Spices you can and can’t send to Canada

Not every spice packet clears customs smoothly. Here is a practical breakdown based on Canada’s import rules:

Spices that clear customs easily

• Dried whole spices: Star anise, cinnamon sticks, black cardamom, coriander seeds and cloves (the core ingredients of a pho spice pack). They must be completely sun-dried or dried by machine and sealed in clearly labelled packaging.
• Ground spices: Turmeric, chilli powder, garlic powder, ginger powder and five-spice powder. These are processed and finely ground, so they almost always clear.
• Vegetarian sauces and soup bases: Vegetarian concentrated soup bases, satay chilli oil, soy sauce and fish sauce in glass or rigid plastic bottles with a clear brand and expiry date.

Spices likely to be confiscated or destroyed

• Soup bases containing animal meat extracts: Beef or chicken stock cubes and beef pho bases containing beef fat, meat powder or bone broth extract. Canada prohibits importing meat products from countries with livestock or poultry disease outbreaks unless they pass strict quarantine checks.
• Live seeds: Seeds that aren’t fully dried and can still germinate. Customs is concerned they may carry pathogens or become invasive.
• Homemade shrimp salt or garlic salt: Home-mixed salts in unbranded plastic tubs are easily held because their contents can’t be verified.

Comparing costs and shipping options for spices to Canada

Depending on how much you want to send, costs and delivery times differ considerably. Here is a comparison of Soleil Transportation’s two most popular services:

How to prepare and pack pho spices

To make sure the parcel doesn’t tear, leak oil or let out smells that affect other parcels during the 7–12 business day flight, follow this packing process:

Step 1: Check the product labels

• Only choose spices and soup bases with ingredients printed clearly in English or Vietnamese on the packaging. Avoid unlabelled products in self-sealed plastic bags.
• Check the expiry date carefully. It should be at least 3 months after the shipping date.

Step 2: Vacuum-seal and add cushioning

• For dried spices such as cinnamon, star anise and cardamom: Put them in thick zip bags or vacuum-seal them to stop their distinctive aroma escaping. A very strong smell can attract airport detector dogs, so the parcel gets opened for manual inspection and delivery is delayed.
• For jars of soup base, bottles of caramel sauce or satay chilli oil: Wrap the cap tightly with cling film to prevent leaks under cabin pressure. Then wrap 2–3 layers of bubble wrap around the bottle.

Step 3: Pack the carton

• Put heavy jars and glass bottles at the bottom and light spice packs and bags of dried spices on top.
• Fill the gaps with old newspaper or foam so bottles and jars don’t knock together in transit.

Key tips for customs declarations

The declaration on your shipping form decides about 90% of whether a spice parcel clears customs. Remember two core principles:

• Declare honestly and in detail: Instead of a vague “food” or “spices”, write “dry pho spices” or “vegetarian soup base”. This helps customs officers see that the product contains no prohibited animal ingredients.
• Never hide anything: Some people deliberately hide beef soup base under clothing at the bottom of the box. Airport scanners clearly show liquids and organic matter. Deliberate concealment can get the whole parcel confiscated, and the recipient in Canada may even be flagged for stricter checks on future parcels.

When you ship with Soleil Transportation, our warehouse staff help you check the ingredients of each spice pack, show you how to label them and complete the customs declaration to minimise the risk.

To start preparing your parcel for Canada, bring your goods to our warehouse at 2446 Cawthra Road, B1U8, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5A 3K6, or call +1 888-998-5199 or email info@soleiltransportation.com for advice on the fastest route and how to consolidate goods from Vietnam.

1. Choose dried shrimp that meets export standards for Canada

Not all dried shrimp clears customs easily. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) controls imported seafood very closely.

• Dryness: The shrimp must be thoroughly dried by machine or in the sun. Damp shrimp easily goes mouldy during the 7–14 day air journey and is likely to be refused by customs for hygiene reasons.
• Clear origin: Choose shrimp with clear labels, expiry dates and ingredients where possible. If it is homemade or bought at a traditional market, make sure it is clean, with no impurities or insects.

