Declaring is the Law

Be sure. Declare everything.

The long and short of it is: Canadian law requires that you declare all food, plants and animals and related products that you bring into Canada. Specially trained detector dogs and a variety of other tools are present at Canadian points of entry to detect specific products. Failure to declare could lead to:

Confiscation of products
Fines of up to $400 per undeclared item
Prosecution

The pest and disease situation around the world is constantly changing and these changes can impact what products are restricted and prohibited. To be sure whether you can bring a product into Canada, seek advice before travelling and visit the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) regularly.

The purpose of AIRS is to provide accurate and timely information on import requirements. The application uses a question and answer approach to guide the user through a series of questions about the Harmonized System (HS) Codes, origin, destination, end use and miscellaneous qualifiers of the product they wish to import.

AIRS has been prepared for the convenience of reference only and has no official sanction. For all purposes of interpreting and applying the law, users should consult the Acts as passed by Parliament.

View a list of restricted commodities from a country infected with Foot and Mouth Disease.

View an update to Import Restrictions - United States.

View a list of restricted commodities from countries infected with Avian Influenza

Common mistakes

Many travellers fail to declare things like meat, animal hides, live birds, plants and fruit. In general, this is because most travellers are unaware of the hazards - but the risks to Canada's food supply, economy, environment and human health are very real. And it is because of the threat these products pose that Canada is so serious about protecting its borders.

Partners in protecting our borders

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers are ready to answer any questions you may have as you leave for your trip or upon your return. Of course, it's always best to clear up any questions you have before your trip abroad.

At major airports, CBSA officers are joined by detector dogs, which can sniff out restricted or prohibited items such as fruit and meat in travellers' baggage.

Penalty-free confiscation

Although the penalties for importing undeclared products can be severe, there are alternatives if you find yourself in possession of restricted or prohibited goods. Many Canadian airports have prohibited product bins available where you can dispose of restricted or prohibited products. If you are unsure about an item, ask the Border Services Officer. If you declare a prohibited item, it will be confiscated without penalty.