6 Commonly Imported Goods That Require Canadian Permits

If you are running a small business, you probably have a lot of shipping to do for the holiday season. The government of Canada has many regulations and permits for goods coming and going over the border. It can be difficult to keep track of all of the requirements. 

Don’t let your goods get stuck at the border this holiday season. 

The Canadian Import Control List states all of the items which require permits to enter Canada.

Here are 6 of the most common goods that require Canadian permits: 

Clothing

Depending on where the cotton and yarn was made, your clothing or accessories are subject to import permits and laws, especially if they were made in a foreign country. The permit required may vary depending on the size and amount of fabric and where it’s from. 

Textiles 

You might not think about cotton or yarn with items other than clothing, but if a toy such as a doll is made with textiles including cotton, it will be subject to permits. Even if an item only has a small amount of cotton on it, make sure you double check whether or not permits are required.

Animal products

If anything you are shipping includes meats or animal products, it will likely require a permit. This can even include things like candy and beauty products which might contain less obvious uses of animal products. 

Dairy

Another common good around the holidays is cheese, or food and beverages which contain milk. This is pretty straight forward. Essentially, if it has dairy in it, assume it will need a permit to get over the border. 

Dried foods

It might surprise you that flour, pasta, and other dried goods also need permits. Even if you’re shipping something with only dry components, it may require a permit. Make sure you check with your customs broker if you’re not sure. 

Cookies and doughs 

You might be importing ingredients to make delicious treats to sell through your small business. Make sure you know the permits required for cookies, mixes, and doughs you might ship, as they will vary depending on the ingredients and where they are grown or produced. 

We hope that this list will help you consider the permits you might need to ship goods into Canada for the holiday season so you can avoid any hurdles during this busy time of year.

If you need a customs broker for all your holiday shipping, get a quote from Welke.