Guide · Canada and United States

Food, plants and agricultural items at the Canada-US border

General information, not official or legal advice. Customs, immigration and border rules change and every situation is different. Check the linked official sources and the agency’s current page before you travel. This site is not affiliated with CBP, the CBSA, DHS or any government.

Steps

1. The agencies' lists of items to declare include meat, fruit, vegetables, milk, plants, seeds, soil, plant or wood souvenirs, firewood and fishing bait.^[4][5][2]
2. For Canada, the CBSA says to check AIRS for each food, plant or animal product; requirements depend on the product, country of origin and province of import.^[2][4]
3. For the US, CBP says agricultural items must be declared on CBP Declaration Form 6059B, and that its Agriculture Specialists determine whether items meet the entry requirements.^[5]
4. Both agencies list clean-up as a precaution: the CBSA says to clean soil and organic debris off boots, vehicles, boats and equipment, and CBP lists soil among items to declare.^[4][5]
5. The CBSA says to avoid contact with farmed animals, zoo animals or wildlife for 14 days after arriving in Canada if you were exposed to similar animals in other countries.^[4]

Entering Canada

The CBSA says importing even a single piece of fruit or meat can harm ecosystems, and lists items that can introduce threats: raw or cooked meats, fruit and vegetables, milk, homemade articles from plants or wood, houseplants, live animals, fishing bait, firewood, plant cuttings, seeds, bulbs and soiled hiking boots.^[4] The CBSA says to verify requirements with AIRS, which depend on the product, country of origin and province of import, and notes that restrictions may be adjusted at any time.^[4] The page links CFIA's maximum quantity limits for the personal-use exemption, under the heading for more information.^[4] For poultry, the CBSA checklist says to check its page on restrictions on poultry and birds from the United States before bringing poultry.^[2]

The CBSA also asks you to complete the farm-visit questions on the customs declaration, avoid contact with farmed animals, zoo animals or wildlife for 14 days after arrival if you were exposed to similar animals elsewhere, and check boats, trailers and equipment for zebra and quagga mussels, snails and insects.^[4] It also says Global Affairs Canada sets limits on the quantity or dollar value of certain food products that can come in duty-free, and that Fisheries and Oceans Canada prohibits certain aquatic invasive species whether or not a traveller knows they are carrying them.^[4]

Entering the United States

CBP says agriculture items must be declared and can include meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, plants, seeds, soil and products from animal or plant materials. The declaration must cover items in checked bags, carry-on luggage or a vehicle; CBP says to check "Yes" on Question 11 of CBP Declaration Form 6059B, and also if you have been on a farm or near livestock.^[5] Declared prohibited items in non-commercial quantities can be abandoned at the port; undeclared prohibited items are confiscated and may carry civil penalties.^[3] For general food guidance CBP points to USDA APHIS.^[3]

The prohibited-items page states some rules of thumb: bakery items and certain cheeses may be brought in; many prepared foods are admissible; bush meat and almost anything containing meat products such as bouillon and soup mixes are not; condiments, vinegars, oils, packaged spices, honey, coffee and tea are generally admissible; and rice can harbour insects. It also says that when food is commercial, including hand-carried quantities, the FDA Prior Notice requirement applies (two hours by land).^[6]

Products from Canada

CBP says many Canadian-grown products can enter, including many fruits and vegetables, but seed potatoes from Canada currently require a permit and fresh tomatoes and bell peppers are prohibited from Canada.^[5] Soil of any kind is not allowed without a USDA permit, and pure sand such as a small container of decorative beach sand is usually allowed.^[5]

Two CBP penalty figures

The prohibited-items page says the civil penalty for failing to declare agricultural items is $300 for first-time offenders and $500 for a second violation.^[6] The agricultural products page says penalties may range up to $1,000 per first-time offense for non-commercial quantities.^[5] Global Entry FAQ text says failure to declare agricultural products can result in up to $10,000 in fines and penalties.^[7] These are separate published figures; CBP does not reconcile them on those pages, and officers decide what applies.

Gift baskets and shipped food

We did not read AIRS entries, CFIA quantity-limit tables or APHIS lists; they are the authoritative lookups. The CBSA page does not state the quantity limits itself.

What we could not confirm

We did not read AIRS entries, CFIA quantity-limit tables or APHIS lists; they are the authoritative lookups.

About this guide

Officers decide at the border; this is general information, not official guidance. travel.tnaado.ca is not affiliated with CBP, CBSA, DHS or the Government of Canada.