Bringing food into Canada for personal use
If you bring food into Canada for personal use, be aware of federal import requirements. They apply whether you are a traveller or are buying food online. So be sure to pack and shop wisely.
Before bringing food into Canada
- Find out if the item is allowed and under what conditions
- Be aware of the product risks
- Declare the product
Find out if the item is allowed and under what conditions
There may be restrictions on the items you bring into Canada for your own personal use. These restrictions vary depending on the item, the country it originates from and the Canadian province you're bringing it to.
Restrictions and requirements
To determine if the product is admissible to Canada, the restrictions that apply to the product and if you need to obtain documents prior to bringing the product into Canada, refer to:
- Table 1. Food products allowed into Canada originating from United States
- Table 2. Food products allowed into Canada originating from a foreign country other than United States
If your food is not listed in these tables, refer to the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS).
If you need a document, such as a permit, the item won't be allowed into Canada without it. Use AIRS to find out what documents you need or contact the National Centre of Permissions.
Travellers coming into Canada can carry food with them for their own personal use, provided the food is imported within the specified personal exemption limits of the Safe Food for Canadian Regulations and there are no restrictions in place under other federal legislation, such as the Health of Animals Act or the Plant Protection Act.
When bringing food into Canada, whether as a traveller or through an online purchase, you are eligible for the personal use exemption if:
- the food is solely for personal use, not for commercial use, and
- the quantity of food you are bringing into Canada does not exceed the limits set out in the document Maximum Quantity Limits for Personal Use Exemption prepared by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and listed in table 1 and table 2
Other duties and taxes may apply to imported foods. Find out more about the laws around bringing personal goods into Canada.
Items from the United States
Didn't find what you're looking for? Check out the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS)
| Product | Restrictions and requirements | New maximum quantity limits for personal use exemption (per person) |
|---|---|---|
| Animal fat or suet | Permitted only if accompanied into Canada by you (cannot be brought in by mail or courier) | 20 kg (if measured by weight) 20 L (if measured by volume) |
| Baked goods such as bread, pastries, cakes, fruit pies, biscuits | Cannot contain meat. | 20 kg |
| Condiments, dressings | None | 20 kg (if measured by weight) 20 L (if measured by volume) |
| Confectionary, sweeteners, snack foods | Cannot contain meat. | 20 kg (if measured by weight) 20 L (if measured by volume) |
| Dairy products | None | 20 kg (if measured by weight) 20 L (if measured by volume) |
| Dried foods (except those included in food commodities) | Please see AIRS. | 20 kg |
| Eggs and processed egg products |
|
5 dozen eggs Processed egg products:
|
| Fish and seafood | Pufferfish and Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) are not permitted. Shark fins or parts of shark fins that are not attached to a shark carcass are prohibited under the Fisheries Act. You require a permit if:
Certain fish species, such as sturgeons, and their products are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and may be prohibited or require a CITES permit.
|
40 kg (except for dried fish and fish roe) 10 kg of dried fish 1 kg of fish roe |
| Fresh fruits or vegetables | Refer to AIRS Potatoes must be commercially packaged and graded US No.1 |
Fruits: 20 kg Vegetables: 20 kg |
Fruits and vegetables: Processed fruit or vegetable (including herbs) such as dried, frozen, canned |
None | Processed fruits:
Processed vegetables:
|
| Game animal carcasses | You require a hunter's permit or a licence. Permitted only if accompanied into Canada by you (cannot be brought in by mail or courier). Provincial restrictions may apply. For example, on deer, there may be restrictions due to chronic wasting disease. Note: there is no maximum quantity for the purpose of importing such a carcass or part of a carcass for personal use. However, this quantity may be subject to limits imposed by a hunter's permit or another form of permission from a competent authority. |
N/A |
| Grain-derived foods | None | 20 kg (if measured by weight) 20 L (if measured by volume) |
| Honey | None | 20 kg |
|
None | 20 kg (if measured by weight) 20 L (if measured by volume) |
| Maple syrup and products | None | 20 L maple syrup 4 kg maple products |
