Canada's Poultry Import Regime

Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs)

Tariffs

TRQ Allocation Methodology

Import Control List (ICL)

Other Requirements (sanitary, etc.)

Tariff Rated Quotas (TRQs)

Canada's poultry and eggs industry operates under an orderly marketing system which is designed to match the supply with the demand. An effective supply management system requires the ability to determine supply from all sources, domestic as well as international.

Canada was a signatory of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Agriculture which was concluded in December 1993 and came into effect on January 1, 1995. Following this agreement, Canada was obliged to convert its existing agricultural quantitative import controls to a system of (TRQs).

TRQs determine the quantity and the tariff at which a specific agricultural product is imported into a country. Canada's market access level for a given year is the greater of its commitment under the WTO or under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

The following table presents Canada's agreement before the WTO and under the NAFTA as well as 2002 TRQs level for the 4 poultry and egg products that are subject to TRQs in Canada:

Tariffs

Under the TRQs, imports are subject to low "within access commitment" rates of duty up to a predetermined limit (i.e. until the import access quantity has been reached), while imports over this limit are subject to significantly higher "over access commitment" rates of duty. The Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) is responsible for the tariffs administration. To consult the 2002 Canada's Custom Tariff Schedule click on the following link:

http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/customs/general/publications/customs_tariff-e.html

TRQ Allocation Methodology

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) has the authority to allocate TRQs to importers. For most products, the privilege to import at the "within access commitment" rates of duty is allocated to firms through the issuance of import allocations (or "quota-shares"). Those with quota-shares will, upon application, receive specific import permits giving access to the "within access commitment" rates of duty as long as they meet the terms and conditions of permit issuance. These conditions are described in Allocation Methods Order that may be consulted by clicking on the following links:

• Allocation Method Order -- Chicken and Chicken Products (SOR/95-196)
  
• Allocation Method Order -- Turkey and Turkey Products (SOR/96-389)
  
• Allocation Methods Order -- Hatching Eggs, Live Broilers, Eggs and Egg Products (SOR/95-197)
  

Import Control List (ICL)

Import permits are required for each shipment of poultry and egg products falling within heading Nos. 01.05, 02.07, 02.09, 02.10, 16.01 and 16.02. Imports in excess of access levels are permitted by citing General Import Permit No. 100 - Eligible Agricultural Goods, which allows unrestricted imports at the higher rate of duty.

All TRQs are based on Customs Tariff item numbers. Therefore, as the TRQs came into effect in 1995, the Import Control List (ICL) was amended by replacing references to named products (e.g. "turkey and turkey products") with tariff item numbers. However, for ease of understanding, the former product description will continue to be used. The Import Control List (ICL) could be consulted at following address, poultry and egg products being handled under articles 94 to 113.

http://lois.justice.gc.ca/en/E-19/C.R.C.-c.604/102282.html#section-94

Tariff Rate Quota Utilization Tables

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/trade/eicb/reports-en.asp

Other Requirements (sanitary, etc.)

Depending on the product imported, its country of origin and its end-use, the import can be subject to other regulations and policies, notably with regards to food safety. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) provides accurate and timely information on import requirements. The application uses a question and answer approach to guide the user through a series of questions about the Harmonized System (HS) Codes, origin, destination, end use and miscellaneous qualifiers of the product they wish to import.

http://airs-sari.inspection.gc.ca/AIRS/airs_decisions.asp?l=E

Important Notices

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