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FOOD AND FEED SHIPMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES
Full Enforcement of U.S.
Bioterrorism Act Food Regulations
August 9, 2004 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency
(CFIA) is advising
industry and the public involved in food and feed shipments to and via the
United States that new regulations, which came into effect December 12, 2003
subsequent to the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration’s (USFDA) Bioterrorism Act,
are subject to full enforcement by U.S. officials effective August 13, 2004.
The new regulations are for Registration of Food Facilities and Prior Notice
of Imported Food into the U.S. These
regulations do not apply to products or facilities which at the time of import
are under the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Facilities that manufacture, process, pack, distribute, receive or hold food
and animal feed for consumption in the U.S. must register with the USFDA. There is no fee
for the registration.
The USFDA must also receive
an advanced or prior notice for all food and feed shipped to and via the
U.S. Prior notice must be received and
confirmed electronically by the USFDA no more than five
days before arrival and, as specified by the mode of transportation, no fewer
than: two hours by road; four hours by air or rail; eight hours by water.
In addition, for international mail shipments, prior notice must be received
and confirmed electronically by USFDA before the
shipment is mailed, including personal gifts of manufactured food products.
Information and appropriate links on the new USFDA requirements can
be found on the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Web site at http://ats.agr.ca/
For more information inquiries can be referred to the nearest CFIA office listed in the blue pages of
the telephone book.
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