Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Environmental Health Services Division of the Department of Health has issued an advisory for travelers regarding the importation of food, medications, and related items from Samoa. This advisory emphasizes that all imported goods must be for personal use only, aligning with the department's commitment to maintaining health and safety standards within the territory.

According to the public notice released by the Division, there is a strict limitation imposed on individual travelers: they may import a maximum of 10 total food units. It is essential to understand that a "unit" is clearly defined as any one of the following: a package, a container, a bottle, a jar, a can, or a single individually wrapped item. Travelers should be aware that the regulations specify they are not permitted to combine different types of items to exceed this total—meaning they cannot bring in 10 separate items if they attempt to include multiple quantities of each. The policy clearly states that the total number of food units must not exceed 10 per person, regardless of product type.

If travelers bring food items exceeding the 10-unit limit, the notice states that these items will be confiscated at the border and disposed of to ensure compliance with health regulations.

Furthermore, travelers are reminded that all medications must be thoroughly labeled and duly declared upon entry. As with food items, medications are restricted to personal use only. The Department of Health warns that any medications found in commercial quantities or lacking appropriate labeling are subject to confiscation, prioritizing public safety over individual imports.

The Department has articulated that this regulatory approach is crucial for safeguarding the territory from the risks posed by unsafe, unregulated, or improperly labeled products that could enter through personal travel or informal import channels.

However, the implementation of these policies has raised questions among some members of the public about the Department of Health's authority to establish these regulations unilaterally. 

Critics argue that these measures should undergo the formal rule-making process as outlined in the Administrative Procedures Act, which ensures that there is an opportunity for public comment on proposed changes and mandates that any new rules must be signed off by both the Secretary of American Samoa and the Lt. Governor.