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www.snowbirds.org
CSA TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE
Travelling to the United States –
Bringing items to the United States
Bringing Fresh Fruits, Fresh Vegetables, Meat and Dairy Products, Cut
Flowers, Firewood, Plants, Seeds and Nuts, Other Food Items, Alcoholic
Beverages, Cigars from Canada to the United States
The simple message from both the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture is – DECLARE ALL ITEMS AT YOUR POINT OF ENTRY.
This includes (but is not limited to):
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Fresh fruit
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Fresh vegetables
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Plants
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Plant products
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Meat products
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Dairy products
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Live animals
Failure to declare, especially attempts to conceal items, for example inside clothing, luggage, or the
storage cupboards in an RV could result in:
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Automatic seizure of the item(s).
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Significant monetary fines.
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Being detained, turned back, or banned from entering the United States.
In addition to general national import restrictions, some states, including Florida, Texas and California
may have even more restrictive entry requirements if that is your final travel destination. While
perhaps this may seem like an unnecessary inconvenience, restrictions on the importation of fruits,
vegetables, plants, plant products, meat products, and live animals help to safeguard each country’s
agriculture by preventing the entry of new agricultural pests and diseases (e.g. an insect that may be
easily controlled in Canada’s harsher climate that could multiply in the warm climate of Florida).
In recent years, especially in the wake of BSE (mad cow disease) detection in some Canadian-born
beef and avian influenza (bird flu) symptoms in some poultry, sweeping bans were imposed on the
transportation of any ruminant meat or meat products across the Canada/U.S. border. This included
such items as cow, sheep, goats, deer, moose, buffalo, bison, musk ox, elk, caribou, and antelope.
This ban included fresh, frozen, and cooked food items. It also included meat-based pet foods
manufactured in the other country.
As travel restrictions and bans can change from week-to-week, members should check the CSA web-
site
www.snowbirds.org
, telephone the CSA office, or contact the respective U.S. government (for
travel southbound) or Canadian government (for return travel northbound) department immediately
prior to travelling to determine the up-to-the-minute allowances and restrictions.
The U.S. has several agencies which administer specific responsibilities. In addition to checking the
CSA website or calling the CSA office for information, you can also contact the various U.S. depart-
ments to discuss your specific travel needs: