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For Canadian RV'ers crossing U.S. border

MamaGoose
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We're hoping to head down to the U.S. in a couple of weeks or so with our motorhome, and this will be our first cross border trip in the motorhome. (Saw an almost white rabbit in our yard today, it's time to head south, lol!)

I am wondering what sort of groceries the customs officials allow across. I realize we can't cross with fresh produce and meat products, but what about canned goods, dry goods, and dairy? Also, do dry goods have to be in original packaging? (I have some items stored in smaller quantities in plastic storage containers--stuff like flour, sugar, and rice.)
35 REPLIES 35

Kidoo
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Food that are in Canada are as safe as any food in the US and vice versa. I think these are old stupid laws and no effort is made to change them. Probably some protectionism too from both side and some lobying, it just easier to ban a bunch of things.
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keefr
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It's my opinion that the directors of the Canadian and American agencies in charge of these regulations know each other but don't like each other very much. Kind of like two 8-year old kids who hate each other forced to play in the same sandbox. I think they come up with these regulations just to annoy each other.

We got chastised for bringing in unlabelled dog food, but they allowed it because we assured them there was no lamb in it. At the local Wal-mart the next morning, what did we see? Lamb and rice dog food, made in the US, just like the stuff we buy in Canada. Go figure.
Never argue with an idiot - they drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - George Carlin

dieharder
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xctraveler wrote:
dieharder wrote:
Yeah, no border enforcement with Mexico... I wonder how that would go....


About as well as it go on our northern border.


Yeah, the Canadian cartels sending the US lots of drugs, I bet. They'll have a field day!
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xctraveler
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dieharder wrote:
Yeah, no border enforcement with Mexico... I wonder how that would go....


About as well as it go on our northern border.
Paul
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dieharder
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Yeah, no border enforcement with Mexico... I wonder how that would go....
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xctraveler
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"Canada, USA and Mexico should follow Europe, no border, no questions, free trade, no declaration, no agent."

Like that's ever going to happen with the paranoid anti immigration descendants of immigrants we have in US Congress.
Paul
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FMCA 352081 SKP# 99526

Kidoo
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Just because the agent does not ask does not mean you are allowed. Rules for me: No Fruit, No Veggie, No Lamb or Veal, No Wood, No rice, no eggs, so seeds, no plants, not nuts in shell. I am allways prepared to declare the exact lenght of time I will stay, even if I can come back whenever I decide to, and I allways know when was the last dates I was in the USA and know where I go, a place, not just saying traveling USA.

Like someone says, if you answer NO to ALL the questions, you should not have any problem, just be sure you do not make any false declaration.

I do bring some meat like spagheti sauce, pork, fish, some German beer that I buy at Costco, you are allowed your own alcool for your personnal use and good cheese which is very hard to find in the USA, just do not bring spread cheese. I allways declared the above and never had a problem.

You can get a list of things you are not allowed, I got it the last time I crossed the border this summer, and the list is very long. Things like fruit obviously not grown in Canada like banana, pineaple or grape in winter or fruit/veggie from some area of Canada, it is very descriptive, so, just do not bring any fruit or veggie = no problem.

Canada, USA and Mexico should follow Europe, no border, no questions, free trade, no declaration, no agent.
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Bigfoot 2008, 10.4, F350, 2006, Diesel 6.0, Black, 4x4, long box, Air lift, Rancho 9000, Rear sway bar.

smlranger
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Explorer
Please excuse my cynicism but we let thousands of illegals (many criminals) cross our southern border every year but we worry about Canadians in their nice RV's bringing some potatoes and fruit into the country. Only in America these days :S
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redguard
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Tom N wrote:
I see some references in this subject thread stating they did not ask about this or that. This does not imply it is legal to import those items.

Please follow US import laws/restriction to protect US agriculture.

Same advice applies when traveling from the US to Canada.


I understand what your saying but in reality some of the restrictions are so ridiculous and far fetched its funny
One example pet food cant have veal or lamb. BC has some of the cleanest finest vegtables produced in the world and yet not allowed

bfast54
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fly-swatter wrote:
Last time across they checked our pet food. The border inspectors entered our 5th wheel and many others while we were in line. The couple beside us had their dog treats taken away.


Their sniffing dog......Needed a Treat........L.O.L.
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GREGORYJ
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We had rice once in a non original container. They took the rice.
We also take no meat, vegetables, fruit.. We don't mind if they come in and look inside the fridge , and they usually do...
Ellen & Greg
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MamaGoose
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We're just trying to get things finished up here and hopefully we'll be heading south in a week. Time to go, there's a dusting of snow on the ground and the wild rabbits are an alarming degree of white!

I've been keeping the grocery buying down, just want to bring whatever won't keep here in the house over the winter so as not to waste it. Minus meat and fresh produce.

Now...to find a source of frozen rhubarb south of the border...Must have rhubarb crisp, and I'm pretty sure my supply from our deep freezer wouldn't get through customs. I've also got homemade freezer chokecherry jelly, something else I wouldn't risk getting confiscated, so it's staying in Canada, but we'll sure miss it over the winter.

Thanks for your responses, everyone. ๐Ÿ™‚

dieharder
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It is EXTREMELY rare that I'll cross the border into the US with any food at all. Might be just me, but I find groceries much less expensive in the US and, where I cross, there is a grocery store within a mile with ample parking.

Coming home is another story because, whether in my MH or daily driver, I'm loaded with groceries coming back and have never had a problem. Since it's only 45 minutes away from home, we do most of our household groceries there.
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xctraveler
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One time crossing from St Johns NB to Calais ME they stopped when DW admitted to two lemons, big no-no. Agent asked (?!) to come onboard to see for herself. She opened the refer door and I am sure could not miss them sitting on the door. She said "I don't see any lemons, have a nice day" and exited the coach to wave us on. Go figure!

We have Nexus commuter passes so we read the rules before each crossing to avoid violating them, penalty could be loss of the card!
Paul
2012 Phaeton 36QSH on Freightliner Chassis with a Cummins 380 pushing it. 2011 Cherry Red Jeep Wrangler Rubicon with US Gear Unified Tow Brake System. Check out my blog
FMCA 352081 SKP# 99526