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Update to Import Restrictions - United States

Effective June 29, 2006, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has expanded access under its import regulations to allow for a range of U.S. animals and their products and by-products that have been prohibited since a case of BSE was detected in Washington State in December 2003.

The current prohibition regulation which prevents the introduction into Canada of U.S. animals or products that would pose a risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) was due to expire on June 30, 2006.

The CFIA has determined that it is appropriate to replace this regulation with a new one which further narrows the prohibitions but continues to prohibit those commodities that are still considered to pose a risk at this time.

Examples of prohibited commodities:

Live animals and genetic material

• Animals of the sub-family Bovinae, such as cattle, bison, water buffalo and their exotic relatives, born before January 1, 1999* as well as animals of the species Capra hircus (domestic goats) and Ovis aries (domestic sheep).

Meat products for human consumption

• Meat products and anything containing meat products derived from animals of the sub-family Bovinae if the animals were slaughtered by a process other than a BSE-slaughter process or the Bovinae specified risk material (SRM) was not removed from the carcasses of the animals.*
• Meat products derived from animals of the species Capra hircus or Ovis aries aged 12 months or older and anything containing those meat products.

Miscellaneous animal products and by-products

• Ingredients derived from ruminants for use in animal food and animal food containing those ingredients.
• Ingredients, other than manure, derived from ruminants to be used in fertilizer and fertilizer containing those ingredients.
• SRM from the animals of the family Bovinae (e.g. brain of cattle and bison).

Examples of exempted commodities:

Live animals and genetic material

• Bucks, bulls and rams that are destined for animal semen production centres.
• Cattle imported for immediate slaughter.
• Animals for temporary stay (maximum of 30 days).
• Animals and things derived from them imported for medical use, scientific research or zoological collections.
• Sheep and goats under 12 months of age imported for immediate slaughter or feeding for slaughter.

Meat products for human consumption

• Meat products originating in Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Uruguay, Canada or Brazil that are eligible for importation into Canada and that are processed in the U.S.
• Edible and inedible beef liver.
• Goat and sheep meat products from animals younger than 12 months of age.
• Meat products originating in Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Uruguay, or Brazil that are in transit in the U.S. and that are eligible for importation into Canada.
• Meat products that are kept on a ship as ships stores.
• Meat products intended to be used for personal consumption (less than five kilograms in total).
• Milk and milk derivatives.
• Meat products to be transported to a community in the United States where the only practical transportation route for the Meat products is either a land or water route through Canada as determined by the CFIA.
• Meat products to be transported non-stop in Canada and to be delivered to a cruise ship for use as ships' stores.
• Food containing meat products in insignificant quantity.

Miscellaneous animal products and by-products

• Products of a rendering plant imported into Canada under an import permit.
• Hides and skins to be used as raw material for manufacturing products for human consumption if the hides or skins do not come from the head of the animal.*
• Hides and skins that are not for human consumption and their derivatives, such as gelatin and collagen, are allowed without additional conditions.
• Wool and its derivatives.*
• Pet chews (not containing Bovinae specified risk materials (SRM) or vertebral column).
• Protein-free tallow.
• Household garbage from the U.S. containing animal protein.
• Aircraft garbage and ships’ refuse.
• Commercially prepared pet food that does not contain ingredients derived from Bovinae.
• Commercially prepared pet food that contains ingredients derived from Bovinae if the ingredients are not derived from Bovinae SRM, or that originates from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, New Zealand or Uruguay.
• Things from bones and tissue (not SRM from animals of the sub-family Bovinae) subjected to rigorous processes of extraction and purification.
• Non protein-free tallow and derivatives.
• Dicalcium phosphate containing protein or fat.*

N.B.: Cervidae, Camelidae, Giraffidae, Tragulidae and Antilocapridae and things derived therefrom are not included in the Prohibitions Regulations.

* Indicates changes from the March 29, 2005 prohibitions.