| Meat products (meat and poultry): fresh, frozen and chilled |
|
20 kg |
| Multi-ingredient foods | None | 20 kg (if measured by weight) 20 L (if measured by volume) |
| Non-alcoholic beverages | None | 50 L |
| Nuts, grains, seeds | Refer to AIRS | 20 kg |
| Oils (food grade) | N/A | 50 L |
| Spices, tea, coffee | None | 20 kg |
Items from outside the United States
Didn't find what you're looking for? Check out the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS)
| Product | Restrictions and requirements | Maximum quantity limits for personal use exemption (per person) |
|---|---|---|
| Animal fat or suet | Permitted only if accompanied into Canada by you (cannot be brought in by mail or courier)
|
20 kg (if measured by weight) 20 L (if measured by volume) |
| Bread, pastries, cakes, fruit pies, biscuits and baked goods | Cannot contain meat. | 20 kg |
| Condiments, dressings | None | 20 kg (if measured by weight) 20 L (if measured by volume) |
| Confectionary, sweeteners, snack foods | Cannot contain meat. | 20 kg (if measured by weight) 20 L (if measured by volume) |
| Dairy products | Only cheese, ice cream, yogurt, and kashk are permitted | 20 kg (if measured by weight) 20 L (if measured by volume) |
| Dried Foods (except those included in food commodities) | Refer to AIRS | 20 kg |
| Eggs and processed egg products | Not permitted | N/A |
| Fish and seafood | Pufferfish and Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) are not permitted. Shark fins or parts of shark fins that are not attached to a shark carcass are prohibited under the Fisheries Act. You require a permit if:
Certain fish species, such as sturgeons, and their products are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and may be prohibited or require a CITES permit.
|
40 kg (except for dried fish and fish roe) 10 kg of dried fish 1 kg of fish roe |
| Fresh fruits or vegetables | Refer to AIRS. Products may be restricted or prohibited from entry into Canada depending on the country of origin. | If permitted:
|
| Processed fruit or vegetables (including herbs) such as dried, frozen, canned | None | Processed fruits:
Processed vegetables:
|
| Game animal carcasses | Not permitted | N/A |
| Grain-derived foods | None | 20 kg (if measured by weight) 20 L (if measured by volume) |
| Honey | None | 20 kg |
|
Only infant formula that's commercially packaged, sealed and shelf-stable (at room temperature) is permitted into Canada. Cannot be labelled "Keep refrigerated" or "Keep frozen" before opening. |
20 kg (if measured by weight) 20 L (if measured by volume) |
| Maple syrup and products | None | 20 L maple syrup 4 kg maple products |
| Meat products | Fresh, dried, and cured meats (such as hams and sausages) are not permitted. Only the following commercially prepared meat products are permitted and only if accompanied by you into Canada (they cannot be brought in by mail or courier):
If the permitted product contains beef, it can only be imported from countries of negligible risk for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease). The packages must have identifying marks indicating what the product is and which country it originates from. Proof of country of origin may be required. |
20 kg |
| Multi-ingredient foods | None | 20 kg (if measured by weight) 20 L (if measured by volume) |
| Non-alcoholic beverages | None | 50 L |
| Nuts, grains, seeds | Refer to AIRS. Products may be restricted or prohibited from entry into Canada depending on the country of origin. | 20 kg |
| Oils (food grade) | None | 50 L |
| Spices, tea, coffee | None | 20 kg |
Be aware of the product risks
Food can be contaminated with hazards that present a risk to human health, plants can carry invasive species that harm the environment and animal products can carry diseases that affect animals and humans.
When bringing food into Canada under the personal use exemptions, you may be bringing products that don't comply with the Canadian requirements. These requirements help safeguard the well-being of Canadians and the health of our environment and economy.
If you are buying food items online, visit the CFIA e-commerce page for more information on making safe purchases.
Declare the product
When travelling, you must declare all food products you bring with you into Canada.
- For more information, check the document I Declare: A guide for residents returning to Canada from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) or the Visitors to Canada web page.
- Be prepared, your product may need to be inspected by the CBSA at the point of entry (such as border crossings and airports).
- Additional duties and taxes may apply on the importation of foods and beverages in excess of Global Affairs Canada's personal exemption limits, as outlined in CBSA's Memorandum D19-10-2 – Administration of the Export and Import Permits Act (Importations)
- Date modified: