.
Provisional — confirm with your destination
Before you travel
Documents you may need
- Customs/biosecurity declaration form
- Proof of country of origin (label or documentation)
- USDA Veterinary Services or equivalent import permit (when required)
- Veterinary/sanitary certificate (when required)
Next steps
- 1.Check your destination's egg and poultry import rules before you pack
- 2.Declare all eggs and egg products to border officers
- 3.Note the country where the eggs came from
- 4.Prefer commercially sealed, labeled products over loose or homemade eggs
- 5.Be ready to surrender prohibited eggs at the border
Official sources
- International Traveler: Milk, Dairy, and Egg Products· USDA APHIS
- Avian Influenza· USDA APHIS
- Bringing or mailing goods to Australia· Australia DAFF
Always verify with the official authority for your destination.
Country-specific rules
The default posture above applies worldwide. For the exact rules at your destination, check the country guide.
View country rules →