2. How to pack against mould and odour

This is the most important step in deciding whether your parcel will be accepted for the flight. Canadian customs is very sensitive to the smell of fresh or dried food.

• Double vacuum-seal: Split the dried shrimp into bags of 500 g to 1 kg and vacuum-seal them tightly. Add a second plastic bag outside in case the inner bag leaks because of pressure changes in flight.
• Use desiccant packs: Put a food-grade desiccant pack inside each bag before heat-sealing. This keeps the shrimp dry so it doesn’t “sweat” and go mouldy.
• Sturdy box: After vacuum-sealing, pack the bags neatly in a strong carton. At Soleil Transportation, basic packing in a carton is included in the service, saving you preparation costs.

3. Declare the HS code and complete CBSA customs procedures

When shipping dried shrimp to Canada, accurate goods information on the waybill is mandatory so the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) can check it.

• Product name: Write it in English or French on the label, for example “Dried Shrimp” or “Dried Baby Shrimp”. Don’t write a vague “Food” or “Gift”, as the parcel will be held for manual inspection.
• Duties: With our two-way Vietnam–Canada service, the rate from $16/kg includes all import duties, so the recipient in Canada doesn’t have to worry about extra charges on door delivery.

4. Choose the right shipping service

Depending on the weight and your needs, you can choose:

• Dedicated air service: Ideal for mixed food parcels, from $16/kg, with an average transit time of 7–12 business days.
• ePacket: If you are only sending a small pack of dried shrimp with a few personal gifts under 2 kg, ePacket from just $8.50 CAD per parcel is a very economical and convenient choice.

5. Track your order and receive it in Canada

After shipping, you’ll receive a tracking number to check online. You can follow your dried shrimp from the warehouse in Vietnam to delivery in any Canadian province, with automatic updates by email or Zalo.

Before shipping, contact Soleil Transportation on +1 888-998-5199 or at info@soleiltransportation.com so our staff can check that your dried shrimp is packed to standard and your shipment goes as smoothly as possible.

Many families in Canada who miss the taste of home ask relatives to send a few jars of pickled shallots, pickled mustard greens or sweet and sour pickled eggplant. However, food is a very sensitive category for air shipping. Pickles keep fermenting and producing gas in transit. When cabin pressure changes, ordinary plastic jars easily swell, pop their lids and leak brine onto surrounding parcels, which can lead the airline to refuse or destroy them.

To make sure your taste of home arrives intact, you need to know how to pack against leaks and choose the right shipping service.

Comparing costs for shipping food to Canada

Depending on the weight and your needs, Soleil Transportation offers air shipping solutions from Vietnam to Canada with delivery to the recipient at very competitive prices.

Note: Prices include import duties in Canada. Packing in a standard carton is free.

3 steps to pack pickles so the lids don’t pop

To keep jars of pickled shallots and eggplant from leaking in flight, senders in Vietnam should use this three-layer packing method:

Step 1: Pour off some liquid and choose a strong jar

• Don’t fill the brine right up to the rim. Leave a 3–4 cm gap so the gas has room to expand.
• Use rigid, purpose-made plastic jars with tight screw caps. Avoid cheap, thin plastic jars that dent easily.

Step 2: Wrap with cling film and seal with tape

• Wrap cling film tightly over the mouth of the jar at least 5 times before screwing on the lid.
• After tightening the lid, tape it firmly around the lid and neck with wide tape so it can’t unscrew when shaken.

Step 3: Double vacuum-seal and add cushioning

• Put each jar in a heavy-duty vacuum bag and seal it. If any brine leaks, it stays inside the plastic bag instead of soaking through the carton.
• When packing the carton, line it with bubble wrap so the jars don’t knock against each other.

Canadian customs rules on bringing food into the country

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) controls imported food very closely to protect biosecurity.

