Going for a visit back home; what can I bring into Canada?

[Veronik 19]

Hi everyone!

Just a quick question: We're planning a reception back home when we go for a visit in May, and I want to bring Brunswick Stew for people to have. Can you bring a can of food like that across the border? It's kind of like chicken stew. We're driving, if that makes any difference...

Thanks for the input guys!

[Inky 1,110]

Canned should be alright but often depends, things seem to change daily as well as per person..

Tried to bring some candy once and got it taken away, it was just "fuzzy peaches" bag of candy. Tried again a few months later and they let me?

Most people say you cant bring any kind of beef dog food but they let me bring it when I moved to the US.

They took my moms apples and threw them away tho because it was fruit/plant and might not be safe or carrying something. Yet the last visit they let her bring her orange across?? lol

[JeannieL 44]

It wouldn't hurt to contact customs and ask them. A friend of mine who is a truck driver had a package of hotdogs in his refrigerator in his bunk and they charged him for transporting a meat product. I have taken cans of lobster and Tim Horton's coffee and Summer savory into the US but have never brought any food back with me other than some candy at Christmas.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Here is a link to a list of foods allowed and not allowed into Canada from the US:

http://www.beaware.g...h/brirape.shtml

and another useful link: http://www.beaware.g...d/rulrege.shtml

Basically, if the canned product is produced in the US then it is probably allowable as the US standards meet the criteria Canada has established to allow in certain canned products. You will need to declare it. Rules change, though - as per the relatively recent situation with petfood - so requesting information about a specific product is a good idea.

Here is a contact phone number for Canada Border Services and you can ask them directly:

Information:

Border Information Services (BIS)

Phone: Toll-free in Canada: 1-800-461-9999

Outside Canada: 204-983-3500 or 506-636-5064 (long-distance charges apply)

*If you call during office hours (08:00 – 16:00) local time, you can speak directly to an agent for more specific information.

Edited April 3, 2011 by Kathryn41

[Veronik 19]

Thanks everyone, I'll look at those links Kathryn41!