United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Travelers Crossing Canadian Land Border into the United States with Meats, Poultry, Milk, Dairy, Eggs, or Pet Food/Treats
Actions
Travelers Crossing Canadian Land Border into the United States with Meats, Poultry, Milk, Dairy, Eggs, or Pet Food/Treats
The United States restricts or prohibits the entry of many agricultural products, which can carry foreign pests and diseases that harm American agriculture and our environment. A major pest or disease outbreak could mean higher grocery bills, shortages of certain foods, and devastating losses for our farmers and ranchers. Help us keep American agriculture healthy by following the guidance on this page about products you may want to bring into the United States.
Travelers entering the United States must declare all agricultural products on their U.S. Customs forms. U.S. agricultural inspectors will examine your items to be sure they meet entry requirements and do not harbor harmful foreign pests or diseases. U.S. inspectors have the authority to make a final determination about whether your products can enter the country. We recommend that you keep receipts and original packaging of agricultural products as proof of their country of origin.
As long as you declare all the agricultural products you are bringing with you, you will not face any penalties—even if an inspector determines that they cannot enter the country.
Scroll down for more information on how to declare items at Customs.
The guidance below is intended only for travelers crossing at Canadian land borders; it does not pertain to commercial shippers. Air travelers from Canada should refer instead to the guidance we provide for international travelers in the “Another Country” section.
Meats, Poultry, Milk, Dairy, Eggs, Pet Food and Pet Treats you CAN and CANNOT bring into the U.S. from Canada when crossing at a land border
No import permit or documentation is required for travelers to bring back up to 50 lbs of meat (total) of the following types of fresh (chilled or frozen), cooked, cured or dried meats from Canada: beef, bison, veal, swine and camelid. Travelers can also bring in personal-use amounts of foods containing beef, veal or bison. Sheep or goat meat may not be brought into the U.S.
Personal-use amounts of cervid meat (deer, elk, moose, caribou), including hunter-harvested cervid meat, is allowed if the traveler presents the Customs and Border Protection officer with evidence that the product is cervid meat, such as a valid hunting license or commercially prepared labels found on unopened packages or other official documents.
There is a limit of 50 lbs. per vehicle.
There is a limit of 50 lbs. per vehicle.
Travelers may bring back certain pet food, chews and treats from Canada under certain conditions. The items must be in unopened retail packaging. If the items are raw (not shelf-stable without refrigeration), dehydrated, freeze-dried, or sun-dried, then the items must be labeled as a product of Canada or the U.S.
If you are traveling back from Canada by land, there is a limit of 50 lbs per vehicle.
If you are traveling back from Canada by air, the limit is 20 lbs per family.
NOT ALLOWED: Items containing lamb, sheep or goat are not permitted.
Trophies from Canada may enter with documentation that proves country of origin, including a bill of lading; certificate of origin; invoice; document on official letterhead prepared by the manufacturer, seller, outfitter, Provincial government, Tribal Nation, shipper; or an official certificate issued by a veterinarian representing the Canadian national government certifying the country of origin. The trophies must be fully finished or receive special processing upon entry.
How Do I Declare Agricultural Items?
Make sure you include any agricultural items on your Customs Declaration Form (select form below). This form provides Customs and Border Protection officials with basic information about who you are and what you are bringing into the United States, such as agricultural and wildlife products and whether you have visited a farm prior to traveling to the United States.
When you declare, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official can check your items. This is the only way to be certain that your items are free of plant pests and animal diseases.