As of January 8, 2024, there will be stricter rules for moving elephant tusk (ivory) and rhinoceros horn parts or products across the Canadian border. New permit requirements will impact both raw items (including hunting trophies) and worked personal and household effects. For more information, please refer to Import and export of elephant tusk (ivory) and rhinoceros horn.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) manages and enforces rules about bringing food, plants, animals, and other related goods into Canada. They do this by working closely with a number of other government departments and agencies. This section offers resources and information for travellers on what to expect at the border.
Importing a single piece of fruit or meat into Canada can be harmful to our ecosystems. Some plant, animal, and food products can’t come in at all or are limited because they might contain invasive species, foreign animal diseases, or plant pests.
Many different kinds of items can introduce foreign threats into Canada. These include things as diverse as:
As an avid bacon lover and frequent traveler to Canada, I often get asked if it’s possible to bring bacon purchased in the US into Canada. The answer is yes, you can bring bacon into Canada, but there are some important regulations and restrictions to keep in mind.
Why Bring Bacon into Canada?
There are a few key reasons travelers may want to pack bacon for their trip up north:
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Canadian bacon is different. Canadian bacon, also known as back or peameal bacon is typically leaner and cut from the pork loin. It has a ham-like texture and flavor. U.S. bacon comes from the pork belly and is streaky with fat. For fans of American-style bacon bringing your own ensures you get the flavor you crave.
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Bacon is cheaper in the U.S. The average cost of bacon in Canada is $5-7 per pound while U.S. bacon costs $3-5 per pound. If you eat a lot of bacon, bringing it from home can mean big savings.
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You may have a favorite U.S. brand that’s not available in Canada. So if you’re particular about your bacon, packing some can be the only way to enjoy it during your Canadian vacation.
Regulations on Bringing Bacon into Canada
While bringing bacon into Canada is allowed, there are some regulations to follow:
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Declare it. You must declare any food items you are bringing into Canada when going through customs. Failure to declare could result in fines, confiscated food, and future travel restrictions.
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Limited quantities. Bacon counts as a processed meat product. You can only bring up to 20 kilograms (44 pounds) total of processed meat into Canada per family or group. This includes items like ham, sausages, jerky, etc.
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Commercially packaged. The bacon must be commercially packaged and unopened. Bringing loose bacon or meat in opened packages is prohibited.
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For personal use only. The imported meat like bacon has to be for personal use only, not for resale or other commercial purposes.
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Not from federally inspected plants. Bacon imported into Canada cannot come from USDA federally inspected plants. Look for state or local plant information on packaging.
How to Pack and Transport Bacon into Canada
To successfully get your bacon through Canadian customs, follow these tips:
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Leave packages sealed. Do not open or repackage meat before crossing the border. The unbroken safety seals and labels are required.
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Use a cooler. Pack meat like bacon in a hard-sided, sealable cooler with ice packs to keep it chilled during the journey.
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Know your limits. Clearly label any processed meats and track how much you have to ensure you do not exceed the 20 kg total weight limit.
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Place near top. Put any meat items you will declare near the top of your luggage to simplify the inspection process.
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Have receipts ready. Keep purchase receipts for your bacon handy to verify where it was purchased and the amounts.
What Happens if You Don’t Declare Bacon at Customs?
If you attempt to sneak bacon or other prohibited food items into Canada, here’s what could happen:
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Fines. You could face monetary fines of up to $1300 CAD for not properly declaring foods.
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Confiscation. Undeclared bacon would likely be confiscated at the border and not allowed entry.
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Future issues. Getting caught failing to declare could cause you to be flagged in the system and lead to more scrutiny or difficulty during future entries into Canada.
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Inadmissibility. Smuggling or hiding prohibited meat goods could potentially get you denied entry to Canada in the future.
Is It Worth the Risk?
For most bacon lovers, trying to circumvent the rules is not worth the potential penalties. Since you can bring up to 20 kg legally after inspection, for personal use, packing bacon for your trip can be done by following the proper protocol.