• Ingredients: Food must not contain meat, eggs, dairy or other ingredients from land animals. Pickled shallots, mustard greens and eggplant are purely vegetable, so they clear customs more easily.
• Labels: For homemade products, write the product name in English or French on the outside of the vacuum bag so inspectors can easily identify it.
• Import duties: With Soleil Transportation’s dedicated service, the rate from $16/kg includes all import duties, so the recipient in Canada simply waits for door delivery with no hidden costs.

Tracking and receiving your parcel in Canada

Once shipped, both sender and recipient can track the parcel online with the order or booking number. Status updates are also sent automatically by email, SMS or Zalo.

After about 7 to 12 business days, the parcel is delivered in Canada. In Toronto, Mississauga and nearby Ontario, you can choose to collect it from the Soleil Transportation warehouse at a time that suits you.

• Canadian warehouse address: 2446 Cawthra Road, B1U8, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5A 3K6
• Flexible payment: The recipient in Canada can pay by Interac e-Transfer, credit card or cash, or the sender in Vietnam can pay by bank transfer.

For more advice on which foods you can send and an accurate quote for your parcel, call our toll-free line +1 888-998-5199 or email the details to info@soleiltransportation.com and our team will help you as quickly as possible.

This article shows you how to prepare, pack and declare cleaned bird’s nest so your shipment goes smoothly.

Canada’s rules on importing bird’s nest for personal use

To bring or send bird’s nest into Canada as a personal gift, the product must meet strict disease-safety standards:

• Only fully cleaned bird’s nest is accepted: The nest must be cleaned of feathers, dirt and organic matter. Raw nests with feathers are strictly prohibited because of the risk of carrying avian influenza.
• Commercially packaged with clear labels: Bird’s nest should be in the packaging of a reputable producer, with the brand, expiry date and ingredients clearly stated in English or French. This makes it easy for customs officers to verify its origin.
• Non-commercial purpose: The parcel must clearly be a personal gift, in a modest quantity, not for resale.

How to pack bird’s nest so it doesn’t break in air transit

Bird’s nest is very brittle and can crumble under pressure during loading and air transport. To keep each nest whole, pack it as follows:

Step 1: Protect each nest

Place each nest in a moulded plastic tray or wrap it in a thin layer of food-grade PE cling film. This stops the nests knocking against each other and chipping.

Step 2: Use a foam box or rigid plastic box

Put the wrapped nests inside a purpose-made plastic box or a small foam box. Fill the gaps with medical cotton wool or packing peanuts so the nests can’t move when the box is shaken.

Step 3: Pack in an outer carton

Put the plastic boxes inside a sturdy carton. Soleil Transportation’s shipping service to Canada includes basic packing in a standard carton for maximum protection.

How to declare it accurately so it isn’t held

The declaration is the most important step in getting your parcel cleared. Even a small mistake in describing the goods can make customs suspicious and hold the parcel for inspection.

• Describe it in detail and honestly: On the customs declaration, don’t write a vague “food” or “gift”. Write in English: “Cleaned Edible Bird’s Nest (For personal consumption/Gift)”.
• Declare the real value: Don’t declare a value far below what the bird’s nest is really worth, because Canadian customs checks values very closely. A false value can lead to administrative fines for fraud.

Send bird’s nest safely to Canada with Soleil Transportation

If you are still worried about complicated paperwork or your goods being lost or damaged, let Soleil Transportation help. We offer fast, professional two-way Vietnam–Canada air shipping.

• Great rates: Air shipping from Vietnam to Canada with door delivery from just $16/kg. For small gift parcels, you can choose ePacket from just $8.50 CAD per parcel.
• Fast transit: Just 7–14 days from Vietnam to the recipient in Canada (7–12 business days on average, depending on the location).
• Import duties included: Soleil Transportation’s Vietnam–Canada service includes import duties, so the recipient in Canada doesn’t need to worry about extra charges on delivery.
• Easy tracking: Track your order online anytime with your order or booking number. The system sends automatic status updates by email, SMS or Zalo for complete peace of mind.

