Plants & Animals
Pets
All pets must be accompanied by their owners when entering Canada. Owners of dogs and cats must bring a certificate issued by a licensed American or Canadian veterinarian clearly identifying the pet and certifying that it has been vaccinated against rabies sometime during the previous 36 months. An exception is made for puppies or kittens that are younger than three months old.
Seeing-eye dogs are allowed into Canada without restriction. Canadian law also guarantees that anyone using seeing-eye dogs may bring them into restaurants, hotels and other businesses.
For information on pets, agriculture or forestry items, please contact your CTC representative or any one of the following Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Import Service Centres (ISC):
Note: Toll-free numbers apply within Canada and the United States only.
Eastern ISC (Montreal)
Tel: 1-888-246-3889 or (514) 246-3889
Fax: (514) 246-2664
(7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time)
Central ISC (Toronto)
Tel: 1-800-835-4486 or (905) 612-6282
Fax: (905) 612-6280
(7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern time)
Western ISC
Tel: 1-888-732-6222 or (604) 541-3370
Fax: (604) 541-3373
(7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Pacific time)
You may also visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Endangered Species
A CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) permit is required for any endangered species brought into Canada, including those kept as pets, and for any items made from them, such as coats, handbags or shoes. For further information on how to obtain one of these permits, please call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (703) 358-2104.
For more information about Canadian laws regarding endangered species, please contact the Administrator, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, Canadian Wildlife Service at (819) 997-1840.
Plants, Fruits and Vegetables
There are many measures in place to prevent plant pests from entering Canada and causing serious damage to crops and forests. As a rule, it is probably better not to bring any live plants, bulbs, seeds or other propagative material with you into Canada. If you do, you should first contact one of the CFIA Import Service Centres. U.S. travelers should also check with the nearest office of the United States Department of Agriculture before your departure to determine whether there are any special requirements for or restrictions on taking plants from your area with you.
Every single plant, cutting, seed, etc. requires an import permit and must be declared to a customs officer. Many forms of plant life are strictly prohibited from being transported into the United States. Requests in advance the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services Leaflet, Traveler's Tip at any border crossing.
Fruits and vegetable are either prohibited or require an import permit. And remember that imported foods are also subject to requirements of the Food and Drug Administration.
Applications for import permits or requests for information should be addressed to:
Quarantines
USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Federal Building,
Room 632, 6505 Belcrest Road,
Hyattsville, MD. 20782,
(303) 436-8645
|
Submit An RFP
An official site of the Canadian Tourism Commission