Guide to Importing Food Products Commercially
Sections A-G | Appendixes I - IV
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Section A
Canadian Food Legislation
Section B
Federal Government Agencies and Departments Responsible for Imported Food
Section C
Importer Responsibilities
Section D
General Requirements for Foods
Section E
Summary of Import Requirements for Food Commodities
Section F
Import Procedures and Documents
Section G
Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs)
Appendix I
Federal Legislation
Appendix II
Electronic Access to Government Information
Appendix III
Telephone Numbers and Contact Information
Government Departments and Agencies
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Canada Business Service Centres
- Canada Border Services Agency
- Canadian Grain Commission
- Canadian Wheat Board
- Environment Canada Wildlife Import Offices
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada
- Foreign Affairs and International Trade
- Health Canada
- Industry Canada
- Information Canada
- Provincial and Territorial Information
- Le ministère de lAgriculture, des Pêcheries et de
lAlimentation (MAPAQ) - Quebec
- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF)
- Provincial and Territorial Liquor Control
Non-Government
- Canadian Society of Custom Brokers
- Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters Inc.
Appendix IV
Product Codes
This Guide is a joint effort of several federal departments and agencies, to
bring together in one document the key federal regulatory requirements involved in the
importation of foods into Canada. The writing of this Guide was facilitated by
the Consumer Protection and Food Policy Coordination Division of the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency. Special thanks to: the Canada Business Service Centres, Canada Border
Services Agency, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Department of Foreign
Affairs and International Trade, Health Canada, Industry Canada, Information Canada, and
Measurement Canada.
Note to User
This Guide contains only general information. There is no guarantee, warranty,
assurance or anything similar that this Guide contains all information and
requirements for the import of food products or that the information contained in this Guide
and on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Website is correct, accurate and complete. The Guide
may be accessed through our Website at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/
The user assumes all risks and responsibilities for the use of and any reliance on the
information in the Guide and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Website. The
Canadian Food Inspection Agency shall not be liable for any loss or damages resulting from
or in connection with the use of or reliance on the information.
Disclaimer
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Government of Canada accept no liability
for and do not warrant the accuracy or content of information contained in any other site
to which this Guide refers. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is not affiliated
with any commercial sites to which reference may be made. The views and opinions expressed
in non-Agency sites to which reference may be made do not reflect the views, opinions or
policies of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Information on non-federal government
sites may not be available in both official languages.
Purpose
The purpose of this Guide is to present an overview of the
federal regulatory and policy requirements for the commercial importation
of food into Canada. It is designed for importers, consultants and those considering
embarking on an import venture.
Scope
Legislative Framework
A number of federal acts and regulations govern the importation of food. Section
A gives an overview of the applicable legislative framework, with Appendix I providing more detailed information regarding the
specific acts and regulations. However, this Guide is not intended to replace any
federal regulations. It is recommended that importers consult the actual legislation where
appropriate: Internet addresses for these acts and regulations
are listed in Appendix II.
Federal and Provincial Agencies and Departments
The regulation of the importation of food into Canada is the shared responsibility of
several federal agencies and departments. The primary federal bodies involved are the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade. Section B provides a brief description of the mandates and working arrangements of
these and other federal departments involved in food regulation. Appendix II lists their Internet Websites.
In some provinces, importers may also have to meet specific provincial requirements for
certain products. For information on provincial government services and programs, consult
the reference telephone numbers listed under Provincial and
Territorial Information in Appendix II.
For information regarding federal and provincial business related programs, services
and regulations, the Canada Business Service Centres are a convenient
place to start. These Centres have been set up through the collaborative efforts of
federal, provincial and private sector partners and integrate information from the
client's perspective. Currently, there is a Canada Business Service Centre in every
province and territory providing service by telephone, fax, mail, e-mail, on the Web, and
in person. See Appendix III for contact information.
Requirements for Imported Foods
Section C outlines the overall responsibility of the importer to
ensure that products imported into Canada comply with all Canadian requirements. It also
provides information on how to register an import business and identifies some of the
books and records that an importer should maintain.
Section D briefly summarizes some general requirements that all food
products must meet. It outlines, for example, the legislative basis of one of the foremost
concerns of the Canadian import policy, the health and safety of the food supply. The
section also deals with Good Importing Practices, Canadian labelling requirements
(including net quantity declaration), and health and safety concerns during the transport
of food. Section E sets out requirements by commodity.
It functions as a quick reference guide for specific products.
Import Procedures and Tariff Rate Quotas
Section F briefly summarizes import procedures and Customs programs
designed to process goods efficiently and shorten the transit time at the border.
Since certain agricultural goods are subject to import controls through tariff rate
quotas, Section G explains the tariff rate quota system.
Universal Product Code (UPC)
Although the Universal Product Code (UPC or bar code) is not required or administered
by government, virtually all retailers require the merchandise they carry to be labelled
with a UPC Appendix IV provides information on where to obtain
a UPC
The Food and Drugs Act and Regulations is the primary legislation
that applies to all food sold in Canada, whether imported or domestic. This legislation
sets out minimum health and safety requirements, as well as provisions preventing fraud or
deception (labelling, composition, packaging, treatment, processing, sale and
advertising).
Various statutes contain standards or specifications that complement or further define
the food standards set out in the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations.
The Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulations,
for example, establish labelling and net quantity requirements for consumer packaged goods
for sale in Canada. The Canada Agricultural Products Act and associated
Regulations, the Fish Inspection Act and Regulations and the Meat
Inspection Act and Regulations also contain food standards. However, these
statutes are primarily intended to ensure the marketability of food products traded
internationally and interprovincially, through a combination of safety, quality and
grading standards.
Several federal statutes are designed to protect Canadian agriculture, fish stocks,
forestry, industry and wildlife from the introduction of animal and plant diseases and
pests: the Health of Animals Act and Regulations, the Plant
Protection Act and Regulations, and the Fish Health Protection
Regulations of the Fisheries Act. These statutes restrict the importation of
certain foods from specific areas of concern or require phytosanitary certificates,
permits or other documentation.
To permit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to take effective enforcement
action against importers and domestic companies marketing products that do not meet
Canadian regulatory standards, the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary
Penalties Act will allow regional CFIA officials to issue monetary penalties for
non-compliance with provisions of the seven agri-food Acts to which this legislation
applies.
