Information for Canadians Travelling Outside of Canada

Planning a trip outside of Canada? Will you be bringing back souvenirs and other consumer products? Some products may be prohibited in Canada and subject to being detained at the border.

Prepare yourself before you go. Be aware of consumer products that have safety requirements. Many of these Canadian safety requirements are stricter than other countries.

Are you currently living abroad and planning a return to Canada? Planning on moving to Canada? Make sure that you are not bringing consumer products that have either been prohibited and/or are regulated in Canada. These items may be subject to being detained at the border.

Prohibited Products

The following is a partial list of consumer products that are banned in Canada and subject to being detained at the border:

• Baby walkers;
• Infant self-feeding devices - structural devices to position feeding bottles, which allow babies to feed themselves while unattended;
• Yoyo balls - pose a risk of strangulation;
• Balloon blowing kits - that contain a poisonous organic solvent;
• Re-light candles - candles that re-light spontaneously once extinguished;
• Jequirity beans - including items containing these poisonous beans; and,
• Lawn darts with elongated tips.

A full list of products that are prohibited under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act is provided in Canada Consumer Product Safety Act Quick Reference Guide - 2011.

Regulated Products

The following is a partial list of consumer products that must meet Canadian safety requirements:

• Car seats - car seats must have a National Safety Mark on them and meet the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) and have the compliance label (stating the height and weight of the child for which the seat was designed). For more information, see  Cross Border Shopping Is Not the Best Deal for Your Child's Safety;
• Children's Sleepwear - must meet flammability requirements. For more information, see Children's Sleepwear: Flammability Requirements Guideline; 
• Cribs - cribs should have the manufacturer's label indicating the model number, date of manufacture and assembly instructions;
• Strollers - must meet labelling and performance requirements;
• Toys - must meet mechanical, electrical, toxicological and flammability requirements. For more information, see Toys and Toy Boxes;
• Hockey helmets and face protectors must meet the requirements of standards published by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA); and,
• Playpens - must meet labelling and performance requirements.

Related Resources

•  Be Aware and Declare! - Canadian Food Inspection Agency
•  Bon Voyage, but... - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
• Bringing Consumer Products into Canada
•  Cross Border Shopping Is Not the Best Deal for Your Child's Safety - Transport Canada
•  Essential Information for Canadians Abroad - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
•  I Declare - A Guide for Residents of Canada Returning to Canada - Canada Border Services Agency
•  Information for Visitors to Canada and Seasonal Residents - Canada Border Services Agency
•  Moving Back to Canada - Canada Border Services Agency
• Publications for Consumer Information - Health Canada
• Canada Consumer Product Safety Act Quick Reference Guide - Health Canada
•  Settling in Canada - Information on Importing Goods for People Intending to Settle in Canada - Canada Border Services Agency
• Travel Health - Health Canada

For more information on banned and regulated consumer products, contact the Consumer Product Safety Bureau's Regional Offices.