I've been to Can. and US customs sites, and I can't figure out the pet food rules. Is Canadian lamb banned in the US, or is US lamb banned in Canada ? Or both? I hate to take expensive dog food to the border and have to toss it. Our dogs have been eating this brand for years, and I hate the thought of dogs with upset stomachs in the camper. Does anyone know for sure?
Billy & Dale
'99 F350 DRW Superduty
'02 Starcraft 853
Salli the "Schnoodle"
Ladybug the Jack Russell Terror (not misspelled)
If you keep the food in its original container and it says "Made in USA" on it, you should be OK. We feed our dog Nutros, a US made lamb and rice dry food which we have taken across the border many times with no problems.
"Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice" WSC
JackD - Thanks for the reference to the web site; reading the rules I plainly can see that dog food is prohibited from entry into CA. When I go up to SK next summer will just buy our golden her food after we cross the border, no problem as I see it.
I think there's an oversight on that non-government site ...
It says: You cannot bring certain foods or goods into Ontario including: Live bait such as minnows or leeches, stun guns, mace, handguns or restricted weapons such as fully automatic firearms, potatoes, dog food containing bovine meat by-products (eg. beef or sheep by-products), firewood or radar detectors.
However, "bovine" is beef or cattle. "Ovine" refers to sheep.
Refer to the Government of Canada site: Be Aware and Declare. After you've waded through all the info, you'll likely realize the restrictions can change at any time. However, at this time there is no posted restriction on ovine products, unless you are coming from a location with foot/mouth disease.
We've never had a problem crossing the border with processed dog food when it is labelled "Made in USA". Actually, a few years ago the US border agent asked us about our dog food and when I told him it was made in USA, he waved us through. And when we came back to Canada the only question we had related to the dog was whether he was Canadian too.
Requirements may vary border crossing to border crossing. If you are entering into an agricultural zone the focus may be on plants. If you're crossing Yukon Alaska there may be less fuss about the food you're carrying, especially if it is for personal use.
Once we crossed south at the Peace Arch crossing and after a dog-sniffer search of the MH, they confiscated our California oranges, but left the South American grapefruit. To this day, I'm confused about why I couldn't take US oranges back into the US, but could take non-US grapefruit into the country.
Fish 'n ' Grits wrote: I've been to Can. and US customs sites, and I can't figure out the pet food rules. Is Canadian lamb banned in the US, or is US lamb banned in Canada ? Or both? I hate to take expensive dog food to the border and have to toss it. Our dogs have been eating this brand for years, and I hate the thought of dogs with upset stomachs in the camper. Does anyone know for sure?
Ah, Customs - confusing as ever.....
We visited Canada (Banff / Jasper) last year. On our way back in to the US they confiscated our dog food (bought in the US) because it was in a tupperware tote. If the food had been in the original bag and showed made in USA, it would not have been a problem. Same thing with some kielbasa they also confiscated (it was wrapped in foil). So we know the customers officer and his dog had a good meal that night...
So long as nothing has changed, you should be fine if you keep the above in mind.
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