Canada and USA Rules on Importing Wine and Alcohol

Moving a wine collection across provincial, state or international borders is not a simple task. Federal liquor laws were first passed 80 years ago during the end of prohibition, so allowances for NAFTA and other trade agreements are not originally built into the legal structure. The general public is allowed to import Wine and other forms of alcohol for personal use under strict rules. It is illegal to sell wine out of province or country without a valid license and approval by each province / state liquor authority. Each province / state has their own unique set of rules, restrictions, and duties applied to the importation of alcoholic beverages. For example, Ontario allows 1.5 liters of wine to be imported for personal use duty-free after being out of country for 48 hours, or if taking up residency. Any wine imported above this limit will be subject to various duties and taxes. The CBSA has the legal authority to collect taxes and duties at the border. However, when moving with a bonded carrier such as abbeyWood your household shipment typically clears customs at an inland port such as STREAM in Mississauga, Ontario. The Majority of the charges are actually markups set by the liquor board. If the amounts are not paid the product will likely be confiscated (section 19 of the Liquor Distribution Act). New settlers taking up residency in Canada are typically allowed 1.5 liters of wine or 1.14 liters of alcoholic beverages or up to 8.5 liters of beer. Check with the appropriate provincial or territorial liquor control authority in advance of your arrival in Canada to find out the current restrictions and applicable tariffs.

Importing Wine into Canada
(Returning Residences over 1 year, Immigrants, Work Permits)

When moving into Canada your household shipment is entering under the designation of personal effects not for resale. Your wine or alcohol collection is part of this shipment but will be subject to duties, taxes or other service fees. In Ontario an Import Permit is required for any alcohol above:
• 1.5 liters of wine; or
• a total of 1.14 liters of alcoholic beverages; or
• Up to a maximum of 8.5 liters of beer or ale.
The Ontario Import permit is applied for and obtained prior to entering the country. It is typically mailed in and covers taxation at a provincial level only. Federal tax may still be applicable.
For Ontario, all alcohol imported with household effects:

-must be reported on the Permit of Application, and
-must not exceed: 120 bottles of spirits that are 750ml, 1L or 1.14L and 1200 bottles of wine that are 750 ml or 1L in size, and
-must have been owned, possessed, and used by you for at least six months before your return to Canada, if you have lived outside Canada less than five years, and
-must have been owned, possessed, and used by you before your return to Canada, if you have lived outside Canada five or more years, and
-must be imported from the same place you are returning to Canada from
Source: LCBO 2254

Check with the appropriate provincial or territorial liquor control authority in advance of your arrival in Canada as the levy varies per province.

Importing Wine into Canada
(For personal use, and when not moving)
Alcohol above the duty-free limit can still be imported into Canada, but taxation will occur. Residences are allowed to import alcohol for personal use, and different rates apply if they accompanied or unaccompanied across the border.

Ontario Alcohol Importation Requirements:
• Be an Ontario resident 19 years of age or older;
• Be bringing products back for personal use only;
• Returning residents are not exceed a total of 45-litres of beverage alcohol (any combination of wine, spirits or beer);
• Have all proof-of-purchase documentation including sales and credit card receipts ready to present to Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) officials when you are going through Customs;
• Pay all applicable import and excise duties, taxes and levies as detailed below.

As the second chart illustrates it is possible to have alcohol for personal consumption shipped back to your residence in Ontario unaccompanied but it is more expensive. You MUST use a freight carrier and not a postal service to transport the alcohol. LCBO will appoint a customs broker such as UPS Supply Chain Solutions and calculate the applicable taxes, duties, levies and broker fees. It is up to the shipper to make sure all requirements are met and documentation is fully completed. It is also the shipper’s responsibility to pay any additional storage, or service charges incurred.
When making a direct shipment you must:
• Be an Ontario resident 19 years of age or older;
• Be importing products for personal use only;
• Not exceed a total of 45-litres of beverage alcohol (any combination of wine, spirits or beer);
• Provide documentation indicating the value of your shipment (supplier invoices, etc.) along with proof of payment (typically a credit card receipt).
In addition, the shipment must:
• Be consigned to the LCBO c/o yourself on the shipment manifest or bill of lading;
• Be clearly marked as beverage alcohol on all transport and customs documentation;
• Not include any non-alcohol items, just beverage alcohol;
• Be accompanied by a completed Canada Customs Invoice (CCI) indicating the brand name(s), vintage if applicable, alcohol by volume, format, quantity and accurate valuation (as noted above). CCIs are available by clicking here.
Please see the CBSA website for current rates, and restrictions per province. Click here to view the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act (Canada).
Bringing Wine into United States

