This information is intended to provide answers to many of the questions asked on the federal requirements (grades, standardized products, packaging, labelling and registered establishments) for the processing and distribution (import, export, and interprovincial) of products covered by the Dairy Products Regulations (DPR). The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is the single contact for all federal regulations covering the products falling under the above-mentioned regulations, except for the granting of import permits.
This is not intended to replace any federal regulations; it is recommended to consult the appropriate set of regulations before using any information.
If you wish to import a dairy product, please ensure that the following points are respected:
For finished products containing dairy products as ingredients, such as cheesecake, please contact the CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) for the tariff classification (tariff rate to be paid), toll-free 1-800-461-9999 or for calls outside of Canada, 204-983-3500.
Exemptions: Section b, d, e and f do not apply to imported dairy products i) if the shipment does not exceed 20 kg and is not for sale in Canada, or ii) if imported for a national or an international exhibition, the shipment weighs less than 100 kg, and is not for sale.
A tariff exemption exists for imported dairy products if the total product value does not exceed $20.00 and the dairy products are for personal use.
For questions on other documentation required by CBSA, please contact your local CBSA office.
Other queries about importing dairy products may be directed to the Dairy Section at any of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency regional offices, or AgriFood - National Dairy Program, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0Y9, 613-225-2342; fax: 613-773-6282.
If you wish to ship dairy products interprovincially, please ensure that the following points are respected:
A, b, & c do not apply if the product i) weighs 20 kg or less; ii) is not intended for sale in Canada; or, iii) has been permitted in writing by an inspector to be shipped.
Fluid milk enquiries should be directed to your provincial department of agriculture.
For questions on documentation required by CBSA, please contact your regional CBSA office.
Grades as described in the Dairy Products Regulations exist for only the following products: cheddar cheese, butter and butter products, and dry milk products. The grade names are Canada 1, Canada 2, and Canada 3. Canada 3 grade, in the case of butter, butter products, and cheddar cheese, is a processing grade, and shall be used only for these products packed in bulk. Interprovincial or international shipments of these products must meet one of the grade requirements.
For many dairy products, standards are established in the Dairy Products Regulations. For an interprovincial or international shipment of a dairy product for which a standard is established such as "cottage cheese", the specified composition must be respected, as outlined in the Dairy Products Regulations.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible for labelling on products covered by the Dairy Products Regulations. Please use the following summary only as a guide to the basic labelling requirements under the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulations, and the Dairy Products Regulations. These acts and regulations must be consulted for further details, since not all details are listed below. In general, prepackaged dairy products for which standards are established have the following labelling requirements:
Please note: The following information supplements the general nutritional labelling requirements under the Food and Drug Regulations.
If packed in bulk, the label of dairy products for which standards are established must bear the following information: the common name; the registration number; churn/vat/lot number and date of production where applicable; declaration of net contents in Canadian units, metric units, or both; in the case of cheese, an indication that it was made from pasteurized milk; the identity and principal place of business of the person by or for whom the dairy product was manufactured or produced for resale; list of ingredients as set out by the Food and Drug Regulations; the durable life and instructions for storage; "Product of" for imported product; and "Product of Canada" when packed for export from Canada. Markings must be in either English or French. Further requirements exist for cheddar cheese packed in bulk; please consult the marking sections of the Dairy Products Regulations.
Label Review
Label review for dairy products is not obligatory; however, it is the manufacturer/importer's responsibility to comply with all labelling requirements (see above section). For labelling assistance (also involving claims) on all dairy products including those that do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Dairy Products Regulations, contact your regional Canadian Food Inspection Agency office; private consultants are also available to assist. See export requirements for an exception to labelling requirements for exported product.
Dairy product marked with a grade name, or dairy product shipped interprovincially or exported, or dairy product shipped intraprovincially to another registered plant must be prepared in an establishment registered with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. You may contact the nearest regional Canadian Food Inspection Agency offices for further information on registration requirements.
Export Inspection: A dairy product may not be exported unless it has been made available for inspection for a period of at least 14 days immediately preceding the date of exportation; please contact your regional dairy products officer of The Canadian Food Inspection Agency for further information. The product may however be exported without inspection if the inspector is provided with a signed statement from the shipper indicating the dairy product meets the requirements of the importing country, and the statement is included in the export documentation.
Import and Interprovincial Inspection: Inspection is not obligatory for dairy products involved in an import or interprovincial shipment.
Monitoring Inspections: At any time, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency may randomly inspect any food product to ensure that minimum requirements (composition, labelling, standard containers, & health standards) are met. Non-compliant product will be detained until it meets regulatory requirements, or, if imported, it may be ordered out of the country or destroyed.
Dairy Products for which grades are established: Cheddar cheese, butter and butter products, and dry milk products.
Standardized Dairy Products: Cottage cheese, creamed cottage cheese, whey cheese or (naming the variety) whey cheese, cream cheese, cream cheese with (naming the added ingredients), cream cheese spread, cream cheese spread with (naming the added ingredients), processed (naming the variety) cheese, processed (naming the variety) cheese with (naming the added ingredients), processed cheese food, processed cheese food with (naming the added ingredients), processed cheese spread, processed cheese spread with (naming the added ingredients), cold-pack (naming the variety) cheese, cold-pack (naming the variety) cheese with (naming the added ingredients), cold-pack cheese food, cold-pack cheese food with (naming the added ingredients), butter with flavour or seasoning, butter with (naming the fruit, vegetable, or relish), butter oil (clarified butter), anhydrous butter oil, mix for frozen dairy products, frozen dairy product, sherbet, milk shake mix, evaporated milk or concentrated milk, condensed milk or sweetened concentrated milk, evaporated skim milk or concentrated skim milk, evaporated partly skimmed milk or concentrated partly skimmed milk, malted milk powder, (naming the flavour) malted milk powder, sterilized milk, sterilized cream.