QUICK ANSWER US import restrictions sort goods into two groups. Prohibited goods are barred by law, and an ordinary permit does not make them admissible. The group includes goods made with forced labor, goods of Cuban, Iranian or North Korean origin, dog and cat fur and counterfeit trademark goods. Restricted goods can enter, but only with a permit, registration, prior notice or other authorization from the federal agency that regulates them. That means FDA for food, TTB for alcohol, ATF for firearms, USDA for plants and meat and FWS for wildlife. CBP enforces both sets of rules at the border, including hundreds of laws for 40 other government agencies.
Under US import restrictions, the federal agency that regulates a product decides whether it may enter the United States. Some rules also look at where the goods were made and who made them. Platton, an import-focused US forwarder, gives you a clear view of your cargo and its documents on its AI-driven platform.
Prohibited or restricted: how CBP and partner agencies sort imports
U.S. Customs and Border Protection runs the border, but it is usually not the agency that decides whether a product may come in. CBP itself does not require you to hold an import permit. Permits, registrations and certifications come from other federal agencies, depending on the commodity, and at the port CBP acts on those agencies' behalf (CBP importer tips). In all, CBP enforces hundreds of laws for 40 other government agencies (CBP prohibited and restricted items). Importers call them partner government agencies, or PGAs.
CBP puts regulated goods into two categories:
- Prohibited: the law forbids the item from entering the United States. An ordinary permit does not change that, and the few ways in are narrow ones, such as a specific OFAC authorization or evidence that rebuts the UFLPA presumption.
- Restricted: the item may enter, but only after a federal agency issues a permit or other authorization.
Some goods, alcohol in particular, also need state or local authorization. Checking admissibility is the first step of a US import, and the full sequence, from your importer number to delivery, is in our guide on how to import goods into the US.
Prohibited goods: what cannot be imported into the US
The prohibited list runs from forced labor goods and sanctioned countries to a short list of specific products, such as drug paraphernalia, African bush meat and absinthe that contains thujone.
Goods prohibited from US import
| Category | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Goods made with forced, convict or indentured labor | Not entitled to entry at any US port, even when only part of the product was made that way | 19 U.S.C. 1307; CBP forced labor |
| Goods from Xinjiang or from companies on the UFLPA Entity List | Presumed to be prohibited unless the presumption is rebutted | CBP, UFLPA |
| Goods of Cuban, Iranian or North Korean origin | Prohibited unless an OFAC exemption or license covers them | 31 CFR 515.204, 560.201, 510.205 |
| Dog and cat fur | Banned; each item is subject to seizure and forfeiture, with civil penalties of up to $10,000, $5,000 or $3,000 per violation depending on intent | 19 U.S.C. 1308; CBP |
| Counterfeit trademark and pirated copyright goods | Subject to seizure and forfeiture | 19 U.S.C. 1595a(c)(2)(C); CBP |
| Drug paraphernalia | Import prohibited by federal law; CBP seizes it | CBP |
| Fraudulent or counterfeit drugs and medical devices | Import prohibited by FDA | CBP |
| African bush meat | Not admissible | CBP |
| Endangered species and products made from them | Generally may not be imported; virtually all ivory needs an FWS permit | CBP |
| Iraqi cultural property removed since August 6, 1990 | Prohibited; other protected cultural property enters only with an export permit from the country of origin | CBP |
| Absinthe containing thujone | Only "thujone free" absinthe (under 10 parts per million) with compliant labels may enter; the rest is subject to seizure | TTB and FDA rules; CBP |
Forced labor and the UFLPA presumption
Under 19 U.S.C. 1307, the ban covers goods made "wholly or in part" with forced, convict or indentured labor, so a finished product can be stopped because of a component or raw material made further up the supply chain.
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) turns that rule into a presumption. CBP presumes that goods made wholly or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, or by an entity on the UFLPA Entity List, are prohibited. The presumption can be rebutted, but the evidence about the supply chain has to come from the importer.
