A few years back I was on a trip with a family member who brought back a meat product to Canada. I told them to declare it, so they did. It got confiscated entering at the Canadian border as a prohibited item. The agent sent it out to be destroyed. We didn't get fined or anything.
Am I on the Canadian books? Do I have a record they see every time at the border? Or is it fine because we declared it?
Nothing. You're good. You did the right thing by declaring food items. That was it. There will be no future impact.
Entering Canada:
Be sure . . . declare everything.
Canadian law requires that you declare all food, plants and animals and related products that you bring into Canada. Failure to declare could lead to
- confiscation of products
- fines of up to $1300 per undeclared item
- prosecution
...
Penalty-free confiscation
When undeclared restricted or prohibited items are found in checked luggage or carry-on bags, the penalties can be severe.
There are alternatives, however, if you find yourself in possession of restricted or prohibited goods. Many Canadian airports have disposal bins for prohibited products. You can dispose of these products before meeting with a border officer.
If you are unsure about an item, ask a border officer. If you seek clarification and then declare a restricted or prohibited item, it may be confiscated without penalty.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Entering USA:
Failure to declare food products can result in up to $10,000 in fines and penalties. Even if you believe a food item is able to enter the United States you must declare to the officer that you are bringing food back. When in doubt keep it out.
Bringing Food into the U.S.
Declared agriculture items, in non-commercial quantities, that are found to be prohibited or restricted by the CBP Agriculture Specialists can be abandoned at the port of entry should the traveler wish to continue into the U.S. However, undeclared prohibited agriculture items will be confiscated and can result in the issuance of a civil penalty to the traveler for failure to declare the prohibited item. All agricultural items that are abandoned or confiscated at ports of entry are destroyed in accordance with USDA approved destruction methods to prevent spread of pests and diseases.
This is also my experience in Canada. They just take it and that is it. You would not be in their books unless you got fined should you have failed to declare.
