taking seeds from US to Canada

Is it legal to take vegetable seeds from the US to Canada? They are not store bought, but rather home grown heirloom varieties.

I don't know about all of them but it does depend on the variety. Some plants and all their parts are totally banned in Canada. I know that some US seed companies cannot ship a lot of stuff to me in Canada, but some things they can. If you want to know for sure, contact Canada Customs and they will tell you what is allowed.

Personally, I think it is easier to get forgiveness than permission.

GK

+1

I found a link to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that explains all about importing seeds into Canada. http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/seesem/abce.shtml

Here is an exerpt from Section E that I think pertains to your question and would also apply to anyone that would like to exchange seeds with a Canadian SFGer:

"E. Exemptions from the Importation Requirements
The following are exemptions from the above requirements:

1. Where the imported seed lot is 5 kg or less for large seeded crop kinds such as peas, wheat, soybeans and corn or is 500 g or less for small seeded crop kinds such as alfalfa, tomato or canola, neither the import declaration information nor the certificate of analysis need be supplied."

In other words, for the small amount of seed that we as home gardeners would send to another home gardener, there are no bans on what you can import as long as it is a small amount and is not considered a noxious weed in the province in which you are sending it.

I hope this helps!

Thanks BlackRose. It is nice to know we can legally share seed with one another and not worry about the seed police.

I order many seeds on ebay .. no problem at all.