Appendix I of this Guide provides brief
descriptions of these and other federal statutes relevant to the importation of food.
The list, however, is not exhaustive. There may be health and safety requirements in other
federal or provincial acts.
Key Federal Legislation
D
D
On April 1, 1997 the Government of Canada reorganized the federal system of food
inspection by consolidating all federally-mandated food inspection and quarantine services
into a single federal organization called the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
Historically, food inspection at the federal level had been conducted by four federal
agencies: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Health Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada,
and Industry Canada.
While federal responsibility for food inspection resides primarily with the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency, other departments play a role in the regulation of the importation
of food. The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, while not directly
involved in the inspection of goods, controls the importation of certain agricultural
products through the application of the Export and Import Permits Act
and tariff rate quotas (TRQs).
Some departments and agencies involved in the inspection of food, Canada Border
Services Agency for example, aid the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in enforcing Canadian
food regulations, while others have wider mandates that include food. An example of the
latter is Environment Canada, which administers the Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora for all products, including food
products when from species of animals and plants listed under this convention.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency provides all federal inspection services related to
food safety, economic fraud, trade-related requirements, animal and plant disease and pest
programs. This consolidation of responsibilities into a single agency is designed to
enhance food safety systems by integrating the delivery of inspection and quarantine
services that had previously been provided by other departments.
All those involved in the production of food or in the import or export of food, live
animals or plants are now able to deal with a single agency for inspection and quarantine
services.
To meet its mandate, CFIA administers and/or enforces the following acts:
Food and Drugs Act*
Canada Agricultural Products Act
Meat Inspection Act
Fish Inspection Act
Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act*
Plant Protection Act
Health of Animals Act
Administrative Monetary Penalties Act
Seeds Act
Feeds Act
Fertilizers Act
Canadian Food Inspection Act
Plant Breeders Rights Act
* as it relates to food
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency provides a Single Access Food Labelling Service
with offices located across the country. The Service acts as the single federal contact
point for food labelling information and provides a food label review service.
Canada Border Services Agency assists other government departments in the
administration and enforcement of their legislation as it applies to imported products.
The Customs Act provides the legislative authority for Customs inspectors to
detain goods that may be in contravention of the Customs Act, or any other act or
regulation governing the import or export of goods.
Customs inspectors:
- review import documentation, ensuring that all required permits, certificates and
licences (including those for other government departments) are presented before the goods
are released; and
- perform examinations of food shipments to verify that the information/documents being
presented at the time of release are relevant to the goods.
Canada is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. This Convention, commonly known as CITES, is an
international agreement through which more than 157 countries exercise control over the
import, export and in-transit movement of various plant and animal species listed in the
Convention. Live species and their derivatives, parts and products are controlled through
an international permit system, which varies depending on how endangered each species is.
In Canada, CITES is administered by the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment
Canada. Assisting in the implementation of the CITES restrictions are the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency, Canada Border Services Agency, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
There are disease concerns with the importation of dead uneviscerated salmon and trout
from fish farms and with the importation of live salmonid eggs and fish imported for
aquaculture or for government enhancement programs. Consequently, import permits issued
under the Fish Health Protection Regulations must accompany each shipment of
these products entering Canada.
Importers must apply to the Local Fish Health Officer in the receiving province to
obtain an import permit. For additional information and/or addresses of the Local Fish
Health Officers, please contact the National Registry of Fish Diseases, Fisheries and
Oceans Canada. (See Appendix III.)
The Export and Import Controls Bureau of the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade is responsible for the issuance of permits for goods on the Import
Control List and Export Control List under the authority of the Export
and Import Permits Act. The following agricultural products are or will be subject to
controls:
Although Health Canada is no longer directly involved in the inspection of food, it has
responsibility for setting national health and safety policy with respect to food. Among
other activities, the Health Products and Food Branch of Health Canada:
- administers the food safety provisions of the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations
- develops regulations and guidelines for food safety;
- sets national standards for food safety and nutritional content of food;
- conducts health risk assessments and evaluations concerning physical, chemical and
microbial contaminants, natural toxicants, food additives, etc.;
- provides the Canadian Food Inspection Agency with guidance to determine the health risk
of a situation when no guidelines exist;
- conducts safety assessments on novel and genetically modified food;
- approves the use of food additives;
- approves the use of veterinary drugs on food producing animals and sets residue
tolerances; and
- serves as national authority for food safety issues at the international level in the
development of international standards, guidelines, recommendations, etc. (e.g. WHO, FAO,
CODEX).
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency of Health Canada sets maximum residue limits for
pesticides on foods for sale in Canada.
Measurement Canada, an agency of Industry Canada, enforces the Weights and Measures
Act, which establishes net quantity requirements for commodities sold on the basis of
measure. The Weights and Measures Act applies to foods destined for commercial or
industrial enterprises or institutions, products sold in bulk and clerk-served products at
retail.
The legislation does not apply to commodities subject to net quantity requirements set
out in other federal legislation. Consequently, it does not apply to goods packaged for
direct sale to the consumer as these are covered by the Consumer Packaging and
Labelling Act, the food provisions of which are enforced by the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency.
Provincial and territorial governments have jurisdiction over public health issues,
which includes food prepared, sold and manufactured within their borders. Provincial and
municipal inspection programs have focussed on the food service industry (including
restaurants and caterers), and the food retail industry (including grocery stores, butcher
shops and bakeries). Some provinces and territories have additional requirements for
certain commodities such as dairy products, margarine, bottled water, and maple syrup.
In all cases, it is the responsibility of the importer to
ensure that products meet all requirements of Canadian legislation (federal, provincial
and municipal). |
The Government of Canada has introduced a more efficient numbering system for
businesses. With this new system, one number, the business number (BN), has replaced the
many numbers that were needed to deal with the federal government. All commercial
importers must have a business number for any import/export account with Canada Border
Services Agency.
The business number has 15 digits: nine numbers to identify the business, plus two
letters and four numbers to identify the program and each account. The system includes
major types of Canada Border Services Agency programs that many businesses may be
registered for, including GST, payroll deductions, corporate income tax and import/export
(identified by RM). For example, an import/export account will look like this 12345 6789
RM0002.
