Completing the "Application for Permit to Import" Form and "Facility Certification for the Importation of Animal Pathogens" Form

The form Application for Permit to Import (CFIA/ACIA 5083) must be completed and signed by the applicant. Applicants are also required to submit the application form Facility Certification for the Importation of Animal Pathogens (CFIA/ACIA 5083), which must be signed by both the applicant and the institutional safety officer. The applicant must complete Part I and II of the facility certification questionnaire if the request is for use of the pathogen in vitro only. Part III must also be completed if the pathogen is to be used in vivo.

Application forms may be typed (preferred method) or handwritten. Handwritten forms must be legibly written. Unreadable or incomplete forms may delay permit issuance. If more space is needed for a section, use additional sheet(s), noting the relevant section of the application form.

• Frequently Asked Questions

Instructions for the Successful Completion of the Form "Application For Permit to Import" (1 page)

1. The type of material to be imported - If unsure whether the imported material requires a permit, or which category it falls into, contact your CFIA Area Office.
   
   1b.) If applying to renew an existing permit, check off this box. Include the previous permit number. If all conditions for containment and manipulation of the imported material remain the same as the original application, a Facility Certification form is not required. If this is the case, include the "Statement of Renewal" form instead of the Facility Certification form.

2. Name of Importer - The name of the organization that is importing and that will be using the pathogen. Address listed below should be for this organization.

3. Contact - The person who should be contacted if any further information is required by the CFIA office to complete the processing of the application.

4. Destination/Reinspection/Quarantine (if different from address above) - This field is only to be completed if the imported material is to be handled at a location other than that listed in the Importer section (section 2) above.

5. Point of Entry - The name of the city and/or airport where the pathogen(s) will be entering into Canada. Applications for products requiring containment level 2 may list various points of entry. Applications for products requiring containment level 3 or 4 must specify a point of entry.

   5b.) Single Entry / Multiple Entry - Single entry permits allow for only one shipment of the imported material into Canada (Cost: $35). Multiple entry permits allow for unlimited shipments of the imported material into Canada for a one-year period (Cost: $60). Shipments must be accompanied by a copy of a valid import permit. Risk group 3 and 4 pathogens are not eligible for multiple entry permits - only single entry permits will be issued for these pathogens.

6. Description, Purpose, Quantity, Scientific and Commercial Name (if applicable) - A detailed description of the material(s) to be imported. Include specific strains, transformations, commercial names (eg. ATCC #) and scientific names (eg. Escherichia coli). Include a brief description of the type of work to be conducted (objectives, research, diagnostic, in vivo, in vitro etc.). If pathogens are inactivated, include details of how they were inactivated.

7. Name of Exporter - The name of the foreign organization exporting the pathogen. The address listed should be for this organization.

8. Contact Person - The person who should be contacted if any further information is required by the CFIA office processing the application, that the importer is unable to provide. Telephone and fax numbers should be for this person.

9. Country of Origin - The country where the imported product originated if different than that of the exporter (Section 7).

10. Producer/Team (if necessary) - The name and address of the company producing the material to be imported, if different than the exporter (Section 7) .

11. Routing - The path the imported material is to take between leaving the Exporter and reaching the Importer, if known.

12. Arrival Date - The expected date of arrival of the imported material into Canada, if known.

13. Correspondence - Language Preferred - All documentation regarding the import will be in the language selected, including letters detailing recommendations for handling the imported material, specific instructions, and the Import Permit. Please note that the exporter may be required to read permits or letters. If this is the case, English and French copies of letters may be requested.

14. Name of Applicant - The person who will be conducting the work with the imported material. The applicant accepts the legal responsibility for the imported material. The person requesting the permit (applicant) should be (1) knowledgeable and skilled in the handling of the infectious substance or biological material, (2) be directly responsible for work with the infectious material, and (3) should be located at the address within Canada where work with the infectious material will be performed. Regulatory affairs or other general administrative personnel are generally not acceptable as applicants. Enter the complete name of the applicant. The name appearing in this section should correspond to the signature in section 15. This person may or may not be the same as the "Contact" listed in section 3 above.

15. Applicant Signature - Signature of the person listed in section 14 above.

16. Method of Payment - **Please note that permits will not be issued until payment has been received by cheque, Visa, or Mastercard, or charged to a pre-existing CFIA account. Contact ImportZoopath@inspection.gc.ca with inquiries about setting up an account. Purchase orders (POs) will not be accepted. The payment section of this form must include the client name (as listed on the credit card or cheque). For credit card payments, card holder signature must be included. Be sure to include the card number and to check off the type of card you are using. Cheques should be made out to "The Receiver General of Canada". If paying by cheque, be sure to send your permit application form by mail, with the cheque attached, to the OBCS in Ottawa.

