Bringing Food, Plants and Animals Into Canada: Limits and Rules

Quick answerYou must declare all food, plant and animal products. For travellers from the United States, the CFIA personal-use limits include 20 kg of meat and poultry, 20 kg of most other foods and 5 dozen eggs. Undeclared food, plants and animals can be seized and carry a penalty of up to $1,300 for visitors.

Free toolBuying US-made dairy or groceries above your exemption? Estimate the duty, tax and surtax with the calculator.

CFIA limits for travellers from the United States

Food	Limit per person
Meat and poultry	20 kg (44.09 lb)
Dairy (cheese, yogurt, butter, milk, ice cream)	20 kg or 20 L
Eggs	5 dozen (processed egg products: 20 kg or 20 L)
Fresh fruit	20 kg
Fresh vegetables	20 kg
Processed fruit or vegetables	20 kg or 20 L
Fish and seafood	40 kg (dried fish 10 kg; fish roe 1 kg)
Non-alcoholic beverages	50 L
Food-grade oils	50 L
Maple syrup	20 L
Maple products	4 kg
Baked goods, confectionery, snacks, condiments, spices, tea, coffee, honey, infant formula, dried foods, nuts, grains and seeds	20 kg or 20 L

Game animal carcasses have no maximum, but a hunter's permit or other authorization may set limits. Alcohol follows the CBSA alcohol limits.

Other countriesThese limits are the CFIA rules for travellers arriving from the United States. If you are arriving from another country, the rules differ; check the CFIA and the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS).

Conditions for meat and eggs

Meat and game must travel with you. They cannot arrive by mail or courier.
Meat must be retail packaged or labelled, with proof of country of origin.
Eggs must be retail packaged, for human consumption and labelled as a product of the USA.

Prohibited or not permitted

Pufferfish and Chinese mitten crab
Shark fins not attached to a shark carcass
Eggs and meat from a farm or backyard flock (meat that is not retail packaged)
Sturgeon caviar over 250 g without a CITES permit
Baked goods, confectionery and snacks that contain meat
Game carcasses without a hunter's permit or licence

Duty and tax on food

Duties and taxes may apply to food above the personal exemption limits. Counter-tariffs can apply to US-origin dairy, which the Finance Canada announcement names at 25%. Visitors' groceries are assessed against the purpose and length of the stay. See US counter-tariffs.

Examples: a weekend cooler

The CFIA limits are per person for travellers from the United States. Everything below must still be declared.

What you bring	Limit	Result
6 kg of chicken and steak (one adult)	20 kg meat and poultry	Within the limit
25 kg of beef from a warehouse store (one adult)	20 kg meat and poultry	5 kg over
2 dozen eggs, retail packaged, labelled USA	5 dozen	Within the limit
6 dozen eggs	5 dozen	1 dozen over
3 kg of cheese and 2 L of milk	20 kg or 20 L dairy	Within the limit
12 kg of apples and 6 kg of vegetables	20 kg each of fresh fruit and vegetables	Within the limit
Eggs from a friend's backyard flock	Not permitted	Leave them
A cake that contains meat	Not permitted (baked goods that contain meat)	Leave it

Counter-tariffs may also apply to US-origin dairy, which the Finance Canada announcement lists at 25%. Consumables are assessed against the purpose and length of a visitor's stay.

How to declare food in practice

Say you have food. The CFIA says to declare all of it, and the CBSA may inspect it.
Keep meat and eggs in their retail packaging with the labels visible.
If an item is over the limit, leave it behind. This guide does not cover what the CBSA does with excess food, so do not count on paying duty to keep it.

FAQ

Do I have to declare a sandwich?

Yes. The CFIA says you must declare all food products you bring into Canada, and the CBSA may inspect them.

Can I bring homemade preserves or eggs from my farm?

Eggs and meat from a farm or backyard flock are not permitted. For other homemade foods, check AIRS or ask a CBSA officer before you travel.

What about pets?

Pets must be declared. The CBSA also says pet paperwork is required and that service dogs accompanied by their owners are exempt.

What is the penalty for not declaring food?

For visitors the CBSA says undeclared food, plant or animal products may be seized and you may face a penalty of up to $1,300.

Do the limits apply per person or per vehicle?

The CFIA table is per person.

Does a pet count as food, plants and animals?

Pets must be declared as animals. The CBSA also says pet paperwork is required.

Official sources

Data checked against official sources: October 17, 2026. Rules change; confirm with the CBSA before you travel.