In order to obtain an import/export account, traders should obtain a copy of Form RC1,
Request for a Business Number (BN), which is available from any Canada Border Services
Agency office. The Canada Border Services Agency will issue an account free of charge, as
soon as the form is completed and submitted.
For most shipments entering Canada, importers will have to show an import/export
account on customs documents.
More information regarding the business number is available in the Canada Border
Services Agency publication The Business Number and Your Revenue Canada Accounts.
If a business is registered in Quebec, the publication The Business Number and Your
Revenue Canada Accounts in Quebec should be consulted. Both publications are
available from Canada Border Services Agency. (For contact
information, see Appendix III.)
Health and Safety Records
In accordance with Good Importing Practices (see Section D of this Guide),
importers should keep records of the distribution of their products, so that goods may be
efficiently and effectively recalled from the market place when a food poses a health risk
to the population or when a serious contravention of the regulations has occurred. Records
of consumer complaints and action taken should also be maintained, and all records should
be kept for two years.
Financial Records
Importers are required to keep books and records to substantiate what goods have been
imported, the quantities, the prices paid, and the country of origin. Records must be kept
in Canada, in paper or electronic format, for six years after the importation of goods. To
keep records outside of Canada, written permission from Canada Revenue Agency is required.
Even if a customs broker carries out customs activities on behalf of the importer, the
records should be kept on the importer's premises. The importer is responsible for all
records on reporting, releasing, accounting for, and paying for goods, as well as later
adjustments. For more details, see Canada Border Services Agencys Memorandum D17-21,
Maintenance of Records and Books in Canada by Importers. (For contact information, see Appendix III.)
Importers of novel foods, including foods derived from biotechnology, are required to
notify Health Canada of their intention to import a novel food (Division 28 of the Food
and Drug Regulations). This pre-market notification permits Health Canada to conduct
a safety evaluation of the product.
In addition, there may be phytosanitary import requirements for fruit, vegetables and
grains derived from plants with novel traits including transgenic plants. Importers of
these products should contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency prior to importation to
verify if import permits are required.
See Section E - Novel Foods for more information.
To ensure a safe and nutritious food supply, all foods sold in Canada, whether domestic
or imported, must meet the health and safety requirements of the Food and Drugs Act
and Regulations. Enforcement is provided for in criminal law.
Section 4 of the Food and Drugs Act prohibits the sale of an article of food
that:
- has in or upon it any poisonous or harmful substance;
- is unfit for human consumption;
- consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, disgusting, rotten, decomposed or
diseased animal or vegetable substance;
- is adulterated; or
- was manufactured, prepared, preserved, packaged, or stored under unsanitary conditions.
Good Importing Practices are proper food handling procedures that facilitate the
identification and control of problems that may be encountered at all stages of
importation, from the planning stages through to the final distribution in Canada.
Adherence to Good Importing Practices should ensure compliance with the health and safety
requirements of Canadian legislation. Proposed amendments to the Food and Drug
Regulations will make this voluntary code of practice into a regulatory requirement.
A booklet entitled "Good Importing Practices Code
of Practice for Use By Canadian Food Importers" may be obtained from the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency Import Service Centres. (For contact
information, see Appendix III.)
All foods packaged for consumer use and imported into Canada must comply with basic
food labelling requirements specified by the Food and Drugs Act and
Regulations and the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulations.
Labelling requirements include the common name of the food, a list of ingredients and
components, the name and address of the responsible party, a net quantity declaration in
metric and a Best Before date when required. Nutritional labelling is voluntary unless
nutritional claims are made. The format and information provided must comply with the
Guidelines on Nutritional Labelling developed by Health Canada and also with the Food
and Drug Regulations. Agricultural and fish products for which standards exist under
the Meat Inspection Act, Canadian Agricultural Products Act and
associated Regulations, and the Fish Inspection Act may have additional labelling
requirements (e.g. grade or country of origin).
All mandatory labelling information and nutritional labelling, other than the name and
address of responsible party, is required to be declared in both French and English.
It should be noted that Canadian labelling requirements may differ
significantly from those of the United States and other countries. As an example,
the United States Nutrition Labelling Information (Nutrition Facts) is not currently
permitted on products imported into Canada.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has Single Access Food Labelling Service offices
across the country serving the business community. These offices, located in major urban
centres, provide labelling information for all food except fish. For information regarding
the labelling of fish, please contact the Fish, Seafood and Production Division of the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency. (See Appendix III.)
The Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising is a comprehensive reference document
providing current federal food labelling and advertising policies and regulatory
requirements. The Guide is now
available on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website
at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/guide/guidee.shtml.
In Canada, net quantity declarations on consumer packaged products must be expressed in
metric units of weight (grams or kilograms), volume (millilitres, litres) or count (when
applicable). The manner of declaring net quantity and the method of determining the
accuracy of net quantity declarations for consumer packaged products, as well as
commercial, industrial or institutional products, are based on the average system. The
average system is prescribed in the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and
Regulations, in the case of consumer packaged products, and the Weights and
Measures Act and Regulations, in the case of commercial, industrial or institutional
products.
The average system is based on three criteria:
- the average net content of all packages in a lot must not be less than the declared net
quantity;
- only a specified number of samples in a lot are allowed to contain less than the
declared net quantity by more than the prescribed tolerance (as set out in the Consumer
Packaging and Labelling Regulations); and
- no more than one sample in a lot may contain less than the declared net quantity by more
than twice the prescribed tolerance.
Sampling procedures for the average system are designed to be closely representative of
the lot of merchandise being tested.
The Weights and Measures Act and Regulations prescribe the manner of net
quantity declarations for food products sold in bulk and clerk-served foods sold at
retail.
Additional information on the application and interpretation of these regulatory
requirements can be obtained from a Canadian Food Inspection Agency Import Service Centre
or Measurement Canada. (For contact information, see Appendix III.)
Food products require more careful handling than other commodities. Food should not be
shipped with dangerous or hazardous goods (chemicals, auto parts, etc.). Food shipments
that have been contaminated by incompatible goods in the container/truck may be refused
entry into Canada. Temperature sensitive goods, such as frozen food or fresh fruits,
require a climate controlled shipping environment.
Requirements for safe transportation of goods should be part of the agreement between
traders and carriers.
A variety of foods can cause adverse reactions in hypersensitive individuals. These
reactions can vary from minor to life-threatening. Most adverse food reactions are caused
by the following foods or their derivatives:
peanuts
tree nuts (e.g., almonds, Brazils, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pinenuts,
pistachios, walnuts)
sesame seeds
milk
eggs
fish
crustaceans (e.g., crab, crayfish, lobster, shrimp)
shellfish (e.g., clams, mussels, oysters, scallops)
soy
wheat
sulphites.
If these foods and their by-products or derivatives are not labelled or are incorrectly
labelled, or if inadvertent carry-over occurs during manufacture, the results can be
serious and sometimes fatal.
Importers are encouraged to identify these ingredients on food labels when they appear
as ingredients or components. It is also recommended that the plant source of all forms of
hydrolysed plant proteins, starches, and lecithin be identified (e.g., hydrolysed soy
protein, modified wheat starch, soy lecithin).
Experience has shown that undeclared ingredients may occur as a result of:
- carry-over of product through incomplete cleaning of food contact surfaces and utensils,
sometimes because of poor equipment design;
- inappropriate use of rework materials containing ingredients causing adverse reactions;
- ingredient changes, substitutions or additions not reflected on the label;
- product in wrong packages because of mix-up of packaging material;
- printing error or omission from list of ingredients;
- unknown ingredients in raw materials;
- use of incorrect common names to describe products/ingredients (e.g., mandelonas for
reformed peanuts);
- labelling exemptions.
Despite all possible precautions, the presence of allergens cannot always be avoided.
Consequently, a policy on precautionary labelling has been developed, which allows
industry to voluntarily label products that may inadvertently contain substances capable
of causing severe adverse reactions (e.g., "May contain peanuts").
The addition of vitamins, minerals and amino acids to food is regulated by the Food
and Drugs Act and Regulations. Section D.03.002 of the Food and Drug Regulations
specifies which foods may be enriched and with which nutrients. (There are limited
exceptions to this regulation.)
Canadian requirements for the addition of nutrients to food may differ significantly
from the United States and other countries.
Vitamins and/or mineral supplements are regulated as drugs in Canada. For further
information on these products, contact the Therapeutic Products Directorate of Health
Canada.
Canada has a stringent process for evaluating the safety of novel foods, including
foods derived through genetic modification (biotechnology). New novel food regulations
under the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations (Division 28) require that
manufacturers and importers of novel foods notify Health Canada of their intention to
market a new product in Canada. This pre-market notification allows Health Canada to
conduct a thorough safety assessment of the product.
In addition, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency conducts assessments of plants with
novel traits, including transgenic plants, and/or products derived from them such as
fruit, tubers and grains to evaluate their risk to the agricultural and forestry
environment. Consequently, special import requirements of these products exist. Importers
should contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency prior to importation to verify if
import permits are required.
See Section E - Novel Foods for more information.
The use of food additives is strictly controlled by the Food and Drugs Act and
Regulations. The food additive tables in Division 16 of the Regulations prescribe
which additives may be used in foods sold in Canada, to which foods they may be added, for
what purposes, and at what levels.
Canadian requirements and the list of acceptable food additives may differ from those
of the United States and other countries. Products containing non-permitted food additives
may be refused entry into Canada.
Irradiation of food is regulated by the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations.
Only the following foods are currently allowed to be irradiated in Canada: potatoes,
onions, wheat, flour, whole wheat flour, whole or ground spices and dehydrated seasoning
preparations.
Special labelling requirements apply to irradiated foods and foods containing
irradiated ingredients. Irradiated foods not in compliance with the Food and Drugs Act
and Regulations are not permitted for sale in Canada.
Due to the complexity of the legislative requirements,
importers are encouraged to contact a Canadian Food Inspection Agency Import Service
Centre to obtain complete and current import information. (See Appendix III for telephone
numbers and contact information.) |
This section contains a summary of commodities that are subject to specific import
requirements for commercial shipments or have specific compositional
requirements.
As outlined in Section A, all foods sold in Canada are subject to the Food
and Drugs Act and Regulations, which contain health and safety requirements,
labelling requirements and provisions preventing deception and fraud. However, many
agricultural and fish products are also subject to other legislation. Consequently, the
need for licensing, permits and certificates varies depending upon the type of food being
imported and, in some cases, on the country or area from which the food is imported.
In certain circumstances the importer is required to be licensed with the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency. This applies, for example, to importers of fish products. In other
cases, each shipment of a specific commodity must be accompanied by an official
certificate from the authorities of the exporting country and/or an approval or permit
from the appropriate Canadian federal department. For some products, such as dairy
products, the importer is required to provide an Import Declaration to the effect that the
product is sound and fit for human consumption.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's Automated
Import Reference System (AIRS) contains detailed information on the federal import
requirements for all foods and is available on compact disc. It is also available on the
Agency's Internet site at:
http://airs-sari.inspection.gc.ca/AIRS/airs_decisions.asp?l=E (See Section F
for more information.)
It should be noted that in some provinces there are additional requirements for certain
foods, such as dairy products, margarine, bottled water, and maple syrup.
A Note on TRQs
Certain agricultural goods are subject to Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs) and some require an
import permit issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. TRQs
and the presence or absence of import permits may drastically affect the rate of tariff
charged for a commodity. Please note that firms importing restricted goods
without a specific import permit will automatically be charged the high tariff rate by
Canada Border Services Agency. At this point, specific import permits will not normally be
issued. (For more information regarding TRQs and Import Permits, see Section
G.)
The Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act, a federal statute, gives the
provinces and territories full control over the importation of intoxicating liquor into
their jurisdictions. (Note: there are certain exceptions, such as bulk importations by
licensed distillers and brewers for blending purposes). Consequently, importers should
consult the appropriate provincial or territorial liquor authority before considering the
importation or interprovincial trade of intoxicating liquor. (See
Appendix III for contact information.)
Standards of identity and labelling requirements for alcoholic beverages exist in the Food
and Drugs Act and Regulations, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and
Regulations and the Excise Act and Regulations. Standardized container size
requirements for wine exist in the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations.
