The detector dog teams with the Canada Border Services Agency are busy this time of year at airports across the country and officials have a few tips to make sure your gifts get through

“Right now we’re hoping that we can just make sure that everyone knows to be aware of what they’re bringing back. There’s a lot of things that we don’t want you bringing back as gifts that are prohibited or restricted so it’s really important to know what you’re bringing back, “said Laura Hiscott, CBSA Officer.

The detector dogs and their handlers search out prohibited or regulated substances and pinpoint their locations.

The agency usually uses Labrador Retrievers for drug, firearm and currency detection, and Beagles for food, plant and animal detection.

“Right now the biggest problem we’re having is a lot of traditional, home-made foods that people bring back for the holidays and a lot of things from sun charters that are prohibited, a lot of wood products and certain things that can harm our agriculture industry. We don’t want those things coming back from those charter flights down there in the sun,” said Hiscott. “The best advice, be aware and declare what you’re bringing back. If you’re not sure if you can bring it back just ask.”

Here are some General travel tips from the CBSA:

  • Make a complete declaration of the goods acquired outside Canada
  • Individuals should have their documents available for inspection and be prepared to declare all items acquired outside of Canada
  • Have proper ID for yourself and minors travelling with you
  • If you share custody or are not the guardian of the minor travelling with you, ensure you have proof of permission to travel with the minor
  • If you are travelling with gifts, do not wrap them prior to entering Canada in case the CBSA needs to inspect the package
  • Weapons and other prohibited goods are not gifts and will be seized.  Examples of contraband items include: firearms, brass knuckles, switchblades, pepper spray, taser, child pornography; obscene material or hate propaganda; illegal drugs; endangered species, drugs regulated by Health Canada; and animals, plants and foods regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. No shells, sand or soil
  • All goods entering Canada will be subject to applicable duty and taxes unless exemptions exist. Duty applies at time of importation
  • All travellers are encouraged to be aware of what they can expect to pay in duties and taxes when purchasing goods outside Canada and be prepared to pay duty, GST, PST on your purchases
  • Individuals who do not declare goods, or falsely declare them, can have the goods seized by a CBSA officer. This means that they may lose the goods permanently or may have to pay a penalty of 25-80% of the value of the seized goods to get them back

What are my personal exemptions?

  • 24 hour absence = $200 duty and tax-free (not including alcohol or tobacco)
  • After 48 hours = $800 (alcohol and tobacco included)
  • There are no personal exemptions for same-day purchases

How much Alcohol can I bring back?

If you meet the age requirement in the province into which you are importing the alcohol and you have been absent for at least 48 hours, you may include in the total dollar value of your personal allowance the following:

  • 1.5 litres of wine, or
  • 1.14 litres (40 oz) of liquor, or
  • 24 x 355 ml (12 oz) cans/bottles of beer/ale

What about tobacco?

  • 200 cigarettes AND 50 cigars or cigarillos AND 200 tobacco sticks AND 200 grams of manufactured tobacco.

General goods inadmissible – common mistakes
According to the Canadian Consumer Product Safety Act, some items that are inadmissible to Canada include:

  • Baby walkers
  • Yoyo balls – Yoyo’s attached to a bungee cord – can cause strangulation
  • Re-light candles - candles that re-light spontaneously once extinguished
  • Polycarbonate baby bottles that contain bisphenol A.

Other items that are not necessarily inadmissible, but are regulated include:

  • Car Seats
  • Cribs
  • Children’s sleepwear
  • Strollers
  • Playpens
  • Hockey helmets and face protectors - must meet the requirements of standards published by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA)

Travelling with valuables 

  • It is not recommended to travel with valuables
  • For personal, portable, expensive and especially newer items that you are taking with you outside the country such as cameras, tablets, laptops, etc. which have serial number, the CBSA recommends completing a Y38 form before leaving Canada to ensure that you are able to provide the CBSA with the most accurate information possible.

Travelling with jewelry

  • Obtain an appraisal report and a signed and dated photograph of each piece of jewelry from a recognized Canadian gemologist, jeweler or your insurance agent
  • Obtain written certification that the items or jewelry in the photographs are the ones described in the appraisal report
  • Take the jewelry appraisal reports, certification statements and photographs to a CBSA office to be validated
  • If the jewelry was purchased in Canada, retain the sales receipt
  • Carry the appraisal reports, the certifications and photographs when travelling outside Canada.

Currency

If you are importing or exporting monetary instruments equal to or greater than CAN $10,000 (or the equivalent in a foreign currency), you must report this to the CBSA when you arrive in Canada or before you leave. This applies to either cash or other monetary instruments.  Non-report may be subject to seizure and the assessment of penalties or forfeiture. Penalties range from $250 to $5,000.

For more information, Visit the CBSA website.

(With files from Bill Marks)