Importing Wine and Alcohol to United States
In contrast the United States allows 1 litre of wine duty-free but the taxes and duties over the limits are considerably lower. See the U.S. CBP site for info. You will have to pay duties and taxes for any additional alcohol based on the state law you plan to reside in. Often these taxes and duties are not charged at the border due to the CBP being concerned mainly with federal law. For many people moving to the USA this is a blessing because your household shipment clears at the border, and not an inland port. Individual state laws are typically enforced by the local state departments.

Toronto Bed Bugs Registry. Search 2270 Compaints within Yahoo! Maps

Ever wondering if the building you’re moving into has a problem with bed bugs? Well the Folks at The Bed Bug Registry made a free public database where users can submit reports about Bed Bug outbreaks. It is all displayed in a neat Yahoo! Map and complaints show up as dots in the appropriate location. An alternative method for searching allows you to type in an address and view the results. Beware that the site does have some technical bugs of its own, and reports may be false. Either way we are happy to see a new way to keep track of this growing problem.

Tip:
Click City Maps then Toronto for the reports to appear on the map. Simply searching Toronto from the main page will not display the report on Yahoo! Maps. I’m sure they will fix that flaw at some point.

take a look

Moving & Storing Oriental Rugs / Persian Rugs

Those of us who are lucky enough to own handmade oriental rugs truly know the presence they bring to a room. The charming pieces of décor are as beautiful as they are delicate. We at abbeyWood Moving & Storage Toronto would like to extend our knowledge and expertise in storing oriental rugs and provide a few simple tips in rug maintenance.
Authentic, handmade oriental rugs require special care. It is especially true for antiques. The best way to move and store an oriental rug is flat. Since rugs are very large and flimsy it is almost impossible to accomplish this. When the rug is too large the correct method to move or store a rug is by rolling the rug tight enough to hold but loose enough to prevent creases. I have personally been on moves where customers have insisted on folding their antique rugs. This is a bad technique because the bends can weaken the foundation and break it if brittle. Over time the bends will cause creases. Creases can be rubbed by hand or ironed out with the cotton/wool setting. To find the correct direction to press the crease out, rub your hand across the pile towards the fringe, you will feel smooth one way, and roughness the opposite. Always iron the rug in its original direction and not against it. Another simple technique is to gently pull one end of the rug overtop towards the other in the direction of the pile, a shake or two can help in removing creases.

Pile in or Pile out when rolling? First Consider: the condition of pile, if it is knotted, silk or fragile, foundation condition, are there splits or breaks? Is it brittle? These factors will help you decide which side to roll inwards. The pile is generally more vulnerable than the foundation, so in most circumstances we roll rugs with the pile facing inwards. If the foundation is weak or if a lining has been sewn in we may reverse this. Lining will always wrinkle so it is better to have that wrinkle than the pile wrinkle. Be sure to roll in the direction of the pile instead of against the pile to prevent abrading the pile and stressing knots. Rolling around a support tube is recommended. Acid-free archival tubes are the best of choice and are used in museums and galleries alike. The tubing is expensive and runs about $2.00 per foot. A more common technique is to get a 3” cardboard rug tube and cover it with acid free paper such as Tyvek. By using plastic or tough synthetic paper such as “Tyvek’ the rug is protected from acidic chemicals, insects, and moisture. Do not use Traditional newspaper as it often contains acidic chemicals. Getting he roll started is often difficult if done alone and lining it up perfect can be challenging. Take excess paper and tape it to the roll to provide a guide. This way when you roll it will catch under the paper and also line up straight. The perfect material to finish off your roll is a layer of muslin. It is a good dust and light barrier that will not harm your rug. Place the muslin near the end of the carpet so when you roll it hooks in. the muslin should be long enough to wrap around the carpet 2-3 times and fold into the tubing from the edges. Many Museums now use clear polyethylene instead of muslin because it adds flood water and insect protection. When storing oriental rugs for more than a few months it is advised to have them professionally cleaned, and sprayed with insecticides. It is also recommended to obtain an appraisal so that professional movers have the item covered under their transit protection plan.
Post Move Tips:
-Try to keep the rug out of sunlight. Rotate your rug every season to allow even fading from light. It also ensures that the rug receives even wear from traffic.
-Repair any damage before the problem spreads. Have a specialist re-fringe, over-round, or reweave your rug to maintain its appearance.
-Place pads or cushion underneath to protect from wear and tear. Thin rugs benefit greatly from the added protection.
-Vacuum both sides push and pull over the entire rug except the fringes. Be gentle to apply enough force to clean, but not damage. If the vacuum has a rotating beater brush it can damage the rug.
-Clean spills immediately. Do not use soap or bleach. Spotless Turkish towels and club soda work wonders.
-If the fringe needs straightening flip it end over end by grabbing one side and walking it to the other. Do not use a comb. When the rug is upside-down the fringe usually straightens out. A shake or two may help straighten the fringe.
-Deep-cleaning and insect sprays will prolong the lifespan of your rug. Once every year or two is recommended
-Always keep your rug dry

