Re: [Paddlewise] Food into Canada and the US

On 19/03/2010 11:52 PM, Paul Hayward wrote:
> Thanks William
>
> I can see where repackaging foods&  drugs (as you describe) would cause
> border officials to be very interested - as they probably should be ;-)
>
> I am hoping that the Paddlewise group is large enough that some will have
> first-hand experience of travelling with paddling gear and foods - or sad
> tales of having to dump food at borders (in the face of absolute bans)...
>
> Could you please explain 'best 411' ?
>
> Best Regards
> Paul Hayward, Auckland, New Zealand

A few years ago now, right after Hurricane Katrina, if anyone 
remembers the year, my buddy and I took kayaks into the US from 
Canada. We were not asked anything out of the ordinary when crossing 
the border in either direction. Only the usual "What is the purpose of 
your visit?", and the guns, knives, alcohol and tobacco questions. Oh 
yeah, "Anything to declare?".

I can't be sure, but it seems reasonable to me that we would have had 
lots of "snack food" in the car at the time. Gorp, snack bars, etc.

The same on our return to Canada. The custom official at the border 
was more interested in the cedar strip kayak -- questions about how 
long it took to build, and how hard was it -- than anything else.

Other than the issue of prescription drugs, already mentioned, and 
fresh fruits, veggies and meat, I would anticipate no issues.

Of course, you always hear that someone has run into a power-mad 
custom agent who wants to give you a hard time for no apparent reason. 
There was a fellow on an newsgroup who was apparently deported from 
Canada for returning to his summer home in Nova Scotia because he had 
his dog with him at the time. He wrote a long tirade about the 
episode. If one believes everything he said, it was pretty bizarre. 
But I've been back and forth countless time -- not so much since 9/11 
when things started to go a little 'strange' in the minds of Homeland 
Security -- and I've never had anything but polite and courteous 
questions.

You *may* encounter a slightly more rigorous questioning at one or 
both borders since you -- I assume -- are not a citizen of either 
Canada or the US. I can't speak to how they deal with non-North Americans.

I hope you have a great trip!

-- 
   Darryl
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