Originally Posted by
GlennH
I would imagine it's for having the cheese product. I'm pretty sure you cant bring cheese in as it is a dairy product. Maybe someone with more experience will chime in?
Here is the link to the 'be aware' brochure from customs.
http://www.beaware.gc.ca/english/pub...s/broche.shtml
It states all cheese and diary prodcuts MUST be declared.
You can bring in a small amount of dairy, but any amount has to be declared, and there is a limit (can't remember what it is exactly). Not sure if above that limit gets confiscated, or if its just really high duties.
They just want to inspect it - much like fruit for US or Canada - where you have to declare it all, and while most can be imported (strong exception is that NO citrus fruits are allowed into the US), they want the agriculture guys to inspect it first. Some may be confiscated depending on type and country of origin, but most will be let in.
No, I m not contesting that he didn't have to declare what he got.. but I'm annoyed to the possibility that he might be put on a list that going to give him hard time everytime he goes through customs.
Be annoyed as you wish, but he did it to himself - he didn't declare items despite the fact that the form is quite clear that you have to check the "yes" box asking if he had dairy products. You can try and contest if you wish, but I agree that it might just make it worse. He made a mistake and now may have to live with some consequences for a little while - being under 18 is not going to sway most customs personal as an excuse, IME. If he was 12, then perhaps, 17, I doubt it.
On the other hand, I do know of people who get sent to secondary everytime because of things the government themselves screwed up on the record and refuse to fix. I don't want to take over this thread with a different story, but IME, that is inexcusable. By being honest going forward (even if what he did was an honest mistake), whatever flag exists will likely come off after a few more trips, at least.