Bringing Chemicals into Canada

I have looked at the government site but it's worse than reading ... stereo instructions? a d-cam manual? ;-)

Anyway, I'm planning my move back to Canada later in the year and I've been contemplating what will come with me, and what has to stay behind. I think I'll be able to use up most of my photographic paper and normal chemicals (developer, stop, fix), but I have some raw chemicals in powdered form, as well as toners (not powdered), and I'd like to know if I will have any problems trying to bring them into Canada (they'd be shipped separately). I would prefer to keep them if possible, rather than have to toss them (or give them away), but I don't want any problems with Customs or Health and Safety so... I'm not asking for legal advice here, I just want to know what people's experiences are in this matter so I can figure out what I need to do.

rachelle

Just drive it through. I have several times. Once (in 2006) they asked and I offered to show them. Nothing. Waved me through.

Regards, Art.

Unless you have some freakish chemicals, you should be fine. Some chemicals cannot be mailed into Canada (e.g. hydroquinone) but it's certainly acceptable to bring them with you.

I think the drive from France might be soggy -))

You're best bet is to ask the shipper. When I went the other way I got the impression they have a serious problem with liquids of any sort. Batteries were also a problem.

Powders they couldn't care less about.

Nick Zentena said:

I think the drive from France might be soggy -))

Click to expand...

Doh! Nevermind then. I remember some dude posting something about listening to non-photographic advice on a photographic forum ...

Regards, Art.

I had a cousin who brought some chemicals over once, he spent 2 years in prison...different kind of chemcials I guess

LOL! Not those kinds of chemicals.... ;-)

It's just small normal stuff, like ferri (powder) and toners like sepia (liquid), for example. My plan was to ship them back with the rest of my stuff through air cargo - I guess I'll need to speak to the cargo guys about the details.

That being said, if there's anything here in Europe (papers, other chemicals) that I should stock up on before heading back to the Great White North, I'd appreciate any thoughts on the matter, since this would be the opportune time to buy things in euros (with euros) and not have to pay exorbitant shipping fees. Cheers.

Air cargo? Have you priced this? Unless it's a Canadian forces flight I'm not sure air cargo will make $$ $ sense.

Air cargo is a lot a cheaper than sending by post!! (I learned the hard way moving from Japan). And it's a lot cheaper than what the airlines charge for 'excess weight' (although it depends on the airline). Considering I'll have 100+ kg of stuff to send home (books, clothes, photo stuff, etc) it's much more economical for me.

PhotoJim said:

Unless you have some freakish chemicals, you should be fine. Some chemicals cannot be mailed into Canada (e.g. hydroquinone) but it's certainly acceptable to bring them with you.

Click to expand...

I've never had my Ansco 130 (metol+HQ+glycin) being seized at customs when I got USPS delivery from Photographer's Formulary. So far, I guess.

Rachelle,

I buy chemicals from Photo Formulary in Montana regularly, and other than a couple of things that they say they can't ship by air (typically liquids), everything (particularly dry chemicals) can be shipped by UPS (god forbid), or post without a problem.

I don't think I'd be particularly worried about shipping (particularly dry chemicals) by air cargo, or mailed separately. They're probably the items of least concern to those customs/border people ...

Oh, and welcome back ....

Rachelle,

Whereabouts are you moving back to? You sure are the globetrotter! Good for you.

Hi Kate,

At the moment the plan is spend some time with my folks in the wilds of the Manitoba Interlake (I just turned down a nice job offer from the UAE). I'm a bit disillusioned with teaching and think I need to reconsider what I want to do with my life. I don't necessarily want to give up teaching, and I love being able to live abroad, but it's a very insecure profession based on one-year contracts (in Canada it's worse -- four month contracts usually and absolutely no benefits). I'd love to be able to do something photographically speaking, but that seems even more insecure than teaching so I'm not sure what I'll do. In the meantime I'm already planning the darkroom that I want my dad to build for me when I get home. (I'm sure that'll go over well) ;-)

BTW Kate -- I noticed a nice gorilla on the package of my Ilford 8x10 pearl paper -- is that yours?

Rachelle,

Well if you ever make it out west here to Vancouver Island you have a place to stay! Hope your dad builds you a nice darkroom. You're right about teaching, it can be very insecure in this country. I went to visit a friend of mine who was teaching in China a couple of years ago and they get one year contracts as well and then they have re-negotiate their next year's contract.
Yes, the gorilla photo is mine. I entered an Ilford Image on a Box Competition a couple of years ago and I won 2nd place and my photo on the Pearl MG 100 sheet box. It was a huge thrill for me as I have used Ilford products for years plus I received about $500 Canadian worth of Ilford products. I still have some film and paper I'm using so it was very sweet. Ilford also gave me 2 boxes of the MG Pearl 100 sheets with my photo on it because I couldn't get it where I live! The bonus was the boxes were full of wonderful paper!!!