The Beluga Caviar Ban is Official

It's official, no more beluga.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is suspending import and re-export of threatened beluga sturgeon caviar and meat originating in the Caspian Sea effective September 30.  Countries covered by the suspension include Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, and Turkmenistan. As we've mentioned before, the sturgeon has become endangered. The suspension applies to commercial shipments as well as "personal effects" in Caspian Sea countries. This means you can't bring any beluga back with you. The restriction does not apply to osetra, sevruga and domestic white sturgeon caviar.