Bringing food into Canada
 

I'm planning on heading up to Whistler (from Austin) later this year for a spot of vacation with my sister and family, who are flying in from Scotland. Ideally, I'd like to check a smallish cooler with half a dozen Texas-size ribeyes and a Chilean sea bass - all frozen. I doubt I can source the same quality of cow and fish in Whistler.

Does anyone know if this is possible, both from an airline (US carrier) and Canadian import perspective?

I did search the forums without success, so the usual apology if I get pointed to a thread which answers this question.

Thanks,

- Dr W

Here are the legal requirements:

http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/p...-eng.html#P019

I'm sure you can dig around and find more information, or just give them a call and ask.

Civil ?
 

I will try to be.

Then again I decided that I couldn't be polite.

Short answer: NO. :td:

In Whistler, likely no, however in Vancouver, through which you will have to pass enroute to Whistler, likely yes.

For the cow you could try -

SHAUGHNESSY FINE MEATS
2233 W. 41st Ave., Vancouver
604-266-6911.

WINDSOR PACKING
4110 Main St., Vancouver
604-872-5635

For the Fish -

http://www.vanmag.com/foodanddrink/r...hmongers.shtml

In all cases I'd phone ahead to make sure what you're looking for is available.

Please continue to follow this discussion in the FT Canada Forum.
Thanks...
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Entry to Canada requires that you fill out a card that includes answering whether you are bringing meat products. This will lead to agricultural inspection. The inspector has never had a Texas steak so he will seize your stuff and set up a barbecue at his place. There are stores in Whistler that sell what you will need. Pretend you like it and don't tell them how things are so much better in Texas.

Thanks for all - well, most - of the replies. I hadn't planned on sourcing this quantity and quality of food in Canada because - no offense to Canadians - I just can get it almost free here in the Great Nation of Texas. BTW I'm a Scot, not a Texan, so it's nothing to do with bigger and better - just plain old economics. I wondered if anyone had tried this before, that's all.

- Dr W

We don't have cows in canada. You'll have to hunt and butcher your own caribou or moose or grizzly. ;)
--
13F

There are some funny regs about what you can take across the border...true story...I had a boyfriend who lived in Windsor. His sister asked me to bring a frozen turkey (!) across around Thanksgiving....they are significantly cheaper in the US. After looking up the regulations, it said that I could take across 2. Not 3 or a dozen, 2.

:rolleyes:

U.S. beef (and most other meats and food items except for certain raw fruit & veg that are from the U.S.) is fine for import into Canada (done it into Canada several times albeit by land crossings), and no limitations for personal consumption AFAIK. FWIW, ribeye sells for $5-6/lb (lower less-marbled grade) in the smaller independent supermarkets in Vancouver though the big chains and those in Whistler) often sell for much more. Some places sell certified Angus beef for about 1.2-3x more (especially if organic). No idea about the Patagonia Toothfish.

I thought it was just 1 actually. There are some other limitations on food imports such as $20 in dairy products a person but I've brought in more cheese than this from Europe and they haven't cared.

Whistler was built for tourism & has the feel of a tourist-trap mall. Restaurants charge 50--100% more than in Vancouver. IIRC the few grocery stores are boutique-y & probably expensive.
Check out Canada Customs regs. first. What U can't or may not bring, buy in Vancouver or suburbs. If UR into Oriental, the City of Richmond (around YVR) is a giant New Chinatown :) !

Also, from phedre's link:
"a maximum of 5 kilograms of edible meats and meat products from cattle, sheep, goat, bison and buffalo.
Note:
All meat and meat products have to be identified as products of the United States."--such as a supermarket's or rancher's label.

Not true - You may pay slightly more to compensate for the cost of freighting the food up, but certainly not 50 - 100% more. A dinner at The Keg in Whistler will cost about the same as a dinner at The Keg in Vancouver. Ditto for the 'fine dining' restaurants. Ditto Ric's Grill and on it goes...

The real people in Whistler don't live by the hotels. North of the fake village and to the west of the main road there's a residential area with a real supermarket. There's also one (The Grocery Store) at the north end of the condos on the east side by the Golden Arches of Blackcomb Way.

I'm not sure if the question was actaully answered, so long as the beef was "produced" in the US you're good and yes you can fly with it. Seafood of almost any sort is okay from anywhere... I thought I heard Chilean Seabass was going extinct so if it is protected you might actually run into a CITES issue rather than an agriculture issue.... I did a quick check of the CITES website (www.cites.org) and I couldn't find it in any of the schedules- you should be fine so long as you declare your food, safe travels.