Shipping wood to Canada

[Brittany]

One of my Canadian customers is interested in some wood items. I remember reading somewhere that you can't ship cholla to Canada. Does this apply to any other woods or common chinchilla chew toys? Where would I find the regulations on this? Is this something the post office would have?

Thanks!

 

[AZChins]

I think it's for all woods that have bark, as well. I'm not sure if they will care if you are sending the wood in toys or not, but you wouldn't want to get hit with a fine.

 

[Tagna]

For wood, it's technically anything with bark on it that hasn't been sprayed. Some people get their wood fine from the USA but I know many who's wood was stopped at the border and either destroyed or sent back. It just depends on the custom guy. I have never heard of a sender being fined though. I don't buy wood from the USA as I don't want to risk it and end up losing money.

 

[ChinnyMom]

Customs wants all barked wood to be treated with something (i can't remember what) if it is coming into Canada, and that treatment makes the wood unsafe for chins.

i've only ordered wood items once from the States, and it was absolute torture waiting to see if customs would snag it or not. thankfully they didn't. it's always a gamble though.

i just found this: http://airs-sari.inspection.gc.ca/Airs_External/Decisions.aspx?lang=1

 

[ChinnyMom]

oops, my time to edit expired. that link in my above post is the pop-up from this site: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/imp/airse.shtml# you probably have to go to this link to get the pop up to come up. click 'Automated Import Reference System' at the bottom of the page.

 

[Brittany]

Thank you for all the information. It's good to learn something new everyday. I understand their concern with bugs, I work at a library, and we've had issues with bed bugs that were in a shipment of books coming from Europe. It seems it would be better off for both my customer and I if they got their toys from a Canadian vendor.

 

[ChinnyMom]

much less hassle for both sides! i have been using Canadian vendors for wood items ever since that one order from Camphor (which got here safe, but i was very worried it wouldn't!).

if you want to, have your Canadian customer get in touch with either myself or Tagna. i'm sure we could direct them to some great Canuck vendors )