Centre of Administration for Permissions
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Permissions issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) help to keep Canada's domestic food supply safe, protect the environment from invasive animal and plant diseases and plant pests, and ensure compliance with various regulatory requirements, enabling market access and trade.
The Centre of Administration (CoA) receives and processes applications for domestic and import related permissions, which include licences, permits, ministerial exemptions, permissions to move, and test market authorizations.
Manage your application online
Most permissions are available online through My CFIA, a convenient and secure way to do business with the CFIA. Sign up for a My CFIA account to apply and check the status of your application, and manage and track service requests.
Should you have questions or need guidance in completing an application or renewal, contact us.
How long will it take to process my application?
The CoA strives to process applications according to standard processing times. Processing times can change depending on the type, complexity and number of applications received.
Please check your submission carefully before sending, as incomplete submissions can result in additional processing time.
Simple applications:
10 business days
Complex applicationsFootnote 1 (require specialist review):
May exceed 10 business days
Ministerial Exemptions for fresh
fruits and vegetables:
2 business days
Ministerial Exemptions and Permissions to Move for processed products:
5 business days
Test Market Authorizations
6 to 12 weeks
Safe Food for Canadians licence applications:
15 business days
Safe Food for Canadians Licence applications that require pre-issuance verificationFootnote 2:
May exceed 15 business days
Find an application form
Search by…
- Food (ministerial exemptions, permissions to move and test market authorizations)
Note: Apply for a Safe Food for Canadians licence by using My CFIA
- Animal Health (animal pathogens, animal products and by-products (including pet food), live animals (aquatic and terrestrial, including amphibians and reptiles), hatching eggs, and animal germplasm)
- Plant (plants, plant products, unprocessed/raw grains, oilseeds or plant-based meals, wood products, and wood packaging program registration)
Online payment
Sign up for a My CFIA account to access secure online payment options.
Businesses that manage high volumes of applications can select monthly invoicing as their online payment option in My CFIA by completing an Application for Credit (CFIA/ACIA 0015).
Transparency
Quarterly reports for permissions issued
What's new?
Learn about the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) and find out if your business needs a licence and when to apply.
Submit and track the status of your applications online by signing up for My CFIA.
Permit requirements
SFCR Interactive tool: Do you need a food licence?
The Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) shows the import requirements for CFIA regulated commodities
Contact us
The CoA offers bilingual support services Monday to Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. EST. We are closed for statutory holidays.
Telephone:
1-800-442-2342
613-773-2342
Email:
cfia.permission.acia@canada.ca
Email and voicemail messages are returned within 3 business days.
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