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The short answer
Yes, you must declare it: the CBSA says you must declare all food, plant and animal products you bring into Canada, and failure to do so can lead to confiscation, a fine or prosecution, with penalties on seized goods ranging from 25% to 70% of their value (CBSA, November 2025). Declaring does not mean losing everything; most dried foods, spices and snacks within the CFIA's per-person limits can be allowed, while fresh, dried or cured meat and eggs from Nigeria cannot.
The rule at the border
When you land at Toronto Pearson from Lagos or Abuja, the same federal rule applies as at any Canadian entry point. The CBSA's page on what to declare (modified 25 November 2025) says: "You must declare all food, plants, animal and related products that you import into Canada." It explains that some of these are prohibited or regulated "because they can carry foreign animal and plant pests and diseases," and that import requirements "can change on a daily basis due to emerging threats."
Declaring is a statement of what you have, not an admission of wrongdoing. Tick the food box, and if an officer asks, describe what is in the bags in plain words: "dried fish, ground pepper, garri, chin chin".
What the CFIA allows from Nigeria for personal use
The CFIA page on bringing food into Canada for personal use (modified 26 May 2026) sets the rules for travellers from countries other than the US. A summary of the parts most relevant to a Nigerian suitcase:
| Item | Rule or limit per person |
|---|---|
| Fresh, dried or cured meat (kilishi, ponmo, smoked meat) | Not permitted |
| Eggs and egg products | Not permitted |
| Commercially cooked, shelf-stable, sealed meat products | Up to 20 kg, carried with you; beef only from negligible BSE risk countries |
| Dried fish (stockfish, smoked catfish) | 10 kg |
| Other fish and seafood | 40 kg |
| Dairy | Only ice cream, yogurt, kashk and pasteurised cheese from any country |
| Dried foods (garri, elubo, dried leaves) | 20 kg; check AIRS |
| Nuts, grains, seeds (egusi, ogbono, beans) | 20 kg; check AIRS |
| Spices, tea, coffee | 20 kg |
| Confectionery and snacks (chin chin, plantain chips) | 20 kg |
| Food-grade oils (palm oil) | 50 L |
| Non-alcoholic beverages | 50 L |
| Fresh fruit and vegetables | 20 kg each if permitted; check AIRS |
"Check AIRS" means the CFIA says these products may be restricted or prohibited depending on country of origin, and points travellers to its Automated Import Reference System. Look up anything unusual before you pack, especially fresh produce, seeds and leaves.
Penalties and duty
The CBSA page says goods that are not declared can be seized and you may permanently lose them. Where goods are seized, the CBSA may impose a penalty of 25% to 70% of their value. Separately, food above Global Affairs Canada's limits for certain controlled products can attract duty of 150% to 300% of the value of the goods if you have no permit. Those controlled products are listed on Global Affairs Canada's tariff rate quota pages; check them if you carry large quantities of any one food.
Worked example
Example only. Emeka hides 4 kg of ponmo worth C$80 in a shoe bag and it is found. The ponmo is seized because dried meat is not permitted. A penalty in the CBSA's range would be between C$20 and C$56 (80 × 0.25 = 20; 80 × 0.70 = 56). Declaring would not have saved the ponmo, but the penalty in the CBSA's description attaches to goods seized for not being declared. The page also refers to fines and prosecution, so the percentage range is not the only possible outcome.
Bringing food to sell
The personal allowances are for personal use. The CFIA's licensing page says the personal-use exception covers food within the maximum quantity limits that is not intended for commercial use. Bringing two cartons of chin chin for a Brampton shop is a commercial import, whatever the weight, and needs an SFC licence and the commercial process. See who needs an SFC licence and CFIA rules for importing Nigerian foodstuff.
Before you fly: a checklist
- Leave meat, ponmo, kilishi and eggs out of the suitcase.
- Weigh dried fish separately: 10 kg is the personal limit.
- Keep original packaging and labels where you can; the CFIA says proof of origin may be required for some products.
- Pack food together so it can be inspected without unpacking everything.
- Look up fresh produce, seeds and leaves in AIRS.
- Declare all of it.
For the detail on specific foods, see ponmo and smoked meat and stockfish and dried fish.
Where Pryme fits
Not everything has to travel in a suitcase. With a Pryme account you can send naira to family in Nigeria with Send for what they need at home, with the rate and fee shown before you approve.
Questions people ask
Do I have to declare food at Pearson airport?
Yes. The CBSA says you must declare all food, plant and animal products you bring into Canada.
What Nigerian food is not allowed into Canada?
Fresh, dried and cured meats, including kilishi and market ponmo, and eggs are not permitted from outside the US. Some seeds, produce and dried foods may be restricted; check AIRS.
What is the penalty for not declaring food in Canada?
Goods can be seized, and the CBSA may impose a penalty of 25% to 70% of the value of seized goods. Fines or prosecution are also possible.
How much garri can I bring to Canada?
The CFIA personal-use limit for dried foods is 20 kg per person, subject to AIRS, and it must be declared.
Sources
- CBSA: Declare goods you bring into Canada (modified 25 Nov 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- CFIA: Bringing food into Canada for personal use (modified 26 May 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- CFIA: Food business activities that require a licence under the SFCR (modified 20 Nov 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.