Declare everything food related that you are bringing. As I mentioned - this is a truth test - so by declaring, you show no intention of hiding anything. Plus points in the eyes of the CBSA officers.Yes, meat products - keep clear and don't try as even if you declare them likely they will be confiscated. CBSA is particularly strict on this.
However, on declaring food items you are bringing - declare anything that you eat and pay attention to the
ingredients on the food products you are bringing in. That is the well-advised lecture I got from a well meaning CBSA officer lady when I was subjected to secondary inspection on returning from one of my vacation trips. Yes...napunta na din ako sa secondary inspection and na-experience ko din ang napapanood nyo sa Border Security - the sniffing dogs, the swabbing of the luggage, the interview and the luggage inspection. Fortunately, not all my luggage was opened, and I was lucky I only got a lecture - nevertheless it is an unpleasant experience for a well-travelled person. That is a story for another day
Here is an image of the Landing Declaration Card:
This becomes a lawful and legal document as soon as you sign it - and anything here can be used as your sworn statements when legal action is needed. So careful.
I will direct your attention to the section wherein it reads:
"I am/we are bringing into Canada:......
- Meat/meat products; dairy products; fruits; vegetables; seeds; nuts; plants and and animals or their parts/products; cut flowers; soil; wood/wood products; birds; insects"
Kita nyo - it says "products" - and in that "lecture" - the CBSA lady said it includes ingredients in anything you eat. So basically lahat halos ng food items nasasakop. So even the polvoron (which contains milk - dairy product), the sardines in oil (which has laurel leaves - plant product) and chips (ingredients has lard - pork/meat product, flour/corn - plant products) - kasama. Hindi lang ang main ingredient.
On the aisle next to me in secondary was another filipino resident - coming back from vacation. Another hit on sniffing dogs - and there was no meat products. Pero di din nag-declare, and talagang binabasa ng mga officers ang ingredients on the labels to see if they contain any of those listed; nakita ko lahat ng sardines in oil nahiwalay na because nga sa laurel as pointed out by the officer. On the other side - a Canadian resident - whose fault was also not declaring the tins of cat food (has meat in the ingredients) he was bringing in - and was again another hit by sniffing dogs.
So going back to it is ok to bring in squid/dried squid - declare it. You know the odor may be detected by the sniffing dogs, and likely if detected - may bring you to secondary inspection. As long as you declare it, up to CBSA if they will confiscate it or let you go with leniency to first-time immigrants coming in.
/...hth..atb