    Canadian Food Inspection Agency
    Office Biohazard Containment and Safety
    Animal Pathogen Importation Program
    1400 Merivale Road
    Ottawa, ON
    K1A 0Y9

Instructions for the Successful Completion of the Form "Facility Certifiction for the Importation of Animal Pathogens" (3 pages)

Note: This form must be completely filled out for each new application for an import permit (requests for renewal of permits should be accompanied by the statement of renewal). The "Facility Certification for the Importation of Animal Pathogens" (CFIA/ACIA 5083) form must accompany the "Application for Permit to Import" (CFIA/ACIA 5083)

1. Pathogen Name - The full scientific name of the material to be imported. Include specific strains if applicable.

2. To Be Used - Specify if work with imported material is to be done in vitro, in vivo, or both. If there is to be in vivo work done, be sure to fully complete all sections of page 3 of the Facility Certification for the Importation of Animal Pathogens form.

3. Quantity - The amount of material to be imported (eg. number of samples per shipment, number of shipments, size of samples, etc.).

4. Frequency - The number of times the material will be imported under the permit (if it is a single entry permit, the information in this field should be "once").

5. Commercial Name - Any alternate or commercial names for the product. If you are ordering the product from a commercial supplier, please provide the catalogue number and other relevant descriptive information. If the product is coming from a researcher, please provide detailed background product information (references, etc.), if applicable.

6. Previous Import Number (if applicable) - The permit number of previous permit issued for identical material shipped to the same location from the same exporter.

7. Applicant name/position/address - The name, job title and address (including room or section number) of the person who will be working with the imported material. This person should be the same as the person listed in section 14 of the form "Application for Permit to Import".

8. Institutional Safety Officer name/position/address - The name, job title, and address of the employee responsible for biological safety at your institution. This should be the person responsible for ensuring containment standards are being met.

9. Telephone, Fax, Email - The contact information for the Applicant listed in section 7 and the Institutional Safety Officer listed in section 8.

10. Facility address/building/room no. where imported material will be handled (if different than above) - Indicate the specific laboratory room (s) where the imported material is to be handled, in order to avoid unnecessary delays in the processing of your application. If this specific room number has not been certified at the required containment level within the last two (2) years (for CL-2) or one (1) year (for CL-3 or CL-4), then a re-inspection may be required. Please get a copy of the inspection checklist and have it completed and signed by your institutional safety officer (as listed in section 8), before returning it to the Office of Biohazard Containment and Safety.
    • Containment Level 2 Inspection Checklist
    • Containment Level 3 Inspection Checklists
11. Objective of Work - Provide a brief description of work intended to be done with the imported material. State the intended use(s): in vitro or in vivo (include animal model) activities, infectious disease research or diagnosis, genetic studies or analysis, chemical or biochemical analysis, enzyme assays, population profiles, kit development, etc. Failure to provide this information may cause unnecessary delays in the processing of the application.
12. Facility certification for the importation of animal pathogens: Part I - This section (Items 1-6) must be completely filled out to avoid unnecessary delays in the processing of your application. If the MSDS(s) used for the imported material is/are found on the Health Canada site or the CFIA site, or have been previously submitted, it is not necessary to include them with the application form. Please indicate this in the space provided. This information is required for any importation of material pathogenic to animals (ie. this information is not limited to veterinary facilities), and therefore there are no items in this section that may be left blank.

13. Facility certification for the importation of animal pathogens: Part II - This section (Items 7-11) must be completely filled out to avoid unnecessary delays in the processing of applications. This information is required for any importation of material pathogenic to animals and therefore there are no items in this section that may be left blank. All laboratories handling microorganisms pathogenic to animals, or parts thereof, must meet the physical requirements in the Containment Standards for Veterinary Facilities. This applies whether or not the facility performs work with animals.

14. Facility certification for the importation of animal pathogens: Part III - This section (Items 12-20) must only be filled out if in vivo work is to be done with the imported material. If in vivo work is to be done, there are no items in this section that may be marked "Not Applicable".

15. Name - Please print - To avoid unnecessary delays, this section must be filled out in all application packages. This could be the institutional safety officer listed in section 8 above, or the applicant, listed in section 7. This person assumes legal responsibility for ensuring that the information contained in the Facility Certification form is correct and complete.

16. Applicant Signature - To avoid unnecessary delays, this section must be filled out in all application packages. Signature of the person listed in section 7 above.

17. Institutional Safety Officer Signature - To avoid unnecessary delays, this section must be filled out in all application packages. Signature of the person listed in section 8 above.

When completed, please email, fax or mail your application to:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Office of Biohazard Containment and Safety
Animal Pathogen Importation Program
1400 Merivale Road
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0Y9
Telephone: 613-773-6523
Facsimile: 613-773-6521

Upon receipt of an application, a Permit or a Letter of Authorization will be issued. Please do not hesitate to contact our office with any questions regarding this matter.