In addition to the basic food labelling provisions, alcoholic beverages are subject to
further requirements, such as the declaration of alcohol content by volume. The Guide to
Food Labelling and Advertising provides a thorough overview of the labelling requirements
for alcoholic beverages. (See Section D: Labelling.)
Butter, cheddar cheese, dry milk products and variety cheeses are regulated by the Dairy
Products Regulations under the Canada Agricultural Products Act. Imported
dairy products must comply with these regulations, which cover quality, labelling,
packaging and grading, as well as health and safety. In addition, the Health of
Animals Act restricts the importation of certain dairy products from countries where
the presence of animal diseases poses a threat to Canadian agriculture and health. Most
dairy products also require an import permit issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs
and International Trade. (Please see Section G for further information.)
An Import Declaration, completed in duplicate, must accompany each dairy
product shipment, indicating that the products were manufactured from sound raw materials
and prepared under sanitary conditions, and that the products were sound and fit for human
consumption at the time of shipment.
At present, there is no federal requirement for importers of dairy products to be
licensed. Product inspection may take place at the product's entry point or at its
destination point, at the discretion of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Both shell and processed chicken eggs must meet the requirements set out in the Egg
Regulations and Processed Egg Regulations, respectively, of the Canadian
Agricultural Products Act. Shell eggs are destined for either the table market or
breaking stock. Processed eggs are frozen egg, frozen egg mix, liquid egg, liquid egg mix,
dried egg, dried egg mix and egg product, including all products consisting of 50 percent
or more of egg.
These products may only be imported from a country with an inspection program and grade
standards equivalent to Canadas. Shipments will be inspected upon entry into Canada
and must be accompanied by inspection documentation issued by officials of the exporting
country, certifying that the products conform to Canadian standards.
Both shell eggs and processed eggs require an import permit issued by the Department of
Foreign Affairs and International Trade. (Please see Section G for further
information.) In addition, the Health of Animals Act restricts the
importation of eggs and processed eggs from countries where the presence of animal
diseases pose a threat to Canadian agriculture and health.
Eggs from different species of birds, balut eggs, and preserved duck eggs, are not
subject to the Egg Regulations. However, eggs and egg shells from birds and reptiles
listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
require export permits from the country of origin and, in some cases, import permits
issued by Environment Canada under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation
of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA). (See Section B:
Environment Canada; Section E: Wildlife; and Section F: Import Procedures and Documents.)
Fish and fish products are subject to the Fish Inspection Act and Regulations,
which contain requirements for wholesomeness, labelling, packaging, grading, and health
and safety.
Importers of fish and fish products must have an Import Licence issued by the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency and must notify the closest Canadian Food Inspection Agency fish
inspection office in writing each time they import fish. Restrictions apply to the
importation of live or raw bivalve molluscan shellfish such as mussels, clams and oysters.
Import permits may be required for certain types of cultured fish. (See Section B:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada.) Certain provinces may have additional requirements for the
importation of live fish.
All sturgeons are regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species (CITES). This means that all sturgeon, including their meat and caviar,
require a CITES export permit from the exporting country. Some species also require a
CITES import permit issued by Environment Canada. (See Section B: Environment
Canada, Section E: Wildlife and Section F: Import
Procedures and Documents.)
In the absence of specifications under the Food and Drug Regulations, food
additives must conform to specifications in the Food Chemicals Codex, Fourth Edition, 1996
(as required by Section B.01.045 of the Food and Drug Regulations).
The labels on food additive preparations must include either:
- a quantitative statement of the amount of each additive present, or
- directions for use which, if followed, will produce a food that does not contain
additives in excess of the maximum levels as prescribed in Division 16 of the Food and
Drug Regulations.
Synthetic food colours are unique because they are the only additives that must be
certified by the Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada before being used in
foods. Regulations concerning food colours are listed in Division 6, and Table III of
Division 16 of the Food and Drug Regulations.
Before a colour destined for use in food may enter the country or be distributed for
use, it must be certified. Health Products and Food Branch officials both administer and
audit a certification program for manufacturers of food colour.
Manufacturers who participate in this program can obtain "self-certification
status".
Only manufacturers with "self-certification status" may apply to certify a
food colour. A 100-gram sample of the dye, a certificate of analysis and analytical data
must be forwarded to the Health Products and Food Branch in Ottawa. If the request for
certification is approved, a certificate number (CN) is issued by the Food Research
Division, and the Canadian importer is supplied with a letter indicating that the specific
lot of dye (identified by lot number and quantity) has been assigned a specific CN. This
number covers only the colour and shipment identified in the letter.
A copy of the letter must be presented by the importer to Canada Border Services Agency
before the dye is released from Customs. At present, certificates issued by the United
States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are also acceptable in Canada.
Procedures for Food Colour Lakes are somewhat similar, except that they must be
manufactured from a certified colour. Identification Numbers (IN) are issued instead of CN
numbers.
Further information on the certification program can be obtained from the Health
Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, (see Appendix III for
contact information).
The composition and labelling of foods for special dietary use are regulated under
Division 24 of the Food and Drug Regulations and include: formulated liquid
diets, meal replacements, carbohydrate-reduced foods, sodium reduced foods, low calorie
foods, etc.
It is important to note that the only food products that may be promoted for use in a
weight reduction diet are meal replacements, foods for very low calorie diets, prepackaged
meals that meet the requirements of Division 24 of the Regulations and foods sold in
weight loss clinics to clients for use in their programs. No other foods may be promoted
for weight loss.
Fresh fruits and vegetables, including nuts and edible fungi, are regulated by the Fresh
Fruit and Vegetable Regulations under the Canada Agricultural Products Act.
These regulations cover quality, labelling, packaging, grading, and health and safety
requirements.
Commercial importers of fresh fruits and vegetables must have a Produce Licence issued
by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency or be a member of the Dispute Resolution
Corporation (DRC). Each shipment of fresh produce must be accompanied by a Confirmation of
Sale form in triplicate, which is the importers evidence that there is a firm
purchase agreement. This form is reviewed by a Customs officer at the products point
of entry, and relayed to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
To ensure compliance with Canadian standards for safety, quality, labelling, packaging
and grading, all shipments of fresh produce are subject to examination upon entry into
Canada by an inspector of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Special requirements also exist for the importation of products shipped in bulk.
