CBSA travel tips for Lunar New Year

OTTAWA, Jan. 24, 2020 /CNW/ - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) would like to remind all travellers of the import requirements and cross-border regulations ahead of the Lunar New Year on January 25.

Certain food products and delicacies from other countries may not be permitted in Canada. In 2019, border services officers seized prohibited goods from Asia including:

• bird's nest;
• pig snouts and tail;
• rabbit meat;
• Asian giant hornet's nest;
• Chinese sausage;
• duck gizzards;
• chicken legs;
• deer pizzle;
• infested wooden statues;
• raw beef;
• lamb;
• bushmeat;
• live birds;
• plants with soil;
• wood cuttings;
• cherry tree blossoms; and,
• bamboo or willow branches and other foliage.

The CBSA strongly recommends that you consult the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website before bringing any food, plant, and animal products into Canada.

"Have you been to Wuhan, China in the past 14 days?"

Out of an abundance of caution and to mitigate the risk of introduction of the novel coronavirus into Canada, in the coming days, all international travellers arriving at the Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver international airports will be asked an additional screening question to help identify those who may have visited Wuhan.

Travellers who have visited Wuhan will be subject to additional screening measures. Travellers experiencing flu-like symptoms will be referred for further examination by a public health officer. All others will be provided an information handout.

To kick off the Year of the Rat, the CBSA has some tips to make your border process a smooth and quick experience:

• Be prepared: Have your travel documents, proper identification, and any receipts from purchases outside of Canada ready to present to the border services officer.
• Report currency of Can$10,000 or more: If you will be carrying Can$10,000 or more to fill red envelopes (monetary gifts), you must declare your currency to the border services officer. This includes any combination of Canadian or foreign currency and monetary instruments, such as stocks, bonds, bank drafts, and cheques.
• Know your personal exemption limits: If you exceed your exemption limits, you may be subject to pay duty and taxes.
• Declare your goods: Everything that you have purchased or acquired outside of Canada, including any gifts, must be reported to the border services officer upon your arrival in Canada. The consequences of failing to accurately declare your goods can include seizures, fines, and criminal prosecution.
• Leave any pork behind: At the moment, the risk of African swine fever being introduced in Canada is extremely high. For this reason, please refrain from bringing any pork or related meat products into Canada. 

The best thing you can do is to simply be open and honest with the border services officer. If you are not sure about what to declare, do not hesitate to ask. The officers are there to help you.

The CBSA wishes everyone a safe and happy Lunar New Year! Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Associated Links

• Automated Import Reference System (AIRS)
• I Declare: A guide for residents returning to Canada
• Coronavirus Infection: Symptoms and treatment
• About the Novel Coronavirus in Wuhan, China

SOURCE Canada Border Services Agency