We are not alone ...
Discussion
I and others have commented elsewhere on this Forum about the ineffectual laws passed in the UK which harrass the honest individual yet do nothing to combat crime.
To show that we are not alone, here's an example from the USA. Extracted from Risks Digest and slightly edited.
Enjoy.
"
I live in the UK and my parents live in the USA. Every year, at Christmas, I send them a parcel containing food items that are hard or impossible to get in the USA, or are prohibitively expensive there.
I find that as of 12th Dec 2004, any food items mailed to the US have to be pre-registered with the FDA. From the Web site www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsbtact.html :
"Nearly 20% of all imports into the U.S. are food and food products. In 2002 Congress passed the Bioterrorism Act as a part of its ongoing effort to combat terrorism - in this instance, by reducing the ability for international terrorists to carry out terrorist attacks in the U.S. by contaminating imported foods."
I can appreciate that the US Government wants to protect the food supply against bio-terrorism, but what do they think this is going to achieve? Were I a bio-terrorist, about to ship a boxful of Ebola contaminated sausage to the USA, would I register it on the FDA site? Or would I write "Books" on the Customs form and send it anyway?
And that brings me to the registration process itself, in order that I might legally send Christmas Cake, Christmas Pudding and Marmite (*) to my poor deprived parents. But do I have to register at all? "Private residences of individuals" are excluded. Why? My box of Ebola could just as easily come from my kitchen as from the local sausage plant [Indeed, that is more likely - S]. And if I'm a terrorist, why would I register?
In short, what is the point of this? Other than make-work for Government employees.
(* Yes, I know Americans regard Marmite as a bioweapon, but it isn't. Honestly.)
"
Streaky
To show that we are not alone, here's an example from the USA. Extracted from Risks Digest and slightly edited.
Enjoy.
"
I live in the UK and my parents live in the USA. Every year, at Christmas, I send them a parcel containing food items that are hard or impossible to get in the USA, or are prohibitively expensive there.
I find that as of 12th Dec 2004, any food items mailed to the US have to be pre-registered with the FDA. From the Web site www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsbtact.html :
"Nearly 20% of all imports into the U.S. are food and food products. In 2002 Congress passed the Bioterrorism Act as a part of its ongoing effort to combat terrorism - in this instance, by reducing the ability for international terrorists to carry out terrorist attacks in the U.S. by contaminating imported foods."
I can appreciate that the US Government wants to protect the food supply against bio-terrorism, but what do they think this is going to achieve? Were I a bio-terrorist, about to ship a boxful of Ebola contaminated sausage to the USA, would I register it on the FDA site? Or would I write "Books" on the Customs form and send it anyway?
And that brings me to the registration process itself, in order that I might legally send Christmas Cake, Christmas Pudding and Marmite (*) to my poor deprived parents. But do I have to register at all? "Private residences of individuals" are excluded. Why? My box of Ebola could just as easily come from my kitchen as from the local sausage plant [Indeed, that is more likely - S]. And if I'm a terrorist, why would I register?
In short, what is the point of this? Other than make-work for Government employees.
(* Yes, I know Americans regard Marmite as a bioweapon, but it isn't. Honestly.)
"
Streaky
The same level of idiocy applies when the septics ask you on their immigration form if
You have ever carried out spying or terrorist acts against the US!!!!
What terrorist would ever reply to that???????
(excepting the Irish/Belgians/Ostfriesen/Newfies/Poles that is!!) Joke fellas!!!
What anally retentive bureaucrat ever thought up such idiocy????
You have ever carried out spying or terrorist acts against the US!!!!
What terrorist would ever reply to that???????
(excepting the Irish/Belgians/Ostfriesen/Newfies/Poles that is!!) Joke fellas!!!
What anally retentive bureaucrat ever thought up such idiocy????
JMGS4 said:Shortly after the second War, when there was great fear of communist subversion, one of the questions on the US visa application read, "Do you plan to attempt to overthrow the Government of the United States by force?" Gilbert Harding (the BBC presenter, who did not suffer fools at all, let alone gladly
The same level of idiocy applies when the septics ask you on their immigration form if
You have ever carried out spying or terrorist acts against the US!
)wrote, "Sole purpose of visit." ... and got his visa! Streaky
Steve-B said:In SFO Oct/Nov this year, both DEA and Ag were making pax put carry-on bags on floor so that their dogs could sniff. One problem was that the handlers appeared to have no memory for faces and during a long delay at reclaim were repeatedly asking the same pax to do this. No point in arguing though!
my parents are over from Texas just now. they were here last year for our wedding in London.
all the US airports now have beagle dogs sniffing suitcases for food. works great --- EXCEPT --- when you carry food in your carry on baggage.
it's too high for the doggies to sniff.
I recall a wonderful episode from the late '80s at MCO when two large ladies off an Avianca flight from Bogota had their melons X-rayed then chopped into pieces by Ag inspectors! [Humm! Perhaps I'd better make it clear that the 'melons' in question were the fruit type!] - Streaky
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