CFIA: what to know about the rules for exporting food to Canada

The importer holds the SFC licence

To import most foods into Canada, the importer must hold a Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licence issued by the CFIA. The licence must include the “importing food” activity and the specific commodities being imported.

If the licence number is missing or wrong, or does not cover the food, the import declaration is rejected and the shipment cannot enter until it is corrected. The CFIA advises applying early. A non-resident importer without a fixed place of business in Canada can also apply.

Before closing a sale, confirm that your buyer holds a valid SFC licence that covers your product. The CFIA offers an interactive tool to check whether a licence is needed.

Preventive controls: the same level as a Canadian supplier

The importer must understand the contamination risks of the food it brings in and document how they are controlled. The CFIA asks importers to make sure their foreign supplier meets the same level of safety as domestic suppliers, including in preparation, storage and transport.

In many cases the importer must also have a written preventive control plan (PCP), covering how it verifies its imports and how it handles complaints and recalls. In practice, that means it will ask you for evidence of your food safety controls: procedures, records, test results or audits.

Traceability: one step back, one step forward

The regulations require tracing each food one step back (who supplied it and when) and one step forward (who received it and when). Records are kept for two years, and when the CFIA asks for them they must be provided in English or French, normally within 24 hours.

For you as an exporter, that means clear lot codes on the product and in the paperwork, and records that link each lot to its source and its shipment.

Labelling in English and French

Mandatory information on consumer prepackaged food labels must appear in both English and French. The manufacturer or importer must label the product before it is distributed for retail sale. The CFIA Industry Labelling Tool sets out the requirements, including:

• Common name of the product.
• Net quantity.
• List of ingredients and allergens.
• Nutrition information.
• Best-before date and storage instructions, where they apply.
• Name and principal place of business.
• Country of origin, for products that require it.

Designing the label for Canada from the start is usually cheaper than fixing it once the product is on its way.

Product-specific requirements

Beyond the general rules, each product can have its own requirements depending on its category and origin, for example fresh fruit and vegetables or fish and seafood. The CFIA Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) shows the requirements by product code and country of origin, and it is the starting point for knowing which documents travel with your shipment.

Quick checklist before the first shipment

• Your buyer holds a valid SFC licence that covers your product.
• You checked AIRS for your product code with Ecuador as origin.
• Your food safety controls are documented and you can share them with the importer.
• Your lots are coded and your records let you trace them.
• Your label meets Canadian requirements, in English and French.