To prevent the introduction and spread of plant diseases and pests, fresh fruits and
vegetables are subject to the Plant Protection Act and Regulations. Consequently,
the Canadian Food Inspection Agency requires import permits and/or phytosanitary
certificates for certain fresh fruits and vegetables from specific countries or states.
For detailed information regarding Canadian import requirements for fresh fruit and
vegetables, refer to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website at:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/fresh/cdnreqe.shtml
Information on Canadian plant protection requirements may be found at
http://airs-sari.inspection.gc.ca
Fresh fruit and vegetables derived from a plant with a novel trait (i.e., derived from
biotechnology) are considered novel foods (see section on novel foods).
Processed fruit and vegetable products include canned and frozen fruits and vegetables
as well as some other fruit and vegetable products (vegetable soup, prepared mustard,
spaghetti in tomato sauce, etc.).
Imported product must comply with the Processed Products Regulations under the
Canada Agricultural Products Act. These regulations cover quality, labelling,
packaging (including standardized sizes), grading, and health and safety requirements.
Each shipment must be accompanied by an Import Declaration form in duplicate, which
indicates that the products meet the requirements of the Processed Products
Regulations and were processed under sanitary conditions, and that they were sound,
wholesome and fit for human consumption at time of shipment. At present, there is no
federal requirement for importers of processed fruits and vegetables to be licensed.
All shipments are subject to inspection by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency at their
destination point.
The section, "Low Acid Foods in Hermetically Sealed Containers", contains
further information.
Tariff Rate Quotas for wheat, barley and their products were instituted on August 1,
1995. Consequently, an import permit issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade is required to import these products. (Please see Section
G for further information.)
For detailed information regarding Canadian
phytosanitary import requirements, refer to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
website at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/grains/grainse.shtml
Please note that grains derived from a plant with a novel trait (i.e., derived from
biotechnology) are considered novel foods (see section on novel foods).
The Canadian Grain Commission and the Canada Border Services Agency may also have
requirements regarding the importation of grains into Canada and should be contacted prior
to importation.
Honey and honey products are regulated by the Honey Regulations under the Canada
Agricultural Products Act. Imported products must comply with these regulations,
which cover quality, labelling, packaging, grading, and health and safety requirements.
Each shipment of honey and honey products must be accompanied by an Import Declaration,
Request for Release Approval and Customs Transaction Document. This documentation must be
presented to one of three CFIA Import Service Centres for clearance before shipments are
allowed entry into Canada by Canadian Customs officers. The importer or the
importers authorized agent must declare that the honey meets the requirements of the
Honey Regulations. This means that the honey was prepared under sanitary
conditions, and is wholesome and fit for human consumption. All shipments of honey are
subject to inspection at their destination point, by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency restricts the importation of honey from countries
where the presence of animal diseases poses a threat to Canadian agriculture and health.
The composition and labelling of foods for infants are regulated under Division 25 of
the Food and Drug Regulations. In the case of new infant formulas and those which
have undergone a major change, manufacturers and importers are required to notify Health
Canada of their intention to market the products. The information to be submitted in this
"pre-market notification" is outlined in Division 25 of the Regulations. It
permits Health Canada to conduct a thorough safety assessment for the proposed product.
Low acid foods in hermetically sealed containers (LAFHSC) are foods that generally have
a pH greater than 4.6, a water activity greater than 0.85 and are packaged in containers
that preclude the entrance of microorganisms and air. Traditionally, these products have
been limited to canned vegetables, mushrooms, meat, fish and poultry. However, with the
recent progress in food technology and packaging techniques (including the tetra-pak
container concept), and with the influx of new foods to the Canadian market, the variety
of low acid foods in hermetically sealed containers is increasing very rapidly.
These foods, if improperly processed or packaged in damaged, leaky containers, can
provide a perfect medium for the growth of bacteria which may cause illness (including
botulism, a potentially deadly form of food poisoning). Division 27 of the Food and
Drug Regulations contains requirements specific to these products to prevent and
control any public health threat.
Food labels or containers must bear a legible and permanent code or lot number that
identifies the establishment and the date (day, month and year) the food was processed.
The importer must be able to provide the exact meaning of this code or lot number to an
inspector upon request.
Knowledge of the production and quality control procedures implemented at the
manufacturing plant is important, in order to ensure that the imported food is safe and
does not pose a health hazard.
Effective January 1, 1995, margarine was placed on the Import Control List
established under the Export and Import Permits Act. Therefore, an import permit
issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade is required to import
margarine. (Please see Section G for further information.)
The Food and Drug Regulations outline standards of identity and composition
for both margarine and calorie-reduced margarine. Certain provinces may also have
restrictions on the addition of colour to margarine.
Maple products include maple syrup, maple sugar, soft maple sugar, maple butter and
maple taffy, that are obtained exclusively from maple sap.
Imported maple products must meet the requirements of the Maple Products
Regulations under the Canada Agricultural Products Act. These regulations
cover quality, labelling, packaging (including standardized sizes), grading, and health
and safety requirements. At present, there is no federal requirement for importers of
maple syrup and maple products to be licensed.
All shipments are subject to inspection at their destination point by the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency.
Importation of meat and poultry meat products into Canada is regulated by the Meat
Inspection Act and Regulations and the Health of Animals Act and Regulations,
administered by the CFIA, and the Export and Import Permits Act, administered by
the Department of Foreign Affairs and International trade.
Before the products are imported, the exporting country must be evaluated by the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency and found to have a national meat inspection system,
including a residue monitoring program, equivalent to that of Canada. As well, foreign
establishments must be approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency before being
eligible to export to Canada.
To prevent the introduction of animal diseases, all importations of meat products are
subject to the Health of Animals Act and Regulations. Some foreign
countries are restricted in the type of product they can export to Canada.
Before they are imported, all prepared meat and poultry products require a label/recipe
registration issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. This requirement also applies
to all raw meat and poultry sold in consumer packages.