CBP also issues Withhold Release Orders, or WROs, against specific producers and then detains their goods at every US port of entry.
A forced labor finding keeps the goods out of the country, unlike the 2026 Section 301 action tied to forced labor, which adds duty to goods that may still enter. Protection starts with knowing your supplier's own suppliers, and the checks in our guide to fake supplier red flags make a good first screen before you place the order.
Sanctioned countries: Cuba, Iran and North Korea
Rules from the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) close three origins to US imports:
- Iran: goods of Iranian origin, and goods owned or controlled by the Government of Iran.
- Cuba: goods of Cuban origin, goods that have been in or passed through Cuba, and goods made in whole or in part from Cuban materials.
- North Korea: any goods, services or technology from North Korea, whether they arrive directly or indirectly.
All three programs exempt information materials such as books and films, and a few OFAC general licenses cover narrow lists of goods. Otherwise the way in is a specific license from OFAC, and CBP notes that such licenses are rarely granted. Routing the goods through a third country does not help, because the rules follow origin, as our guide to country of origin rules explains.
Sanctions also target people and companies wherever they are, so screen new suppliers against OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals list before you pay a deposit.
TAKEAWAY Paperwork at the port cannot fix a prohibited product. Check origin, the supplier chain and brand rights before you pay the supplier.
Restricted goods by federal agency, and the filing each one requires
Each agency sets its own requirement, which can be a permit, a registration, a certificate or a notice for each shipment, and CBP checks it at entry on the agency's behalf. All of these requirements sit alongside the CBP entry, which must be filed within 15 calendar days of the shipment's arrival at a US port (usa.gov).
Federal agencies, the goods they regulate and the filing each requires
| Agency | Goods | What it requires | When | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDA | Food, drugs, medical devices, radiation-emitting electronics | Food: registered facilities and prior notice for each shipment. Devices: the foreign manufacturer registers and lists each device, and the initial importer registers and names its manufacturers. Radiation-emitting products: the manufacturer names a US agent | Prior notice before arrival, with the lead time set by mode (21 CFR 1.279); registration and US agent before the goods are offered for import | Prior notice through ACE or FDA PNSI |
| USDA APHIS | Plants and plant products, timber, plant pests, soil, animal products, live animals | Import permit on the form for the commodity, such as PPQ-587, PPQ-585, VS 16-3 or VS 17-129 | Before arrival; at least 30 days ahead for plants for planting (7 CFR 319.37-5) | APHIS eFile |
| USDA FSIS | Meat | Origin country with an inspection system FSIS has found equivalent, and a certified establishment | Before purchase | FSIS country and establishment eligibility |
| CDC | Biological specimens such as cultures, tissues, viruses and vectors | CDC import permit, sometimes alongside a USDA permit | Before import | CDC import permit program |
| TTB | Distilled spirits, wine, malt beverages, tobacco products | Basic permit to import alcohol (Form 5100.24) and label approval (COLA); tobacco importer permit (TTB F 5230.4) | Before you start importing; COLA before wine leaves customs custody | TTB |
| ATF | Firearms, ammunition, U.S. Munitions Import List articles | ATF-authorized importer; Form 6 permit; Form 4587 registration for munitions list articles; Form 6A at release | Form 6 approved before import (27 CFR 478.112) | ATF |
| FWS | Wildlife and wildlife products for commercial use | Import/export license (Form 3-200-3a, or 3-200-3b for a business abroad); Form 3-177 declaration for each shipment | Authorization before import (50 CFR 14.91, 14.93); Form 3-177 on arrival (50 CFR 14.61) | FWS, at a designated port (50 CFR 14.11) |
| NOAA Fisheries | Fish and fish products in NOAA trade documentation programs | International Fisheries Trade Permit, for US residents only | Before import | Data reported through ACE |
| EPA | Pesticides, TSCA chemicals, vehicles and engines | Notice of Arrival (Form 3540-1); the pesticide registered with EPA unless an exception applies; TSCA positive or negative certification; emission standards for vehicles | Notice before arrival or with the entry (19 CFR 12.112); TSCA certification at entry (19 CFR 12.121) | EPA, or electronically with the entry |
