Nexus and declaring groceries

B

BRAZO

New member
Last week before we left Blaine, WA for home, we had our Nexus interviews. All was good and we even received our Nexus cards in the mail already.

Question that we have is when you cross into Canada/USA, what do you declare as far as groceries? Our plan would be to have No Fruits, Vegetables, Meats, or Dairy - but do you declare the other snack/food items that are allowed? We don't have firearms, don't drink alcohol, don't smoke, no weapons.

We have crossed many times without Nexus, but then they ask you questions on what you have aboard. With Nexus, my understanding is that you tell them if you have anything to declare - they don't ask you.

What do you normally declare when crossing?

Thanks
 
I have a NEXUS pass and have crossed the border from US to Canada many times for camping trips. You've eliminated the problem items (especially alcohol, since only a very limited amount can be taken into the Canada). The rules for meats and produce seem to change so often that I have difficulty keeping up with the regs and end up just buying those things in the country into which I'm traveling. You don't have to "declare" the dry goods that you're bringing in with you.

Some other, non-illegal, items that you should be concerned about and that may cause problems: Firewood. Large sums of cash.

Sometimes, you are waived right through the NEXUS line with nary a question asked. More commonly, for me, they will ask us where we are going and send on our way. I've never had a single issue traveling to Canada. Coming back into the US, however, is when I usually get asked more questions.
 
This isn't Nexus specific (so I realize maybe it's a slight tangent... hopefully okay?), but I thought the rule on dairy allowance looked a bit odd. It was something like this:

You are allowed to bring up to 44 pounds of cheese/milk/butter/dairy, as long as the value is not over $20

I'd just like to know where they buy their cheese that those two figures would even be in the same sentence! (Other allowances seemed to be more "parallel.")
 
I go by the list on the government web site: http://www.beaware.gc.ca/english/brirape.shtml
"I have nothing to declare"

I am not importing any objects into Canada, and the food we have aboard is enough to last until we get to a place where we can supply--which is often the port we first come into. The packaged snacks are OK. We watch what we have the the freezer to not violate any of the rules in effect at that time for the Provence we are entering. We do take the amount of liquor allowed, but no more, and I do declare this if asked.
 
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