Animals > Imports > Policies / Procedures > Pet Imports  

Import of Pet Rabbits

The information on this page is current as of .

From the United States:

Domestic or pet rabbits imported from the United States must be presented to Canada Border Services Agency staff upon entry. The importation of pet rabbits does not require import permits or health certificates.

From countries other than the United States:

Canada has permit and quarantine requirements for the importation of domestic rabbits from countries other than the United States. To obtain detailed information about this process, you should contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) office in the province into which the rabbits will be imported. You will be required to complete and submit an Application for Permit to Import to the CFIA along with an originally signed declaration of the following:

You should apply for the import permit at least 30 days in advance of your proposed importation. CFIA staff will assist you with the process of arranging for the approval of Canadian quarantine premises. An import permit may be issued once the above information has been submitted and the quarantine premises has been approved. Fees are applicable when applying for an import permit, approval of a quarantine facility, and inspection of animals. The CFIA will advise you on the fees applicable to your particular situation.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

It is the owner's responsibility to determine whether the imported animals are subject to the international trade controls imposed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which are administered by the Canadian Wildlife Service. Please contact the Canadian Wildlife Service for information by telephone: (613) 997-1840; (819) 953-6283 or via their Web site to determine if the rabbits you wish to import require CITES import permits.

Automated Import Reference System (AIRS)

For all other rabbit importations, please refer to the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS). AIRS provides information on import requirements for all commodities regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Using a selection approach to the Harmonized System (HS) codes, origin, destination, end use, and other qualifiers, AIRS guides users to the information needed for the specific commodity being imported. The HS classification code for rabbits is: 01 06 19 2072.

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