food restrictions when entering USA.

We camp in the US a lot. We never take fruit and vegetables across the border in either direction. It's just not worth the risk and if you have Nexus cards, they can take them away for good. The rules are not only different in each direction, they do change from time to time and it is YOUR responsibility to know what the latest rules are.

If you think you must take food in either direction, you need to go onto the gov't websites and check. I would never rely on anything else in case a change in rules happened that wasn't updated elsewhere.

You aren't supposed to take potatoes into the US but you can take them into Canada if they are peeled. How are you supposed to stay on top of stuff like this?

We simply plan to stop and do a grocery shop after we cross into the US and then load up on all the fruits and veggies we want. If you shop near the border, chances are you are going to pay premium prices though. We often tend to overshop when going camping and it would be a good idea to do a meal plan in advance. We've thrown away a lot of good stuff before going back.

Most canned goods are okay either way, but I *think* they don't like one type of canned meat into the US. Don't rely on asking a border agent what the current rules are. They don't always know and they can each give you different answers. It's what's listed on the current government websites that matters. Don't rely on carrying around a brochure either for the same reason.

If taking dog food into the US, it must be in the original and sealed packages. You can't put any into a baggie. One type of meat is a nono. Another reason that could be cause for losing your Nexus cards....

What I don't understand is that a very large percentage of our fruits and vegetables we buy in stores comes from the US but we aren't allowed to take it back into the US.....

If you weren't aware, you can't take split firewood into the US, but mill ends (cut pieces of dimension lumber, like 2x4s) is okay.

samandtheduck wrote:
We live close to the border so we stopped and asked before our trip south what we could bring into the U.S. The supervisor and an officer went through what not to bring and what was allowed and how it needed to be packaged. At the end the supervisor said "but it depends on the officer who is on duty that day". So be prepared to lose it or just don't bring it.
Brian

I can only assume that he meant how current the officer is on policy changes or new/expired restrictions. Officers don't just seize goods without cause and if there is ever any doubt ask for a supervisor.

We live close to the border so we stopped and asked before our trip south what we could bring into the U.S. The supervisor and an officer went through what not to bring and what was allowed and how it needed to be packaged. At the end the supervisor said "but it depends on the officer who is on duty that day". So be prepared to lose it or just don't bring it.
Brian

Best way to be sure of what goods you are allowed to bring across with you is to contact your local CBP office, or check their website, here is a number you can also call 1-877-770-5990. If anyone is crossing into Canada CBSA has a Border Information Service call centre, you can call there to find out what you are allowed to bring in. If calling from outside Canada here are 2 numbers 1-204-983-3500
1-506-636-5064. Just to clarify what the person said about the whatever the agent wants that day. In Canada the officers are acting on behalf of different agencies, restrictions on agriculture products change frequently therefore, if on one day your tomatoes(for example) are allowed and another day the tomatoes are inadmissable that decision would not be made by the specific officer if would be the governing agency. Here is a link to CBP http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/arriving_travelers.xml. Here is a link to the CBSA website http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/fpa-apa/regs-eng.html
Cheers and enjoy your trip.

CDNfyrfytr wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
Without getting into a big debate, whatever is allowed into Canada may also be allowed into the U.S. Now obviously there are going to be slight differences, but in the end it is pretty easy to figure out.

We are headed to Niagara Falls ON. on the 4th so I too have done some research. All I know for sure is between me and my wife I can bring in 2 cases of beer! :B

Where are you staying in the Falls? We are in Niagara on the Lake. Be sure to take a drive down here if you enjoy history. A lot of nice restaurants and shops as well.

We are staying at the Jellystone for 3 1/2 days. then on to Cedar Point.

'Anything to declare?'

No meat.
No veggies.
No fruits.
Next stop is Price Choppers.

Works every time, last week-end actually when we went to Lake Champlain. Why even bother bringing food in the USA when a simple stop after the Customs takes care of all the fuss?

But oddly enough, coming back Home the Canadian Officer never, ever asks a question about our food, but always 'Tobacco, Alcohol?'...

reading some of these websites makes it sound like an act of congress or presidential pardon is required to get seemingly simple things done!

I have the same issues when crossing into the US. Sometimes you can bring anything, other times nothing. I was inspected last time I crossed for declaring vegetables but they did not confiscate anything.

I do know for sure NOT to bring any firewood unless it has been dried for construction etc.

dodge guy wrote:
Without getting into a big debate, whatever is allowed into Canada may also be allowed into the U.S. Now obviously there are going to be slight differences, but in the end it is pretty easy to figure out.

We are headed to Niagara Falls ON. on the 4th so I too have done some research. All I know for sure is between me and my wife I can bring in 2 cases of beer! :B

Where are you staying in the Falls? We are in Niagara on the Lake. Be sure to take a drive down here if you enjoy history. A lot of nice restaurants and shops as well.

Without getting into a big debate, whatever is allowed into Canada may also be allowed into the U.S. Now obviously there are going to be slight differences, but in the end it is pretty easy to figure out.

We are headed to Niagara Falls ON. on the 4th so I too have done some research. All I know for sure is between me and my wife I can bring in 2 cases of beer! :B