Before packing bird’s nest to send, contact us on +1 888-998-5199 or email info@soleiltransportation.com. The Soleil Transportation team at our Mississauga office (2446 Cawthra Road, B1U8, Mississauga, Ontario, L5A 3K6) is always ready to advise you on packing and to check whether your shipment meets Canada’s latest customs requirements.

To make sure your parcel clears customs smoothly, here is a professional packing and odour-control process you can do at home before bringing your goods to the Soleil Transportation warehouse.

Step 1: Select and fully dry the food

The most common reason dried squid goes mouldy or smells strongly during a 7–14 day journey is that it is still damp. Packed in a sealed box and exposed to temperature changes in the aircraft hold, the moisture escapes, mould grows and a very unpleasant smell develops.

• Check the moisture: Before packing, dry the squid or fish again in strong sun for about 1–2 hours. Make sure it is completely dry and not sticky to the touch.
• Remove sharp edges: Hard tentacles and sharp fish bones can easily pierce plastic bags in transit. Trim the sharpest parts with scissors or wrap them in soft wax paper before bagging.

Step 2: Double vacuum-seal in heavy-duty bags

Vacuum-sealing is a must when shipping dried squid to Canada. It not only keeps the food from spoiling but also stops the smell escaping.

• Use thick PA/PE bags: Avoid ordinary thin plastic bags. Choose thick, purpose-made vacuum bags that resist tearing.
• First vacuum layer: Put the squid in the bag, flatten it, remove all the air and heat-seal the bag.
• Clean the surface: After the first layer, wipe the outside of the bag with a cloth dampened with alcohol or warm water to remove any squid powder or odour picked up while handling.
• Second vacuum layer: Put the sealed bag inside a larger bag and vacuum-seal again. This double layer is a very strong shield that stops odour molecules leaking.

Step 3: Wrap in newspaper and cling film

Many people think vacuum-sealing alone is enough, but temperatures in the hold can make the plastic expand. An outer protective layer is therefore essential.

• Wrap in newspaper or kraft paper: Wrap 2 to 3 layers of newspaper around each vacuum-sealed bag. Newspaper absorbs moisture very well if the temperature changes suddenly and reduces friction between bags.
• Wrap in PE stretch film: Wrap stretch film tightly 3–5 times around the newspaper. This holds the package together and locks in the smell once more.

Step 4: Pack in a sturdy carton and seal every gap

The final step is packing the goods in a box ready to ship. Soleil Transportation offers free basic packing in a carton for customers shipping to Canada.

• Pack neatly: Lay the squid packs flat at the bottom of the box so no sharp corners press into each other. Fill any remaining space with bubble wrap or shredded paper so nothing moves in transit.
• Seal every seam: Use wide tape to seal all seams, edges and corners of the carton. This stops outside air getting in and odours getting out.

Important notes when shipping dried squid to Canada

Besides packing, keep these rules in mind so your shipment goes smoothly:

• Clear labels: Dried squid should be labelled with its expiry date and origin. Homemade products without labels can still be sent, but customs will inspect them more closely.
• Declare honestly: Never hide dried squid under clothing or other items without declaring it. A clear declaration means your order is classified and processed correctly.
• Cargo insurance: For high-value shipments of dried squid, consider buying extra shipping insurance so you are properly compensated if something goes wrong.

Soleil Transportation offers two-way Vietnam–Canada air shipping with door delivery from just $16/kg. Average transit time is 7–12 business days depending on the location, so your dried squid reaches the recipient in Canada in good condition without spoiling or expiring.

Before gathering dried squid or other dried seafood to ship to Canada, contact the Soleil Transportation team on +1 888-998-5199 or at info@soleiltransportation.com. We will advise you on the latest customs rules at the time of shipping and show you exactly how to prepare your goods.

Why do liquid seasonings break or leak in flight?

Unlike road transport, air cargo goes through constant changes in pressure and temperature as the aircraft takes off and lands.

