Shipping from Canada to the USA – Items you are not allowed to ship into the USA
With tightening borders, shipping products to the United States from Canada can be a nightmare for many small business owners. Do not risk having your shipments returned to you at your expense. If you are not sure if you can ship your products to the USA, just ask the FlagShip team of experts. Here is a general guide on what you are not allowed to ship into the USA.
Here’s what the US Customs and Border Protection has to say on what you are not allowed to ship into the USA.
“The products CBP prevent from entering the United States are those that would injure community health, public safety, American workers, children, or domestic plant and animal life, or those that would defeat our national interests. Sometimes the products that cause injury, or have the potential to do so, may seem fairly innocent. But, as you will see from the material that follows, appearances can be deceiving.”…US CBP website
Here’s a brief list of Prohibited items found on the US CBP website:
- Alcoholic beverages, Prescription drugs, Drug paraphernalia, Firearms
- Merchandise from embargoed countries and more
View the complete list from the US Customs and border protection here: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/know-before-you-go/prohibited-and-restricted-items
The best advice is before you ship anything into the USA, do your due diligence to ensure your product complies with their laws and regulations.
Ensure that you have all the proper information and documents required prior to shipping.
Ie; Country of Origin, Quantity, value, HS code if applicable.
All this information can be found through Governmental websites
Importing into the USA: https://www.cbp.gov/document/publications/importing-united-states
Step by step guide on exporting from Canada: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/export/guide-eng.html
As a FlagShip customer, we always suggest that you contact us first if you are ever uncertain about your shipment. Click here for our most asked questions on import and export shipments and here for more information on our international shipping services. As a FlagShip customer, you won’t have to second-guess your shipping requirements anymore.