Declaring is the Law
Be aware … Declare everything.
You are required by law to declare all food, plant and animal products you bring with you into Canada. For instance, you must declare:
Live animals and animal products, such as cooked or raw meats, hides, skins, trophies, milk, fat, butter, cheese, eggs, fish, seafood.
Plant products, such as fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, trees, houseplants, wood (and wood products such as furniture, carvings, bark), roots, vines, herbs, flowers, insects, bulbs, soil.
Failure to declare any of these products or to provide required permits/certificates can lead to:
Confiscation of your products;
A penalty up to $1300; or
Prosecution
Inadmissible goods may be confiscated and disposed of, or ordered removed from Canada. Travellers may also be held responsible for any costs related to the disposal, quarantine, treatment or removal of these items from Canada.
Common mistakes
Many travellers fail to declare items such as:
processed or canned foods;
homemade food;
handmade crafts, such as wooden items;
cooked or cured meats;
soil;
plants used for homeopathic or medicinal purposes;
milk products, such as butter, yogurt, kefir; and
fruits and vegetables.
These travellers may not realize the hazards of food, plant and animal products, which can be or carry invasive species and diseases. However, the risks to Canada's food supply, economy, environment and human health are very real.