Declare your bacon, have it chilled and sealed, know the limits, and have your paperwork ready. By following the Canadian guidelines, you can certainly enjoy all your favorite U.S. bacon flavors on your next Canadian adventure. Bon appétit!
Canada’s ecosystems: How you can help
- Check to see if the food, plants, or animals you want to bring into Canada meet the requirements for import.
- When you bring things into Canada, look for “hitchhikers” like Zebra and Quagga mussels, snails, insects, and other possible invasive alien species that can stick to or attach to things like boats, trailers, vehicles, plants, packaging, and tools.
- Any item, like hiking boots, cars, boats, and gardening and construction tools and equipment, should be cleaned of all soil and organic matter.
- No matter if the items are regulated or not, you must always tell the CBSA about your food, plants, and animals when you enter Canada. If you’re not sure about something, ask a border guard.
- Fill out the parts of your Customs Declaration Card that talk about farm visits.
- If you were around animals like these in other countries, don’t touch farm animals, zoo animals, or wild animals for 14 days after you get to Canada.
Verify requirements before you travel
Some regulated commodities require certain documents or registrations before they will be allowed into Canada. Before crossing the border with food, plant or animal products, use the Canadian Food Inspection Agencys Automated Import Reference System (AIRS).
Things you can’t bring into Canada are limited based on the item, its country of origin, and the province where it was imported. These controls are set up to help keep Canadas animals, plants and natural habitats healthy and safe. Restrictions may be adjusted at any time due to emerging threats.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) controls a lot of goods. Some goods may not be allowed to leave the country even if they are not on the CITES Species List.
There are limits on how much and/or how much money worth of some foods you can bring into Canada duty-free or as part of your personal exemption set by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). For more information on GAC limits, see Memorandum D19-10-2, Export and Import Permits Act (Importations).
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) also prohibits the importation of certain aquatic invasive species. These prohibitions apply whether a traveller is aware or not of transporting listed aquatic invasive species. If listed species are found, they and the gear they’re on could be taken away, detained, or told to be cleaned.
If you are importing food for commercial purposes, refer to Commercial shipments.
Can I bring snacks into Canada?
FAQ
What foods cannot be taken into Canada?
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Product
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Restrictions and requirements
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Fresh fruits or vegetables
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Refer to AIRS. Products may be restricted or prohibited from entry into Canada depending on the country of origin.
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Game animal carcasses
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Not permitted
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Grain-derived foods
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None
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Honey
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None
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What foods are allowed in Canada?
All foods allowed entry into Canada have a limit for personal use, from meat and cheese to cookies, bread, fruits and vegetables. In many cases, a limit of 20 kg or 20 L applies, but there are a number of exceptions (example: the limit for eggs is five dozen).
Is importing food into Canada bad for the environment?
Importing a single piece of fruit or meat into Canada can be harmful to our ecosystems. Various food, plant and animal products are restricted or prohibited entry because they can harbour invasive species, foreign animal diseases and plant pests.
Can I bring food into Canada?
Most food items are either permitted or restricted, rather than outright prohibited. For information about restrictions on non-food items, and about what you can and can’t bring into the United States, visit our main prohibited items page. This page is about bringing food into Canada for personal use.
Do you have to declare food in Canada?
Visitors to Canada are required, by law, to declare all plant, animal, and food items they bring into the country. This includes items related to plants, animals, and food or their by-products. If you bring these products into Canada, you may go through further inspections at the point of entry (that is, border crossings, airports).
What should I do if I am importing food into Canada?
If you are importing food for commercial purposes, refer to Commercial shipments. Always declare your food, plant and animal items to the CBSA when entering Canada, whether they are regulated or not. If you are unsure about an item, ask a border officer
Can I bring food into Canada duty-free?
Global Affairs Canada ( GAC) has set limits on the quantity and/or dollar value of certain food products that you can bring into Canada duty-free or that you can include in your personal exemption. For more information on GAC limits, see Memorandum D19-10-2, Export and Import Permits Act (Importations).