What food or goods must I declare at customs?

How the answer differs across 5 jurisdictions

The Short Answer

Yes, you must declare all goods you bring into Canada — there are no exceptions for personal items or low-value purchases.

100% required
All goods must be declared
$500 limit
Duty-free exemption per person
72 hours
Time to report undeclared goods
Seizure risk
Penalty for non-declaration
AustraliaFull article
The Short Answer

Yes, you can be penalised for failing to pay customs duty, even if you weren’t told about it — ignorance of the law is not a defence under Australian customs law.

$440
Maximum penalty per offence
4 years
Max imprisonment
60 days
Duty payment deadline
100%
Penalty uplift for concealment
SingaporeFull article
The Short Answer

Yes, you must declare all dutiable and prohibited goods when returning to Singapore, regardless of whether you are a citizen or visitor.

S$500
Customs duty threshold
100g
Cigarette limit
2L
Alcohol limit
24h
Reporting window
US FederalFull article
The Short Answer

Yes, you must declare all items you purchased abroad when returning to the U.S., including gifts and items for others — but you may qualify for a $800 duty-free exemption if you’re a U.S. resident returning after at least 48 hours.

$800
Duty-free allowance
48 hours
Minimum abroad stay
19 U.S.C. § 150
Appraisement statute
All items
Must be declared
The Short Answer

Yes, exaggerated travel ads in Japan are regulated under the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, which prohibits misleading claims about price, quality, or performance.

¥3 million
Max fine
1 year
Max imprisonment
Act No. 134
Statute number
2022 amend
Latest revision

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Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: June 2026.