Each commercial shipment of meat must be certified by the foreign national veterinary
competent authorities. The certificates, along with other information for all imported
meat and poultry meat product shipments, must be presented to one of three CFIA Import
Service Centres for clearance before the shipments are allowed entry into Canada by
Canadian Customs officers. All shipments from countries other than USA, must be then
presented in one of the Canadian establishments registered under the Meat Inspection
Regulations, 1990 for inspection of imported meat products, for inspection by a CFIA
inspector. In the case of meat imports from the USA, one in every ten shipments of similar
products from the same US processing establishment must be delivered to one of the
Canadian establishments registered under the Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990
for inspection of meat products imported from the USA, for inspection by a CFIA inspector.
Shipments of poultry (fresh or prepared) and fresh, chilled and frozen beef from
non-NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) countries usually require an import permit
issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. (Please
see Section G for further information.)
Recent developments in food science and biotechnology have resulted in the introduction
of novel foods into the Canadian marketplace, as well as foods developed using novel
processes.
Novel foods include:
- a substance, including a microorganism, that does not have a history of safe use as a
food;
- a food that has been manufactured, prepared, preserved, or packaged by a process that
- has not been previously applied to that food, and
- caused the food to undergo a major change; and
- a food that is derived from a plant, animal or microorganism that has been genetically
modified such that
- the plant, animal or microorganism exhibits characteristics that were not previously
observed in that plant, animal or microorganism,
- the plant, animal or microorganism no longer exhibits characteristics that were
previously observed in that plant, animal or microorganism,
- one or more characteristics of the plant, animal or microorganism no longer fall within
the anticipated range for that plant, animal or microorganism.
The Novel Food Regulations under the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations
(Division 28) establish a clear and stringent process for evaluating the safety of novel
foods. Manufacturers and importers of novel foods are required to notify Health Canada of
their intention to market a new product in Canada, before sale or advertisement for sale.
This pre-market notification permits Health Canada to conduct a thorough safety assessment
of the proposed product.
Safety assessment of a novel food includes the following considerations: evaluation of
the process used to develop the food product; comparison of its characteristics to those
of traditional food counterparts; its nutritional quality; the potential for new toxicants
or anti-nutrients; and the potential allergenicity of any proteins that have been
introduced into the food by genetic modification techniques. In this way, Health Canada
provides assurance that the novel food is safe.
For information on novel foods, contact the Novel Foods Section of the Office of Food
Biotechnology, Health Canada, at (613) 941-5535. Information is also available on the Health
Canada web site at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/food-aliment/mh-dm/ofb-bba/
nfi-ani/e_novel_foods_and_ingredient.html
The responsibility for the labelling of novel foods is shared between Health Canada and
the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. For information on the labelling of novel foods, see
the Canadian Food Inspection Agencys web site, Office of Biotechnology, at:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/sci/biotech/labeti/labetie.shtml
Importers are also required to notify the Canadian Food Inspection Agency of their
intention to import fruits, vegetables, tubers and grains derived from plants with novel
traits, including transgenic plants. Assessments of the proposed products will be
conducted to evaluate the risk to the agricultural and forestry environment.
For detailed information regarding Canadian
plant protection import requirements, refer to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
(CFIA) web site at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/d-96-13e.shtml
Canada has very specific compositional and labelling requirements for foods, and
strictly controls the addition of vitamins, minerals and amino acids to foods. (See
Section D: Addition of Vitamin and Mineral Nutrients to Food.) Many sports nutrition
products produced outside the country do not comply with the compositional and labelling
requirements contained in the Food and Drug Regulations. They may contain
non-permitted ingredients, and/or make unacceptable label claims. Some products, because
of their composition or because they bear drug claims, are considered drugs and require a
Drug Identification Number (DIN) from the Therapeutic Products Directorate, Health Canada,
before they can be sold in Canada.
Importers of certain exotic and rare foods should be aware that Environment Canada
administers the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora, commonly known as CITES. This Convention controls the international
movement of designated wildlife through an international permit system. (See Section B:
Environment Canada, and Section F: Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.) In Canada, all CITES import permits are issued by
the CITES Management Authority of the Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada,
Ottawa: (819 ) 997-1840.
All CITES-regulated wild animals and plants, whether alive or dead, are controlled,
including their parts or derivatives, and specimens bred in captivity or
artificially-propagated.
All endangered wild animals and plants listed in Appendix I of the Convention must
receive prior import authorization from the CITES Management Authority in Canada, as well
as prior export authorization from the CITES Management Authority for the country of
export. Commercial trade in these species is not normally permitted.
Generally, all other CITES-controlled animals and plants listed in Appendices II and III
of the Convention can be commercially traded as long as prior export authorization has
been obtained from the CITES Management Authority of the country of export. If the import
is accompanied by a valid foreign CITES export permit, no Canadian CITES import permit
is required.
There are also controls on the importation of certain species designated as harmful to
our ecosystems under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of
International and Interprovincial Trade Act. (WAPPRIITA)
All live animals listed under CITES must be transported in accordance with the
International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animal Regulations and CITES
Guidelines for Transport.
Canada Border Services Agency Requirements
In order to obtain the release of a commercial shipment at the Customs office, the
following documents are required:
- two copies of the cargo control document. This document may be a manifest, waybill or
some other approved document obtained from the carrier or freight forwarder.
- two copies of an invoice to support the value of the goods. This invoice provides
information concerning the shipment including: details regarding the importer and
exporter, a description of the goods, the value of the goods, the country of origin and
destination of the goods, and the currency of settlement. A Canada Customs invoice
or a commercial invoice containing all the required information is necessary for goods
with a value of $1,600 or greater. An additional copy of the invoice is required in cases
where the importer or broker intends to transmit the final accounting data through CADEX
(Customs Automated Data Exchange).
- two copies of a fully completed B3 form, for all shipments for commercial use in Canada,
regardless of value. The B3 document is used for duty and tax purposes. A third copy of
this form is required by Statistics Canada for shipments valued over $1,600.
- all permits, certificates, licenses or other documentation required by Canada Border
Services Agency or other government departments for the release of food shipments.
Generally, original documents are necessary.
Special programs exist to speed the transit time through Customs. The Pre-Arrival
Review System (PARS) allows Customs to process release information before the goods
arrive, thus accelerating release or referral of goods when they do arrive. The Frequent
Import Release System (FIRST) processes repetitive importations of low risk shipments with
a significant savings in time.