When air pressure drops, the air inside plastic bottles or glass jars expands. If the cap isn’t sealed properly or the bottle is too thin, the pressure from inside can pop the cap off or crack the bottle. Loading and sorting at transit warehouses also cause repeated knocks. If bottles are packed close together without cushioning, breakage is hard to avoid.

How to pack fermented sauces and liquid seasonings for air freight

To ship liquid and paste foods to Canada safely, follow this 4-step packing process strictly:

Step 1: Choose the right bottle and secure the cap

• Avoid glass wherever possible. Decant sauces and liquid seasonings into thick, flexible PET plastic bottles.
• Don’t fill fish sauce or seasonings right up to the neck. Leave a gap of about 3–5 cm between the liquid and the cap so the air has room to expand when the pressure changes.
• Wrap plumber’s thread seal tape around the thread of the bottle neck before screwing the cap on tightly. Then wrap several rounds of wide tape over the outside of the cap to hold it in place.

Step 2: Shrink wrap and seal in zip bags

• Wrap the whole bottle at least 3 times in heat-shrink film or cling film.
• Put each bottle in its own sealed zip bag. If it leaks, the sauce stays inside the bag instead of soaking through the carton and damaging other items.

Step 3: Add shock-absorbing padding

• Wrap each bottle separately in 2 to 3 layers of bubble wrap.
• When packing the carton, don’t let bottles touch each other directly. Separate them with foam, packing peanuts or honeycomb cardboard.
• Fill every gap in the box. When you shake it gently, there should be no rattling and nothing should move.

Step 4: Seal the carton and add warning labels

• Use a sturdy 5-ply carton.
• Reinforce every edge and corner of the box with tape.
• Add “Fragile” or “This Side Up” labels on the outside so handlers take care during transit.

At Soleil Transportation, we check and pack parcels to Canada in a basic carton for free. However, for special items such as fermented sauces and liquids, customers should pack them carefully from the start following the guide above, or contact us in advance for specialist bubble wrapping at a small surcharge.

What to do if fish sauce breaks or leaks

Even with careful packing, there is still a small risk because of factors beyond anyone’s control on the long 7 to 14 day journey from Vietnam to Canada. If you receive a parcel in Canada and notice signs of leaking, follow these steps:

Step 1: Leave everything as it is and record evidence

As soon as you see that the box is wet, smells unusual or is dented, don’t rush to open it without recording.

• Take clear photos of the whole box showing dents, tears or liquid stains.
• Film yourself opening the box, showing which bottles broke, how much was lost and how the other items in the box were affected.

Step 2: Separate the affected goods

• Quickly remove the leaking bottles so the sauce doesn’t keep soaking into clothing, books or other dried foods in the same box.
• Wipe the intact bottles with a damp cloth, dry them and store them somewhere cool and airy.

Step 3: Contact the carrier immediately

Send all your photos, the unboxing video and your order (or booking) number to Soleil Transportation customer care at info@soleiltransportation.com or on +1 888-998-5199.

Note that for food items, insurance usually doesn’t pay out automatically unless you arranged extra cargo insurance in advance. However, we always do our best to review the handling process with you, identify the cause and offer the best possible support when an order is unlucky enough to have a problem.

Important notes when shipping food to Canada

• CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) rules: All food sent to Canada must be clearly declared. Seafood-based sauces are usually accepted more easily than products containing pork, beef or chicken, which are tightly controlled because of disease concerns.
• Shipping rates: Soleil Transportation’s air shipping from Vietnam to Canada starts at $16/kg (import duties included). Small parcels and gifts sent by ePacket start at just $8.50 CAD per parcel.
• Delivery time: Average transit time from Vietnam to Canada is 7 to 12 business days, depending on the delivery address in Canada.

Before sending any fermented sauce or liquid seasoning, call Soleil Transportation on +1 888-998-5199 or bring your goods to our warehouse at 2446 Cawthra Road, B1U8, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5A 3K6. Our staff will check whether the item is currently allowed into Canada, so it isn’t confiscated or destroyed at the border.