Turco-Persian Rug Co. Ltd. is a great local GTA business that can offer cleaning, repair, and appraisal services in addition to rug sales.
Rolled rugs at abbeyWoods warehouse are placed into dedicated carpet storage

GAP reopening at Toronto's Eatons Center

For the past several months abbeyWood has been storing, delivering and unpacking new product and fixtures for the newly renovated GAP store at the Toronto Eaton's Center. We had to combine various shipments from countless vendors for one lucky stores facelift. 25 people and 5 trucks later the product was all delivered Monday night. Expect a fabulous grand reopening on Thursday November 17th. There will be a 40% off sale and a professional photographer on hand this weekend to take free modeling photographs. Sorry we have no photos of a sneak peak, you will have to come and see it for yoruself. Be sure to check out the beautifully renovated Baby GAP, Gap Kids, and adult store next time your at the Toronto Eaton’s center. And yes, we moved everything in from the light bulbs to the tables.

This Halloween's Monster job/house

This Halloween definitely proved to be a "trick or treat" for our movers. We spent several days delivering custom windows to this gigantic house under construction on the Bridle Path. We knew we had a long day ahead of us as we loaded our trucks, but when we arrived it sure was a surprise!

A few days rest and were back at it again.

We Want It! - City of Toronto Recycling Program

Funny video about where to take your unwanted electronics and other e-waste.

for more videos see thecityoftoronto youtube channel

Please visit our website

Moving Tips for IKEA furniture

I have just installed a very beautiful IKEA wall lamp. While browsing the store I could not help but noticed everything is sold and shipped in flat boxes. However, I have not been on a single move when the IKEA furniture is packed back into a box. To be honest, the IKEA furniture does not always make it to the other end. Its the risk we take. The problem with moving IKEA furniture is a great percentage are made from inexpensive particleboard and fastened together with dowels & a quarter turn from a single locking nut.



Particleboard breaks very easily, and can cause a critical connecting bolt to break loose. Similarly, a simple quarter turn can easily unwind with a few bumps and vibrations.

Before you move your IKEA furniture consider these few tips:



1)Lean gently on the item, if it looks sturdy enough to tip over and carry sideways without loosing its shape you might not have to disassemble. if the item sways heavily, or has to travel a great distance consider disassembling. Vibrations and bumps from moving will loosen the joints and make the piece vulnerable.



2)Place scotch/painters tape over any nuts or screws held on with less than one full 360 degree rotation. If the nut is fastened with a quarter turn, it will likely fall off and never be found.



3) If you choose to disassemble, take a picture, or find a copy of the installation manuals we always throw out. a picture is worth a 1000 words and it will save you a considerable amount of time reassembling. Mark corners with tape and mark numbers or letters to corresponding sides for easy reassembly.



4) Wrap the IKEA furniture tight with moving blankets, tape and stretch-wrap if available. this will keep the unit tight and in its intended form.



Good Luck!