Bringing Hops Back into Canada

[Bryan]

Has anyone flown from the US into Canada with Hops ? Just want to see if there will be any issues with customs, and if I should even bother...

Thanks!!

[LiverDance]

I have never done it nor would I want to try. Explaining to custom's officals what the contents of your bags with leafy greens substance really are does not sound like fun.

[RubberToe]

You could also mail them to yourself.

[Bryan]

You could also mail them to yourself.

Thats what Im going to do I would say.

[CartoonCod]

I had a friend bring back hops with him from Argentina. It worked, but the plastic bags which contained the hops opened up and there were hops all over his clothes... I am assuming it was the custom officials that opened the plastic bags.

[bluenose]

I would save my rectum the trouble since they're in the same plant family as cannabis

[derek]

I had a friend bring back hops with him from Argentina. It worked, but the plastic bags which contained the hops opened up and there were hops all over his clothes... I am assuming it was the custom officials that opened the plastic bags.

I would assume it wasn't - because at the very least they would have been seized. It's generally illegal to bring plants into the country without proper documentation. Especially in soil. The CFIA basically says that "Garden Plants" are restricted, and to contact National Import Service Centre. Hops are fairly loosely regulated but I managed to find this from CFIA's database:

A Phytosanitary Certificate is required to accompany the consignment, containing the following Additional Declaration:
The plants in this consignment are free of all growing media, soil and/or related matter.
...
The material must be certified free from Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM). The following additional declaration must appear on the Phytosanitary Certificate*:
"This consignment complies with the Canadian requirements for light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana) as outlined in Directive D-07-03."

*Pest/commodity specific additional declarations are not required for material exported under the United States Nursery Certification Program (USNCP) or the United States Greenhouse Certification Program (USGCP).
*Material exported under the USGCP may be accompanied by an Export Certification Label in lieu of a Phytosanitary Certificate.

The requirements differ for origin by state, so that was for hops imported from California to Nova Scotia. Other origins might have different requirements.

[akr71]

You could also mail them to yourself.

Thats what Im going to do I would say.

Yes, this. Much less stressful, IMO.

[chalmers]

Further to what Derek said, there is an online database of what food/plant materials are allowed: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/plants/impo ... 0127627409" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I looked up hops, and the plants would require a certifcate, but hop cones and pellets would be OK as long as they are clean and free of soil and pests. This was for import to NS from California. Different states and provinces may yield different results.
Best to inform yourself before trying it, but it should be fine.

And while mailing them to yourself may reduce the stress on the day of travel, items can still get seized and charges laid if you are trying to import something you shouldn't. And to be legal, you'd have to check the box on your Declaration card indicating that not all of the goods you are importing are accompanying you. And you would invariably be asked what it was, blah blah blah.

[Bryan]

Further to what Derek said, there is an online database of what food/plant materials are allowed: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/plants/impo ... 0127627409" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I looked up hops, and the plants would require a certifcate, but hop cones and pellets would be OK as long as they are clean and free of soil and pests. This was for import to NS from California. Different states and provinces may yield different results.
Best to inform yourself before trying it, but it should be fine.

And while mailing them to yourself may reduce the stress on the day of travel, items can still get seized and charges laid if you are trying to import something you shouldn't. And to be legal, you'd have to check the box on your Declaration card indicating that not all of the goods you are importing are accompanying you. And you would invariably be asked what it was, blah blah blah.

Thanks for the info, Chalmers!

[Bryan]

I had a friend bring back hops with him from Argentina. It worked, but the plastic bags which contained the hops opened up and there were hops all over his clothes... I am assuming it was the custom officials that opened the plastic bags.

I would assume it wasn't - because at the very least they would have been seized. It's generally illegal to bring plants into the country without proper documentation. Especially in soil. The CFIA basically says that "Garden Plants" are restricted, and to contact National Import Service Centre. Hops are fairly loosely regulated but I managed to find this from CFIA's database:

A Phytosanitary Certificate is required to accompany the consignment, containing the following Additional Declaration:
The plants in this consignment are free of all growing media, soil and/or related matter.
...
The material must be certified free from Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM). The following additional declaration must appear on the Phytosanitary Certificate*:
"This consignment complies with the Canadian requirements for light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana) as outlined in Directive D-07-03."

*Pest/commodity specific additional declarations are not required for material exported under the United States Nursery Certification Program (USNCP) or the United States Greenhouse Certification Program (USGCP).
*Material exported under the USGCP may be accompanied by an Export Certification Label in lieu of a Phytosanitary Certificate.

The requirements differ for origin by state, so that was for hops imported from California to Nova Scotia. Other origins might have different requirements.

Good to know!

[John G]

I've brought back hops from the USA a few times. No problems with customs. Make sure you say hop pellets, not hop plants (assuming you're bringing back pellets).

[derek]

I've brought back hops from the USA a few times. No problems with customs. Make sure you say hop pellets, not hop plants (assuming you're bringing back pellets).

Doh! It never actually occurred to me that we might not have been talking about plants. Pellets shouldn't be an issue. Since it's vegetable matter, I suppose someone could get sticky about it, but afaict it is legal.