A number of consumers in the area take advantage of the Christmas season to pop down to the States and do some shopping . They should be warned, however, that some products like turkeys may be seized at customs.
At least that was the experience of Ormstown resident Peter Finlayson when he declared his purchase of an American turkey at the Canadian customs.
« They asked me where the turkey in question came from. I didn’t really know how to answer, but it was written on the packaging that it came from a turkey farm in Kansas, which was why I couldn’t keep it. »
Since November 26, turkeys coming from certain areas of the United States, in particular, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska, have been banned due to an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) web site.
This restriction applies to « all raw poultry and all poultry products and by-products that are not fully cooked, including eggs and raw pet foods. »
These measures are taken to prevent the introduction of Avian Influenza into other parts of Canada.
Keep in mind also that importing alcoholic beverages purchased in the United States is limited to two, 750 ml bottles of wine, one standard bottle of spirits or 24, 355 ml cans or bottles of beer or ale. « All travellers are obliged to pay the duty and taxes on supplementary quantities of alcoholic beverages they import. »
With regard to tobacco, the limit is established at 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 200 grams of manufactured tobacco, or 200 tobacco sticks.
Translated by Cathleen Johnston
