Animals > Imports > Policies / Procedures  

Highly Processed Products

AHPD-IE-2001-8-3

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Commodity Characteristics

• are manufactured from ingredients of animal origin derived mammals or birds only
• in final packaging or in bulk
• submitted to various treatments, either chemical or physical
• commercially processed
• generally used in/for:
  • food industry
  • cosmetics
  • industry
  • pharmaceuticals (human)
  • laboratory use

(List to be updated regularly)

Note: For highly processed products of bovine origin from the United States, the Certain Ruminants and Their Products Importation Prohibition Regulations remain in effect until further notice.

Procedures

1. Highly processed products of any animal origin for industrial use or laboratory use, and highly processed products other than those of bovine origin for any other end use except livestock and poultry food (see animal food definition in Health of Animals Regulations):

• from any country
• clearly identified as such or as an ingredient

The shipment must be accompanied by a written declaration from the importer (dated, signed, and linked to the shipment being imported) indicating the species of origin and end-use of the product.

2. Highly processed products of bovine origin for human consumption, or as raw material for the preparation of pet food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, natural health products, medical devices, or veterinary biologics:

• from a country considered to be of negligible BSE-risk by the CFIA (category 1).

The shipment must be accompanied by an official veterinary export certificate clearly describing the product and specifying the country of origin:

• from a country considered to be of controlled or undetermined BSE-risk by the CFIA (category 2 or 3).

The shipment must be accompanied by an official veterinary export certificate from the country of origin stating that the product was not prepared using the following bovine Specified Risk Materials or any protein products derived from them:

• the skull including the brain, trigeminal ganglia and eyes, the spinal cord and the vertebral column (excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the transverse processes of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and the wings of the sacrum), from all animals aged 30 months or older;
• the small intestine and tonsils from animals of all ages.

In the case of gelatin and collagen prepared from hides and skins, from countries of category 2 and 3, the shipment must be accompanied by a written declaration from the importer (dated, signed, and linked to the shipment being imported) stating that (1) the gelatin or collagen was prepared exclusively from hides and skins and is not intended for human consumption, OR (2) the gelatin or collagen was prepared exclusively from hides and skins which do not include those obtained from the head of bovine animals aged 30 months or older.

In the case of gelatin and collagen prepared from bones, from countries of category 2 and 3, the shipment must be accompanied by an official veterinary export certificate from the country of origin stating that the bones used to prepare the product:

• do not include skulls and vertebrae (excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the transverse processes of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and the wings of the sacrum), from bovine animals aged 30 months or older;
• have been subjected to a process which includes all of the following steps:
  • pressure washing (degreasing);
  • acid demineralisation;
  • prolonged alkaline treatment;
  • filtration;
  • sterilisation at a temperature of at least 138 degrees celsius for a minimum of 4 seconds.

In the case of dicalcium phosphate, from countries of category 2 and 3, the shipment must be accompanied by (1) a written declaration from the importer (dated, signed, and linked to the shipment being imported), stating that the product does not contain any trace of protein or fat, OR (2) a written declaration from the importer (dated, signed, and linked to the shipment being imported), stating that the product contains protein or fat but is not derived from bones of bovine origin, OR in the case of category 2 countries only, (3) an official veterinary export certificate from the country of origin stating that the bones used to prepare the product:

• originate from bovine animals that have been subjected to ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection, and were not subjected to a stunning process, prior to slaughter, with a device injecting compressed air or gas into the cranial cavity, or to a pithing process;
• have not been prepared using any of the bovine Specified Risk Materials listed above or any protein products derived from them.

Note: The importation of dicalcium phosphate of bovine origin containing protein or fat from countries of undetermined BSE-risk (category 3) is prohibited.

In the case of bone ash and other products from countries of category 2 and 3 derived from subjecting animal bones to rigorous processes of extraction and purification (e.g. ossein, bone charcoal, bone oil), the shipment must be accompanied by (1) a written declaration from the importer (dated, signed, and linked to the shipment being imported), stating that the product is not derived from bones of bovine origin, OR (2) an official veterinary export certificate from the country of origin stating that the bones used to prepare the product:

• do not include skulls and vertebrae (excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the transverse processes of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and the wings of the sacrum), from bovine animals aged 30 months or older.

3. Highly processed products other than those of bovine origin for livestock and poultry food (see animal food definition in the Health of Animals Regulations):

From the U.S.A.:

may be imported according to the Animal Health program if the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) determines that the country of origin is the United States as per Sections 53 and 41.(1).

Risk: Low

From designated countries:

may be imported if the shipment is accompanied by an official export certificate from the country of origin as per Section 53 and 41.(2).

For ruminant by-products, countries or part of the country must be designated free of foot-and mouth disease.

Note: For highly processed products of bovine origin (including gelatin), and enzymes such as ACTH and insulin of bovine, ovine or caprine origin, the country must also be considered of negligible BSE-risk (category 1). For countries of controlled or undetermined BSE-risk (categories 2 and 3), refer to section 2 of this directive for additional import requirements.

For porcine derived by-products, countries or part of the country must be designated free of foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever, classical swine fever (hog cholera) and swine vesicular disease.

Risk: Low

From non-designated countries:

may be imported if accompanied by an import permit as per Section 52.2, or in the event that an import permit does not accompany the shipment but the shipment is accompanied by certification attesting to acceptable processing (as determined by HQ) as per Section 52.1.

In the case of gelatin (other than of bovine origin), no import permit is required but it must be accompanied by certification attesting one of the following treatments:

Acid Treatment:

• pH equal to or less than 3 for at least 2 hours, OR

Alkaline treatment:

• pH 14 for at least 10 days, OR
• pH 12 for at least 12 days, OR
• pH 9 for at least 16 days; AND

Extraction:

• at least 60 degrees celsius for not less than 2 hours; AND

Sterilization:

• at least 110 degrees celsius for at least 5 seconds, OR

Pasteurization:

• at least 90 degrees celsius for at least 30 seconds; AND

Drying:

• at least 32 degrees celsius for at least 2 hours.

Risk: Medium

Note: Importation of lanolin and licensed veterinary drugs is not regulated by the Animal Health program.

Importation of tallow will be addressed in the ‘'Rendered Products and Inedible Products ‘' General Import Directive.

Implementation: This directive relates to Animal Health import requirements and does not remove any obligation to the Canadian importer to comply with the import requirements of other CFIA programs and/or other departments.

Highly processed products of animal origin intended for livestock feed listed in Schedule IV part II of the Feeds Regulations must be registered with the Feed Section prior to importation to Canada.

Amended: June 15, 2006