Can you bring sand through customs?

No soil or earth of any kind is allowed into the United States without a permit issued in advance by USDA Plant Protection and Quarantine Permit Unit. Pure sand, such as a small container of decorative beach sand, is usually allowed. Always check with the permit unit in advance for details.



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For example, some experts say the removal of shells can impact shoreline erosion patterns. This could have dire effects on coastal populations, especially in combination with global warming and rising sea levels. Not only that, but every shell performs some ecological role.

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You shouldn't have any problem as long as they are clean and don't smell. If you collected these yourself from a beach within the EU they aren't likely to be from endangered species, which would be the only probable reason for any restriction.

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Sand dollars can't survive out of the water, so if you find a live one, put it gently back in the water. If you find a sand dollar on the beach, it is probably no longer alive and it is ok to take. Even sand dollars that look grey or tan in color are dead if they have no tiny coating of furry spines on them.

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In certain countries, removing seashells from the beach or coral is actually illegal. This is certainly true in the UK, where under the Coastal Protection Act of 1949, it is illegal to take any kind of natural materials from public beaches. Anyone caught doing so by authorities could be fined up to £1,000.

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Access the digital replica of USA TODAY and more than 200 local newspapers with your subscription. On all beaches located within U.S. state parks, it is illegal to collect sea glass.

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