Interesting People mailing list archives
Pointless "security" from Risks
From: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2003 11:45:51 -0500
Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2003 12:40:55 +0000 (GMT) From: huge () huge org uk Subject: h 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. (Apologies if any of this takes on the attributes of a rant. I find it difficult to talk about this rationally.) 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 http://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." Now for the rant bit. I can appreciate that the US Government wants to protect the food supply against bio-terrorism, but what in the name of Ghod 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. At least I can do it online (see http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~pn/pnoview.html). 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. And if I'm a terrorist (which I'm not), again I ask, why would I register at all? And if I do register (which I haven't), why threaten me with US law (which the site repeatedly does.) I know the US Government struggles with the concept of extra-terratoriality In short, what is the point of this? Other than make-work for Government employees. Still, at least the website works with Mozilla. I guess I should be thankful for small mercies. "Something must be done. This is something. Therefore we will do it." (* Yes, I know Americans regard Marmite as a bioweapon, but it isn't. Honestly.) ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as interesting-people () lists elistx com To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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- Pointless "security" from Risks Dave Farber (Dec 31)
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- Pointless "security" from Risks Dave Farber (Dec 31)