FOOD --Bringing it into and out of Canada

[Ruthe]

I think that it is easier to bring food into Canada than it is to bring it into the U.S. But I'm completely confused about it. So I'd appreciate hearing about people's experiences -- Is packaged meat and fish okay? Any vegetables? Cheese? Bread? Last time I just threw away all our vegetables when we re-entered the U.S.and it really annoyed me.

And what about beer and wine? Are we allowed a certain amount?

I seem to remember Glenn had a problem once when he forgot about a red pepper.

Ruth

[cpaharley2008]

Here is the link for going into Canada, there is another for returning.
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) - Home

[A&B]

This site may answer some questions
ezbordercrossing.com – Making it Easier to Cross the U.S. Canadian Border

[BCnomad]

My current bookmarks:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...s.-from-canada


What Can I Bring Into Canada in Terms Of Food, Plant, Animal and Related Products? - Food - Canadian Food Inspection Agency

You'll have to click and click and click to get the info you want -- typical government sites.



If you can stop at a grocery store "on the border" sometimes they have signs of what is currently allowed. USA stores tend to at least.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by A&B

This site may answer some questions
ezbordercrossing.com – Making it Easier to Cross the U.S. Canadian Border

There is a disclaimer that explains why it may be better to go to Gov. sites:

Disclaimer

The laws, traffic conditions, and absolutely everything we write about on this site is constantly changing. We therefore offer the information on this website without any representation, guarantee or warranty as to the correctness, merchantability or suitability for ANY purpose.

[steve dunham]

Going into Canada we have been questioned / checked for passports ,drivers license, alcohol , tobacco , drugs ,food ,firearms , fireworks , nun chucks , throwing stars , worms ,minnows ,plants, birth certificates for minor children, firewood , DWI , felony convictions , fresh pork , bazookas , where we're going, purpose of visit ,where we are staying , length of visit ,where we live , are we leaving anything in Canada , do we have any gifts , how much money are we carrying , boat gas , boat registration ,pets ,pet vacinations etc- etc-etc-etc

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

Going into Canada we have been questioned / checked for passports ,drivers license, alcohol , tobacco , drugs ,food ,firearms , fireworks , nun chucks , throwing stars , worms ,minnows ,plants, birth certificates for minor children, firewood , DWI , felony convictions , fresh pork , bazookas , where we're going, purpose of visit ,where we are staying , length of visit ,where we live , are we leaving anything in Canada , do we have any gifts , how much money are we carrying , boat gas , boat registration ,pets ,pet vacinations etc- etc -etc-etc


http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Hx0...06700b54c.jpgs ,pets, boat gas , fishing boat

Pretty much the same for us going South except never asked about my bazookas though

Much improved with an Nexus card.

As has been suggested previously, go to the website and check it. We've chucked eggs in both directions recently. The list changes depending on outbreaks of this and that.

Ron

[Loren & Cathy]

Last September when we were crossing into Canada at Osoyoos, the customs agent seemed to really dwell on firearms and If I was aware of their laws. When I said I didn't own any firearms he kind of jokingly asked what kind of an American was I. As for fruits and vegetables, they all got chucked before the border crossing. But at that time of year there was sure a lot of good fruit to be bought just into Canada. Loren

[sturski]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

Going into Canada we have been questioned / checked for passports ,drivers license, alcohol , tobacco , drugs ,food ,firearms , fireworks , nun chucks , throwing stars , worms ,minnows ,plants, birth certificates for minor children, firewood , DWI , felony convictions , fresh pork , bazookas , where we're going, purpose of visit ,where we are staying , length of visit ,where we live , are we leaving anything in Canada , do we have any gifts , how much money are we carrying , boat gas , boat registration ,pets ,pet vacinations etc- etc-etc-etc

Pretty much the same, except for the boat stuff. My Colorado plates seem to invite questions about pot. "No, you have plenty of your own in BC" seemed an appropriate response.

The laws on fresh anything change too fast to keep up with. I just plan on running out before I cross.

[alanmalk]

Originally Posted by sturski

Pretty much the same, except for the boat stuff. ...

We seem to be targets for the "bear spray" question. And yes, I frequently carry bear spray - after a close encounter at a favorite fishing lake.

From what I read regarding Canadian regulations: Bear spray has to be labeled exactly as "Bear Spray" and contain between 9 and 11 ounces of ingredients.

--
Alan

[gbaglo]

I've got a couple cans of 'bear spray' ( one expired ). Got them at Vancouver outdoor stores. No more difficult than buying pesticides.
If labelled 'mace' they would be illegal.

[float5]

They allow bear spray into Canada and ours from Canada is a great big canister but they do not allow the little self-defense sprays that are usually sold.

The food they did not want was citrus coming into the U.S.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by float5

The food they did not want was citrus coming into the U.S.

Wish it was that simple, we've been busted for green onions going South and bringing potatoes in a bin, out of their original bag, back into Canada, Idaho potatoes that were bought in Canada. Just gotta check the websites both ways to reduce the risk of bringing a little unpleasantness to the crossing.

Ron

[float5]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Wish it was that simple, we've been busted for green onions going South and bringing potatoes in a bin, out of their original bag, back into Canada, Idaho potatoes that were bought in Canada. Just gotta check the websites both ways to reduce the risk of bringing a little unpleasantness to the crossing.

Ron

Sorry, I did not mean to give the impression that I was at all covering the food they do not want but just mentioning one thing that they would not allow. Yes, I was going to say again anything with dirt on it --- such as potatoes and green onions --- but I do not know if they have a whole list of such items. I know that they have not allowed citrus for many years at border crossings in different regions so I expect that that has not changed.

We basically had no fresh food going into Canada to avoid the problem, and then coming back into the U.S., they had no interest in our flax seeds or bananas or a few other foods but they did get into the trailer and look in the refrigerator!

[gbaglo]

On the late news tonight, it's apparently illegal to import a lottery ticket into the U.S.
So Canadians crossing the border to buy PowerBall tickets can take that ticket home and they can win, but if they try to cross the border to collect the winnings, the ticket may be seized as contraband.

[padlin]

What do they do if you go to cross one way or the other and you have something sinister on board like turnips? You pull up to the booth, they ask, you say "yes I have 2 turnips", then what? As opposed to not having them and answering "no, I have no turnips, I threw them out at Mickey D's". Is it an automatic trip to the inspection lane?

[float5]

We have had lots of "no" answers and no problem. Some of them ask three questions and wave you through and some ask a dozen for a few minutes. They did seem to know about Escapes for those trips.

Guess the lottery situation is that it can be worth cash the same as a cashier's check?

[JohnB]

On a mid Dec. 2015 crossing into Washington State at the Peace Arch border crossing at Blaine we were asked by the US customs agent if we knew of or had recently met any know terrorists. That one was easy to answer.

Another question was about prescription drugs. Apparently you can bring all or most prescription drugs as long as they are in a container with a pharmacy label with your name on it.

[Ruthe]

The Summer before last we went from Kootenay to Glacier NP on the U.S. Side and I didn't want to bring any veggies across and I wasn't sure about meat products. Then there was no grocery store between the border crossing and the park and we were pretty low on supplies and the park store was pathetic in St. Mary's. Fortunately our son came from Helena and brought food.

I tend to think it depends on who is doing the inspecting. So what I'm getting is that packaged meat (except maybe pork) and most fish is probably okay. But vegetables are a different story. I did check the websites but honestly I found them confusing and conflicting.

I don't think anyone has mentioned beer and wine and cigars?

[A&B]

Originally Posted by Ruthe

I don't think anyone has mentioned beer and wine and cigars?

Travellers - Alcohol and Tobacco Limits