My wife and I are coming back from paris after a 3 month stay. Went to the canadian custom site, but could not say for sure what we can bring back in terms of food. Does any one know if we can bring hard cheese, fois gros, wine, and how much? What other goods that is worth while to bring back?
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Yes sorry didn't clarify.. thought about it after I posted,, but unloaded the dishwasher and forgot. How dare I let housework get in the way of my forum time. lol .. sorry!
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
Pat, where are your priorities!? :-)
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Hard cheeses that are vacuum sealed fine. Unpasturized soft cheese are a no. Tinned foie gras is fine. ( tinned food in general)
Wine, not sure, think its one or two bottles free, after that not sure about duties.. it. I always bring back some tinned foie gras.. and packaged dry foods( cookies, sauce mixes and spices) and I also bring back tubes of stuff( they have those cool tube mustards , mayos etc, great for picnics). Jarred mustards are ok too, but remember they have to go in your checked bags, they are considered "liquids". If your flight is direct to Vancouver you can bring back the wine in your carryon,, BUT, if you stop in Toronto or Montreal, they will be confiscated as they will not allow the liquid in your carry on... as a friend of mine discovered after she had to claim her bag in Toronto and then try and stuff it in her checked back and recheck it, she was very embarrassed as she had to wrap it in her clothes etc to prevent breakage etc in front of people,, all her dirty laundry etc lol . I would reread te customs site,, just to double check, but these are my experiences, and I don't try and "sneak " stuff in, so I try to play by the rules.
Posted by
Peterborough, ON, Canada
1633 posts
My understanding is that GROCERIES are unlimited and in addition to your $800 exemption (certainly they are for traveling back from the US, why would it be different?); however, you still are only allowed one bottle of wine per person and the cost of the bottle is to be factored into the $800. Of course you could bring more than one bottle per person each and just pay the duty.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
To clarify something Pat said, wine is allowed in your carryon bag ONLY if you buy it at the duty free after security at the airport when you leave. You can't just pack a bottle in your carryon. And she's right, if you have a stop before Vancouver you will have to pack in wine in your checked bag from the beginning, or be able to put it into your checked bag at your first stop.
Posted by
OP
Vancouver, BC
13 posts
To Pat, Nancy, and Andrea with thanks. My wife just bought a discounted handbag on a once in a lifetime trip.
Posted by
Ontario Canada
668 posts
George Have brought back hard 8kg parmessan cheese from Italy after checking with customs before we left. This was not vac sealed. Also in our last 3 trips have brought back wine in our suit case and took a good amount of bubble wrap in the bottom of the case to wrap the wine in. Declared the wine and cheese and had no problem. Come to think of it we have brought cheese back on all 3 trips as well. Hubby loves to cook . Am I lucky or what?