Release on Minimum Documentation Option is another program offered by
Canada Border Services Agency, to importers or brokers who post security with Canada
Border Services Agency for release of goods prior to payment of duties. Importers or
brokers requesting this option provide specified minimal documentation rather than the
complete information otherwise required. When goods are released on minimum documentation,
the importer or broker must present or transmit confirming accounting data within five
full business days from the date the goods are released.
Further information regarding Customs release systems and procedures, duties,
tariff classifications and taxes may be obtained from local Canada Border Services Agency
offices or from the Customs Automated Information System, which can be accessed toll free
in Canada at (800) 461-9999.
Also available from Canada Border Services Agency is the publication, Guide to
Importing Commercial Goods. (See Appendix III for contact information.)
Canadian Food Inspection Agencys Automated Import System (CFIA-AIS, AIRS,
ITS)
AIS (Automated Import System)
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's new Automated Import System (CFIA-AIS) is a
computerized system for the management of all imported products regulated by the Agency.
This program is designed to speed up the importation of CFIA goods at the border, which
often have additional specific import requirements. It also allows inspectors to focus on
high risk commodities.
The CFIA-AIS interfaces electronically with the Canada Border Services Agency and links
the two agencies into an electronic, single-window of service.
The program is comprised of various modules that work together as an information
provision system and a tracking system.
AIRS (Automated Import Reference System)
The Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) is a comprehensive reference system that
provides detailed information on import requirements for all Canadian Food Inspection
Agency commodities. This reference tool is available on compact disc, and on the Canadian
Food Inspection Agencys web site at:
http://airs-sari.inspection.gc.ca/AIRS/airs_decisions.asp?l=E
ITS (Import Tracking System)
The Import Tracking System (ITS) enables Canadian Food Inspection Agency personnel to
trace shipments from the point of arrival to their final destination. It allows for
effective scheduling of inland inspections and monitoring of import activities.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES)
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES) monitors the international trade of endangered species through an
international permit system. (See Section B: Environment Canada, and Section E: Wildlife.)
A CITES permit (import or export) must be an original document. Photocopies (except in
the case of artificially-propagated plants and circus animals) and fax copies of permits
are not accepted as alternatives to original documents. Permits must be obtained prior to
shipment; those issued after an exportation or importation has occurred cannot be accepted
as valid documents.
Foreign CITES export permits must be presented to Customs at the time of import, for
Customs validation. Customs will retain the validated copy and forward it to the Canadian
CITES Management Authority in Ottawa.
All live wildlife must be exported or imported according to International Air Transport
Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulations and CITES Guidelines for Transport.
Further information on import requirements of CITES listed wildlife may be found on Environment
Canadas Website at : http://www.cites.ec.gc.ca
This section pertains to agricultural goods included on the Import Control List
(ICL), under the authority of the Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA). In order
to implement specific Canadian commitments under the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Agreement on Agriculture, Canada replaced such measures as import quotas and other
restrictions on the import of certain agricultural products with Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs).
Under tariff rate quotas, imports are subject to low "within access commitment"
tariff rates up to a predetermined limit (i.e. until the import access quantity has been
reached), while imports over this limit are subject to higher "over access
commitment" rates of duty. Under section 6.2 of the (EIPA), the Minister may: a)
determine an import access quantity allowed entry at the low tariff rate, b) establish a
method of allocating the import access quantity, and c) issue an import allocation to any
resident of Canada who applies for an allocation, subject to the regulations and any terms
and conditions the Minister may specify in the allocation.
First-Come, First-Served (FCFS) TRQs
The Department of International Trade (ITCan), along with the Canada Border Services
Agency (CBSA), administers FCFS TRQs for margarine, wheat, wheat products, barley, barley
products, cut roses from Israel, and frozen pork from the European Union (EU).
In the case of these TRQs, import quota allocations are not issued to individual
companies. For wheat, barley and their products, as well as cut roses from Israel,
importers may invoke a general import permit (GIP) until such time as the TRQ has been
filled. GIPs authorize importation of goods at the within-access tariff rate.
For margarine and frozen pork from the EU, a specific import permit issued by ITCan is
required for each import shipment entered at the within-access tariff rate.
For certain agricultural products (e.g. dry onions and fresh strawberries from Chile;
certain agricultural products from Mexico such as roses, carnations, chrysanthemums,
tomatoes, onions or shallots, cucumbers and gherkins, broccoli and cauliflower,
strawberries, and preserved tomatoes), FCFS TRQs are administered by CBSA. For these
products, no GIP exists but the (FCFS) quota system operates in a similar manner.
Canada Border Services Agencys (CBSA) responsibility for FCFS TRQ goods includes
monitoring their importation and counting all imports of within-quota TRQ goods. CBSA
makes this information available to the public, including the amount of quota used and the
amount still available. For more information on CBSAs role in the administration of TRQs,
please contact the Customs and Trade Administration Branch, CBSA, at the address shown in Appendix III. CBSA also publishes a numbered series of
memoranda (D10-18-1, D10-18-5, D10-18-6, D10-18-7, D10-18-8 and D10-18-9), which explain TRQs-related
practices and procedures, including any changes or new agreements in this area.
TRQs Subject to Allocations
ITCan also administers TRQs for broiler hatching eggs and chicks, chicken, turkey, eggs
and egg products, non-NAFTA beef and veal, cheese, butter, milk and cream, buttermilk,
yogurt, ice cream, and other dairy products.
In order to import the above goods at the within-access rate of duty, importers must
have a specific import permit issued by the Minister for International Trade. Such import
permits are issued pursuant to import allocations to Canadian-residents.
On behalf of the Minister of International Trade, ITCans Export and Import
Controls Bureau is responsible for allocating import quotas to individual
Canadian-residents and for issuing the specific import permits pursuant to these
allocations. For more information on quota allocations and import permits for agricultural
goods covered by TRQs, please contact the Export
and Import Controls Bureau, ITCan at the address listed in Appendix III.
The following documents are available from the Department of International Trade. (See Appendix III for contact information):
- the Export and Import Permits Act,
- the Import Control List, and
- Notices to Importers providing details on the administration of TRQs.
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