'awa usda Hawaii

[Michael Nielsen]

I got a friend living in hawaii to send me some stuff from ghk.

He that postal office said that it was needed to be inspected by usda before shipping that was new for me...

 

[Alia]

International shipments of dried, sealed, labeled, kava powder?
Checking with Gourmet Hawaiian Kava would be a good idea.
For sure a customs declaration but if they are suggesting the
package has to be unsealed, opened and looked at by a USDA Inspector?
Would a sealed bag of Hawaii grown coffee require this?
It raises a good question though.

 

[Michael Nielsen]

International shipments of dried, sealed, labeled, kava powder?
Checking with Gourmet Hawaiian Kava would be a good idea.
For sure a customs declaration but if they are suggesting the
package has to be unsealed, opened and looked at by a USDA Inspector?
Would a sealed bag of Hawaii grown coffee require this?
It raises a good question though.

I assume they do the same thing they do at the airport when you are flying from hawaii.

 

[TheKavaFlow]

I assume they do the same thing they do at the airport when you are flying from hawaii.

They check for live plants, but not dried at the airport.

 

[Alia]

I got a friend living in hawaii to send me some stuff from ghk.

He that postal office said that it was needed to be inspected by usda before shipping that was new for me...

I'll re-write my comment and add, @gourmethawaiiankava in hopes that Chris will see and offer his mana'o.
International shipments of dried, sealed, labeled, kava powder?
Checking with Gourmet Hawaiian Kava would be a good idea.
For sure a customs declaration but if they are suggesting the
package has to be unsealed, opened and looked at by a USDA Inspector?
Would a sealed bag of Hawaii grown coffee require this?
It raises a good question though.

 

[Gourmet Hawaiian Kava]

I have never had to get the dry powdered kava root inspected by the USDA. It is NOT required for dry powdered kava root. If it were fresh un-dried kava root then I would need to get it inspected by the USDA. If it were live kava plants or cuttings I would also need it to be inspected by the USDA.
I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about this.
Aloha.

Chris

 

[Alia]

I have never had to get the dry powdered kava root inspected by the USDA. It is NOT required for dry powdered kava root. If it were fresh un-dried kava root then I would need to get it inspected by the USDA. If it were live kava plants or cuttings I would also need it to be inspected by the USDA.
I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about this.
Aloha.

Chris

Thanks for the this information Chris. That is what I expected.
A few times when I've sent fresh, frozen to University research folks outside of US
I did take to USDA. It is amusing because they just look at the bags of frozen 'awa
and say--OK! But not necessary as frozen 'awa pulp.
Once, shipping some with dry ice, we had to break up the dry ice a little
This caused a minor explosion and got the TSAs' attention.

 

[Michael Nielsen]

It might just be a person who is new at the job?
And is not aware of the differences about what needs an inspection or not.

 

[Gourmet Hawaiian Kava]

Thanks for the this information Chris. That is what I expected.
A few times when I've sent fresh, frozen to University research folks outside of US
I did take to USDA. It is amusing because they just look at the bags of frozen 'awa
and say--OK! But not necessary as frozen 'awa pulp.
Once, shipping some with dry ice, we had to break up the dry ice a little
This caused a minor explosion and got the TSAs' attention.

@Alia you are correct, if the fresh kava is a pulp and frozen then you do not need the inspection but when I would sell the whole fresh root to East Earth Herbs I would need to get it inspected, they need to make sure that there is no dirt or nematodes, things like that. Aloha.

Chris

 

[Alia]

It might just be a person who is new at the job?
And is not aware of the differences about what needs an inspection or not.

I would suspect it was via the Hilo Airport Post Office.
They have a reputation for communication disconnect.
Whereby Staff make up their own rules.
The problem is, in this case shipping kava, so your friend
may need to get verification from USDA that inspection
is not required for that product, then go to another PO..

 

[Michael Nielsen]

I would suspect it was via the Hilo Airport Post Office.
They have a reputation for communication disconnect.
Whereby Staff make up their own rules.
The problem is, in this case shipping kava, so your friend
may need to get verification from USDA that inspection
is not required for that product, then go to another PO..

I have confirmed that my friend did use hilo airport postoffice.