Restrictions and duty on food products
Meat, eggs, dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables
The requirements, restrictions, and limits that apply to importing meat, eggs, dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other food from around the world into Canada are complex. You can avoid problems by not bringing such goods into Canada.
You can import some meat and dairy products from certain states in the United States. It is recommended that you contact a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Import Service Centre before you bring them with you. There are limits on the quantity and/or dollar value of certain food products you can bring into Canada free of duty, or that you can include in your personal exemption. If you bring in quantities of these products over and above the established limits, you will have to pay a high rate of duty (ranging from 150% to 300%).
Following are some examples of the limits that apply to personal importations:
two dozen eggs;
$20 in value and 20 kilograms of dairy products (for example, cheese and butter);
three kilograms of margarine or butter substitutes;
20 kilograms of edible meats and meat products, including turkey and chicken. Within this limit, more restrictions apply from International Trade Canada (ITCan) as follows:
– a maximum of one whole turkey or 10 kilograms of turkey products; and
– a maximum of 10 kilograms of chicken; and
– a maximum of 10 kilograms of beef or veal.
Note
All meat and meat products have to be identified as products of the United States.