| CPSC | Consumer products under a CPSC rule, ban or standard, including children's products | Certificate issued by the importer; certificate data eFiled | With the entry, required since July 8, 2026 | ACE |
| FCC | Radio-frequency devices | Valid FCC equipment authorization, unless the device is exempt and meets the rules | Before import | FCC |
| NHTSA | Motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment | HS-7 declaration; vehicles must meet DOT safety, bumper and theft prevention standards | At import | With the entry |
| DOE | Products covered by energy efficiency standards | Certification report | Before distribution in the US | DOE |
| DEA | Controlled substances, listed chemicals | Registration and import permit for Schedule I and II and certain others; Form 236 for some Schedule III to V; Form 486 or 486A for listed chemicals above threshold | Forms 236 and 486: at least 15 calendar days before release (21 CFR 1312.18, 1313.12) | DEA Diversion Control Division online |
| NRC | Nuclear equipment and material | NRC authorization, general or specific | Before import | NRC |
FDA facility registration, prior notice and the Foreign Supplier Verification Program are in our guide to importing food, and cosmetics under MoCRA have their own MoCRA checklist. FCC equipment authorization is covered in importing electronics, CPSC certificates and eFiling in importing toys. NHTSA's HS-7 and EPA Form 3520-1 are in importing auto parts and importing tires. Every product guide is listed on our industry guides page.
Alcohol and tobacco: TTB permits and label approval
To import distilled spirits, wine or malt beverages as a business, you need a basic permit from TTB, the Treasury's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, applied for on TTB Form 5100.24.
Imported wine in containers cannot be released from customs custody until the person removing it holds a certificate of label approval, or COLA, so get label approval before the first container arrives. Tobacco importers need their own TTB permit, on TTB F 5230.4, before starting business.
Firearms and defense articles: ATF Form 6 and registration
Only an importer authorized by ATF may import firearms or ammunition as a business, and every import needs an approved ATF Form 6 Part I, which is the permit for the period written on it.
Articles on the U.S. Munitions Import List need the same Form 6 permit, and anyone in the business of importing them must register with ATF on Form 4587, at $250 for one year up to $1,000 for five. If goods arrive before the authorization, the rules leave three options: store them at the importer's expense until it is issued, abandon them to the US government, or export them.
Plants, animal products and meat: APHIS and FSIS rules
APHIS issues import permits through APHIS eFile (APHIS permits).
Plants for planting need a written PPQ permit unless APHIS's Plants for Planting Manual lists an exception, and the application forms are free. Plant pests, biological agents and related articles also need a permit, and wood products can need a Lacey Act declaration, which our guide to importing furniture explains.
Meat has a stricter gate. It may come only from a country whose meat inspection system FSIS has found equivalent to the US system, and only from an establishment certified under that system (9 CFR 327.2).
Wildlife and seafood: FWS and NOAA permits
Before you import wildlife products for commercial purposes, from garments, bags and jewelry to hides, furs and food, you need an FWS import/export license, applied for on FWS Form 3-200-3. It is valid for up to one year, costs $100 to issue and $50 to amend, and comes with five years of record keeping and inspection fees.
Each shipment also needs a Form 3-177 declaration on arrival at a designated port. Seafood covered by NOAA's trade documentation programs needs an International Fisheries Trade Permit, which only US residents can hold.
Pesticides, chemicals and controlled substances: EPA and DEA filings
Pesticides need a Notice of Arrival on EPA Form 3540-1, and they must be registered with EPA before they can enter unless one of EPA's narrow exceptions applies. Chemicals in bulk or in mixtures carry a TSCA certification at entry.
DEA controls drugs and the chemicals used to make them. Schedule I and II substances, and certain others, enter only with DEA registration and a DEA import permit, and the Form 236 and Form 486 declarations for other substances and listed chemicals are due at least 15 calendar days before release.
TAKEAWAY Some products need clearance from two agencies: meat from FSIS and APHIS, biological specimens from CDC and USDA, vehicles from NHTSA and EPA. Check every agency that covers your product before you book.
How to get an import permit before the goods ship
Getting an import permit is easiest when you start from the product, before the purchase order is final.
- Describe the product exactly and classify it. The 10-digit HTS code and a precise description tell you which rules apply, as our HTS code guide explains. If you are unsure, a CBP import specialist for your commodity can give classification advice, or you can request a written binding ruling under 19 CFR 177.
- Match the product to its agency and filing in the table above.
- Check origin and the supplier chain: no Cuban, Iranian or North Korean origin, no inputs from Xinjiang or UFLPA Entity List companies, no counterfeit marks. Our guide to supplier document validation covers the supplier papers worth checking before you pay.
- Set up your importer number. CBP identifies you by an IRS business number, a Social Security number, or a CBP-assigned number requested on CBP Form 5106. Since September 18, 2026, CBP cancels importer numbers with inaccurate data.
- Apply to the agency early. The lead times in the agency table above are minimums, and the rules do not promise how fast an agency answers, so plan the application around the production schedule as well as the sailing date.
- Line up the shipment documents. The commercial invoice and packing list should describe the goods the same way the permit does. Our commercial invoice guide shows which fields CBP and the agencies read.
- Ship when the permit is in hand.
What happens when a shipment arrives without the required permit
Under 19 U.S.C. 1595a(c)(2)(B), merchandise that needs a permit or other authorization from a federal agency and arrives without it is subject to seizure. The same applies to goods that fail a health, safety or conservation requirement. In a normal import, the entry is filed and CBP releases the goods, as our customs clearance process guide describes; a missing permit stops that sequence.
Held at the port, sent to general order, or seized
A common first stop is a PGA hold, where CBP keeps the goods while the agency checks them. Our guide to customs holds and exams covers how holds work and what they cost.
While the permit is missing, the clock at the port keeps running:
- Merchandise without an entry may stay at the place of unlading until the 15th calendar day after landing (19 CFR 4.37).
- After that, or whenever entry cannot be made for want of proper documents, it goes to a general order warehouse at the consignee's risk and expense (19 CFR 127.1).
- Goods that remain in customs custody for six months from the date of importation are treated as unclaimed and abandoned (19 CFR 127.11).
Refused by FDA or recalled after release
Food that arrives without complete, timely and accurate prior notice can be refused admission and held at the port, or at a secure facility FDA is told about, at the importer's expense, and the importer can face civil penalties. Goods that FDA refuses must be exported within 90 days of the notice, or they are destroyed (21 U.S.C. 381(a)).
Release does not always close the matter. Goods under FDA jurisdiction are released only conditionally (19 CFR 141.113(c)(1)). If released goods turn out not to be entitled to entry, CBP can demand their redelivery, and if they are not returned, the importer faces liquidated damages.
TAKEAWAY The 15-day limit at the port and the six-month abandonment rule run whether or not the permit arrives. Have the permit in hand before the goods sail.
How Platton helps with your imports
Platton is a forwarder specialized in imports into the US, with offices in Seattle, Portland, Chicago and Savannah and membership in WCA, JCtrans and NCBFAA. We book your freight, check your supplier documents and keep every shipment visible on one platform.
A complete supplier file before the cargo ships
We collect the commercial invoice, packing list and other documents from your supplier and check that the set is complete. If a paper is missing, you can fix it while the goods are still at the factory. This is our supplier documents validation service.
Automated documents and live container tracking
Real-time container tracking shows where your cargo is and when it will reach the US port. Our AI-driven platform automates shipment documentation and keeps quotes, bookings, documents and tracking in one place.
Ocean and air freight from China, Vietnam, India and Europe
We book ocean freight from China, Vietnam, India and Europe on weekly sailings with Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Evergreen and Hapag-Lloyd, and air freight from the same origins when the cargo has to fly. You get a live quote before you book, and your rate is locked at booking. Each origin has its own lane page: shipping from China to the USA, from Vietnam, from India and from Europe.
Buyers consolidation for multi-factory orders
Buying from several factories? Our buyers consolidation service puts their cargo on one booking, so you manage one shipment and one arrival. For smaller volumes, LCL shipping lets you ship without paying for a full container.
Send us your next import and get a live quote for the freight.
Common questions about US import restrictions
Can I import goods made in Xinjiang into the US?
Generally, no. Goods made wholly or partly in Xinjiang, or by a company on the UFLPA Entity List, are treated as forced labor goods and stay out unless the importer rebuts that presumption with evidence. Inputs count as well as the final factory, so ask your supplier where its components and raw materials come from before importing from China.
What are the requirements for importing meat products into the US?
Meat needs clearance on two fronts, FSIS and APHIS. FSIS eligibility covers both the origin country and the supplier's plant, and APHIS animal health rules apply on top, so some shipments also need an APHIS permit on form VS 16-3. Confirm with FSIS that the country and the plant are eligible before you sign a purchase order.
Do I need a permit to import alcohol into the US?
Yes, if you import as a business. Bringing in distilled spirits, wine or malt beverages commercially takes a TTB basic permit under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act, so apply before you place the first order. States set their own rules for alcohol, and you may need state authorization as well.
Can I import products that contain wildlife parts?
Often yes. Bags, shoes, jewelry, furs and other wildlife products can come in commercially, but the importer needs an FWS import/export license first. The species matters most, because products from endangered species generally may not be imported and virtually all ivory needs an FWS permit, so confirm what the product is made from before you order.
Do I need a CDC import permit?
Only if you import certain biological materials. A CDC permit, a USDA permit or both may be needed for biological specimens such as bacterial cultures, culture medium, tissues, viruses or vectors brought in for research, biological or pharmaceutical use. If your shipment contains any of these, check with the CDC Import Permit Program and with APHIS before the goods ship.
What is a PGA hold?
A PGA hold is a stop CBP places on a shipment at the request of a partner government agency, such as FDA or USDA, while that agency checks the goods against its own rules. For shipments held over APHIS veterinary requirements, APHIS takes requests on form VS 16-79 through APHIS eFile. Our customs hold guide explains how holds and exams work.
Are import quotas still in force in the US?
Absolute quotas are not: CBP states that no commodities are currently subject to absolute quota restrictions. Tariff-rate quotas still exist. They allow a set quantity of a product to enter at a reduced duty rate during the quota period, and imports beyond that quantity pay the higher rate, so they change the duty you pay, not whether the goods may enter.
When should I apply for an import permit?
Apply before you place the order, and well before the goods ship. The rules set minimums, such as 30 days before arrival for APHIS plants-for-planting applications and 15 calendar days before release for DEA declarations, but agency review times are not fixed, so leave room for questions.
What are the new US import regulations in 2026?
Four changes this year matter to importers. Since July 8, 2026, CPSC certificate data must be eFiled with the entry. Since September 18, 2026, CBP voids importer numbers registered with inaccurate Form 5106 data. The de minimis exemption is suspended for every mode, international mail included since June 24, 2026, so low-value shipments need an entry. And since July 24, 2026, a 12.5 percent Section 301 duty tied to forced labor applies to most goods from China, which changes the duty owed, not whether the goods may enter.
Related import and compliance guides
- How to import goods into the US: the full import sequence, from importer setup to delivery.
- First-time importer guide: what to settle with the supplier and the product before a first order.
- How to import from China: the import process for the China lane, tariffs included.
- Importing food: FDA facility registration, prior notice and FSVP.
- Importing electronics: FCC equipment authorization for radio-frequency devices.
- Importing toys: CPSC rules, children's product certificates and eFiling.
- Importing apparel: labeling and CBP textile rules.
- Shipping lithium batteries: the dangerous goods rules that govern how batteries are shipped.
- Customs holds and exams: why shipments stop at the port and what happens next.
