New limits apply to the food you bring home from abroad

Canadians enjoy eating a variety of different foods. Some are purchased from food producers or grocery outlets, and at times, foreign foods find their way into the baggage of returning travellers.

If this sounds like you, it's important to know the rules about what foods, and how much, you can bring back with you into Canada.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has updated the personal use limits, which are now in effect and apply whether you're travelling back with food, or even buying it online, from abroad!

Feedback from the public

The CFIA revised these personal use limits following a public consultation with Canadians, including the general public, national associations, and food producer groups.

"The new limits better reflect the amount of foods that people typically bring into Canada for their personal use," says Tammy Switucha, who serves as the CFIA's Executive Director for Food Safety and Consumer Protection.

"Travellers coming into Canada can carry food with them for their own personal use, provided the food is permitted entry into Canada and they are not bringing in more food than allowed under the updated limits."

The personal use exemption recognizes that Canadians buy food online internationally for their own consumption and, when travelling across provincial or Canadian borders, they typically carry food with them.

Limits on meat, cheese, other foods

Certain types of food are not allowed into Canada for a number of reasons, which often relate to protecting Canada from animal diseases such as African swine fever (affecting pork products), or plant diseases such as plum pox virus (affecting peaches, plums and other stone fruit).

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).

"We want Canadians to have access to their favourite foods because many purchase foods while travelling internationally or order them online from outside Canada," says Switucha. "It's important to know what quantities are allowed into Canada for personal use."

E-commerce purchases

The personal exemption limits apply to food bought online from international sources. "E-commerce purchases are growing significantly and consumers should take care when buying food online," says Switucha.

"If you're buying from abroad and having it shipped to you in Canada, you should ensure you do not order more than what is allowed."

Limits are per person

The new limits apply to one person and not a group of people. So, for example, if there are three people in a car travelling into Canada, each individual can bring up to 20 kg of honey under the personal use limits.

It is also important to note that the limits apply to categories of food rather than individual foods. For instance, baked goods such as breads, pies, and cakes, make up a single category with a 20 kg limit. A traveller can bring any combination of these foods into Canada as long as their combined weight does not exceed the 20 kg limit for that category.

Get to know the limits

Switucha says the CFIA recognizes that some of the limits are new to consumers, and therefore is carrying out a wide-ranging public information campaign to raise awareness about the changes.

"Our social media announcements and other information tools point consumers to information on our website that will help them to stay within the limits."

When it comes to bringing food into Canada, Switucha has this advice: "Before travelling internationally or buying food online, get to know which foods are allowed and in what quantities. That way, you'll be able to stay within the limits and avoid surprises when trying to bring food into Canada for your personal enjoyment."

Learn more

• Travelling with pets, food or plants
• Meet Lacy, a Canada Border Services Agency detector dog
• Riding the e-commerce wave: be aware of risks of some online purchases
• I declare: A guide for residents returning to Canada