Import Procedures
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issues Permits to Import in accordance with national policy guidelines under provision of the Plant Protection Act and Regulations. The CFIA is also responsible for plant protection import control and enforcement issues and provides interpretation and advice respecting the Plant Protection Act and Regulations.
Read the Plant and Plant Products Import Primer.
Import Permits
- Application for Permit to Import Plants and Other Things under the Plant Protection Act (CFIA/ACIA 5256)
- Frequently asked questions - Permit application process
- Information guide for importers of plant and related matter into Canada
- Validation of plant protection import permits prior to import
Import Policies
- Request for Comments: The Canada-United States Perimeter Approach to Plant Protection
- Insects and arthropods
- Biocontainment standards
- Organisms that do not require a plant protection permit to import
- Prohibited material from outside the continental US
- Propagative plant material and other commodities that require an import permit if originating from the Continental United States
Plant Protection Policy Directives - Imports
Plant protection policy directives that establish import requirements that apply to all plant commodities or do not fall under a commodity list.
- D-08-04: Plant Protection Import Requirements for Plants and Plant Parts for Planting: Preventing the Entry and Spread of Regulated Plant Pests Associated with the Plants for Planting Pathway
- D-00-04: Plant Protection Import Requirements for Earthworms
- D- 97-04: Application, procedures, issuance and use of a Permit to Import under the Plant Protection Act
- D- 96-20: Canadian Growing Media Program, Prior Approval Process and Import Requirements for Plants Rooted in Approved Media
- D- 96-14: Import Requirements for Invertebrates and Microorganisms
- D- 96-13: Import Requirements for Plants with Novel Traits, including Transgenic Plants and their Viable Plant Parts
- D- 95-26: Phytosanitary requirements for soil and related matter, and for items contaminated with soil and related matter
- D- 95-09: Importation of Dried Plant Material
- D- 94-31: Exhibitions - Plant Protection Import Policy and Procedures
Note: The importation of plants and plant products including other regulated commodities may also be subject to other Acts and Regulations administered and enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency including other Federal departments such as Canada Border Services Agency, Environment Canada (e.g. endangered species) and Health Canada. Provincial governments may also have requirements in addition to those listed.
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