Community Forums

sueleibo · 08-06-2022, 03:57 PM

For those of you who have crossed USA/Canada borders, I’m wondering about your experience with medication and vitamins. I’ll keep meds in their original Rx bottles, but I like to put vitamins in smaller containers and in those “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday” type weekly pill organizers. Will is be a problem if the vitamins are commingled in weekly organizers? Thanks for your help!

sandwip · 08-06-2022, 04:05 PM

Just as a precaution, I would leave the vitamins in their original bottles at least until you are in Canada. Then, fill your weekly dispenser. At the very least I would keep a bottle of vitamins handy so they could compare them. Enjoy the trip and don't forget the ArriveCan app needs to be completed ahead of time.

darnold9999 · 08-06-2022, 04:26 PM

We cross pretty regularly but the other way (Canadians going to the US and returning). I know my partner waits to fill her weekly vitamin tray until after we have crossed, but we have never had any questions going either way re prescriptions or pills.

SomeDay · 08-06-2022, 06:08 PM

Been crossing regularly back and forth since 1999 and never been asked about my meds ever. Only when crossing from Los Algodones into the USA walking across what I've bought then and we disclose up to a maximum of 3 months and no problem.

I've always kept my med containers with me and had the weekly x 2 containers filled as well for daily consumption and never been asked or brought up as an issue when we were searched on a few occasions as well.

twogypsies · 08-06-2022, 11:42 PM

Always travel to other countries with medications and vitamins in their original containers. Surely you have space in your RV for the bottles. It's correct... they may not ask but then again .... they may and you had better be prepared according to their guidelines.

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-cana.../document.html

Coarsegold · 08-06-2022, 11:46 PM

Just crossed into Victoria BC, no problem with either items.

sueleibo · 08-07-2022, 05:07 AM

I hadn’t seen the Canadian health link, thanks twogypsies. Another question in the realm of repackaging something so it takes up less space… I put my dried spices, such as parsley, garlic powder, etc, into tiny containers. Do you think it’ll be a problem that they’re not in their original, larger jars?

darnold9999 · 08-07-2022, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sueleibo

I hadn’t seen the Canadian health link, thanks twogypsies. Another question in the realm of repackaging something so it takes up less space… I put my dried spices, such as parsley, garlic powder, etc, into tiny containers. Do you think it’ll be a problem that they’re not in their original, larger jars?

That can create problems, more going back to the US than into Canada. We had agents confiscate bulk products in generic containers (before we learned not to do that) on the way into the US. The rule of thumb is: if the US produces an agricultural product you can't import it unless you can show it was produced in the US originally - i.e. the packaging says made in USA. Rice is a good example. Spices may be OK but you do run the risk of them being confiscated in generic containers. I suspect a very low risk however. Will depend entirely on the customs agent doing the search.

docj · 08-07-2022, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darnold9999

That can create problems, more going back to the US than into Canada. We had agents confiscate bulk products in generic containers (before we learned not to do that) on the way into the US. The rule of thumb is: if the US produces an agricultural product you can't import it unless you can show it was produced in the US originally - i.e. the packaging says made in USA. Rice is a good example. Spices may be OK but you do run the risk of them being confiscated in generic containers. I suspect a very low risk however. Will depend entirely on the customs agent doing the search.

We've crossed the border into Canada and come back multiple times with no one bothering to even set foot into our RV. We're very careful about trying to observe all the agricultural restrictions in place on both sides. We've yet to have a border agent even set foot inside the RV where he or she could have seen our several dozen spices arrayed in our racks! I realize this is all the luck of the draw, but all I can say is that we must be very boring-looking senior citizens!

darnold9999 · 08-07-2022, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docj

We've crossed the border into Canada and come back multiple times with no one bothering to even set foot into our RV. We're very careful about trying to observe all the agricultural restrictions in place on both sides. We've yet to have a border agent even set foot inside the RV where he or she could have seen our several dozen spices arrayed in our racks! I realize this is all the luck of the draw, but all I can say is that we must be very boring-looking senior citizens!

Has only happened once to us in a very odd situation. The agent at the gate waved us through no inspection required but the agent directing traffic at the exit pointed us to the inspection lane. No big deal, but we lost a few generic containers of bulk goods, rice, pumpkin seeds and walnuts as I recall. Now we just buy such things in the US on the first grocery run. We try to look as boring as possible going through borders!

twogypsies · 08-07-2022, 05:16 PM

They don't even want you repackaging meat into individual pkg. They really want to know the origin of everything. Again, you may get lucky but why take a chance.

When we crossed we were pulled over and inspected - we had Texas plates so that may have been the reason but we had no guns

They also do random full checks for no reason. (I think they just get bored and decide to do a full check to mix up their day!) Anyway, in a side small compartment next to the door we had a 3" long dog repellant container that we used when biking. They took it and examined the label carefully and then went inside. They returned and he was so apologetic but said "Sorry, we'll have to keep this." Absolutely no problem as it probably cost all of a couple bucks. We went through multiple crossings on our way to Alaska and returned to the U.S. with no further inspections. So..... you just never know when they'll pull you over.

Here's another Customs site on food into Canada:

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services...r-fpa-eng.html

..... and from Canada into the U.S.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/res...-poultry-dairy

Keep in mind that these requirements are subject to change... and they do change. Re-visit the web sites just before crossings.

sueleibo · 08-08-2022, 04:34 AM

From what I’ve read it does seem so random. But then again about seven years ago we did a road trip from New Jersey to Las Vegas and back. On the way home we stopped at Hoover Dam and we were searched at the Dam. Two guards went through the exterior of the rv, including all the compartments, with my husband, and a female agent came inside and looked around with me. They were very nice and friendly and even suggested that we reconsider a campground we were planning on staying at due to a lot of transients and local crime in the area.

TheCatsRV · 08-09-2022, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sueleibo

From what I’ve read it does seem so random. But then again about seven years ago we did a road trip from New Jersey to Las Vegas and back. On the way home we stopped at Hoover Dam and we were searched at the Dam. Two guards went through the exterior of the rv, including all the compartments, .

That'd probably was DHS. Even Hoover Dam is too far aay from Border Patrol's 100 mile band.