Kaye5

Can't find much about this, except clean it off garden tools etc.

What have others done with "soil soiled" items - gone through the scrubbing and disinfecting and taken them, or not bothered.

Has anyone been pulled up for having traces of soil on shipped goods?

There's a strong chance that many of our household goods might have traces of soil - we live in a farm cottage and it's a bit of an occupational hazard where we live (step out of the door and likely there'll be soil brought back in, wiped on walls, furniture, etc - especially from boys and dog - and transferred to clothing from muddy cars) and it will be on every item of footwear, some outdoor jackets etc.

Not sure how stringently this is applied.

Of course we will clean what we can, but I strongly suspect something will slip through the net.

Geordie Lass

We were told to clean everything that had been outside with Jeyes fluid so I did. Our container didn't get stopped so we were fine. I think you hit problems if your container gets a random search and you haven't done it. I would clean your boots if I were you. I cleaned our bikes and lawnmower and kids slide etc.

Former Lancastrian

The only advice I can give you is clean everything that might have traces of soil. If your shipment is selected for examination and soil is found then be prepared for several headaches and perhaps a costly examination if items need to be disinfected.
If not selected for examination then no headaches or costly examinations.
Obviously you will never know if your shipment will be selected for examination as this will be at the discretion of CBSA based on risk and the type goods being imported.

kirstyp

I would strongly advice cleaning traces of soil from any items you are shipping. In 2011 the CBSA really cracked down on their procedure re: goods contaminated with soil, and like the other replies have said it is NOT worth the headache and potential additional costs if your non-compliant goods are refused entry (requiring either removal, disposal or cleaning).

R I C H

I think the question is: why wouldn't you clean everything thoroughly, in order to minimize the likelihood of shipping delays and costs?

I wire brushed, pressure washed, jeyes fluid cleaned and in some instanced re-sprayed tools, garden equipment and outdoor items. It was time consuming and tedious, but why give CBSA any reason to delay your container's delivery?

rivingtonpike

I did the same thing. I also painted the blades of spades and garden forks with black Hammerite paint to be on the safe side. Not sure if I was over the top but we didn't incur any additional costs due to contamination.

Kaye5

Thanks guys for your replies.

There is no intention not to clean items. Quite the opposite - I suspect I will be cleaning like some paranoid madwoman.

But from my experience of moving many times, removal guys do not stop to check items for cleanliness before packing them in the boxes/van.

Given the nature of where we live (the soil from the fields washes over onto the roads for much of the year and seems to attach itself to everything and everybody). It really is a losing battle. I would think there might be a smear of mud somewhere that might get missed.

For example, I spotted some mud splashes at the bottom of the sofa. Cleaned them off - within 24 hours I can guarantee they will be back, courtesy of the dog or one of the kids. That is the kind of inadvertent contamination I really mean - not failure to clean garden tools.

A lot of our possessions have seen better days, so I'm wondering if we might just junk anything at risk and take only the relatively "safe" stuff.

bats

That bit on the form when you come into Canada "are you visiting a farm" I said yes to that once...

FL Colleague: "Madam do your boots and shoes have mud on them?"
Me: "Do I look like the type of person who would have dirty boots?"

No boot inspection necessary which is good cos I am the type of person who would have dirty boots.

Alan2005

I just tick no to those questions whether it's true or not.

bats

I do now.

HGerchikov

So did I - and then the packers packed the dirty cloths I had used

Kaye5

Exactly!

My OH would do that too. Last time we moved I gave up on "help" and packed everything myself. Maybe that is the solution.

Former Lancastrian

Serious face now.
If travelling back from the UK or other country other than the USA I would seriously think about just ticking NO on the E311 card. What if the CBSA select you for exam and they find soil then this may come into play

7.
23(1)
(a) Hinder an inspector
Very serious
(b) Make a false or misleading statement to an inspector
Serious
8.
23(2)
(a) Fail to provide reasonable assistance to an inspector
Serious
(b) Fail to furnish an inspector with information
Serious

Those are offences under CFIA legislation as per this
http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/r...ge-5.html#h-12

Which leads to these penalties being imposed
5. (1) The amount of the penalty in respect of a violation that is committed by an individual otherwise than in the course of business and that is not committed to obtain a financial benefit is
(a) $500, for a minor violation;
(b) $800, for a serious violation; and
(c) $1300, for a very serious violation.

Oakvillian

But how could a CBSA inspector possibly know that that soil comes from a farm, rather than from the flower bed you tripped over on your way into the airport?

"have you been on a farm?"
"no."
"so where's this soil come from then?
"oh, I don't know. Perhaps I stepped in a muddy puddle."
"OK then, carry on, sorry to bother you."

Honestly, the whole nonsense that the CBSA and the CFIA put up about "soil contamination" is nothing more than a charade. Does anybody other than government officials really think that a bit of muck on the bottom of somebody's garden spade is going to wreck the potato harvest?

Alan2005

It's impossible to prove and just relies on the honour system. However because the CBSA can make it extremely inconvenient for you if you say 'yes' I bet most people just lie.