Own or operate a food business?

You are responsible for the safety of your food products and for meeting requirements under federal food regulations.

Your role

You are responsible for the safety of your food products.

The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) apply to all food businesses that import food into Canada or prepare food that will be exported from Canada or traded from one province or territory to another.

If you operate within one province or territory, some SFCR requirements may still apply to you.

If you don't meet these requirements, you could be subject to control measures (for example, seizure or recall of your products) and/or enforcement actions like:

  • administrative monetary penalties
  • licence suspension or cancellation
  • prosecution

Steps to take

  1. Find out if you need a Safe Food for Canadians licence

    Answer a few questions using the licensing interactive tool to find out if your business needs a licence.

    If you need a licence, here's what you need to consider before applying.

  2. Explore our toolkit for food businesses

    The toolkit for food businesses will help you understand the SFCR and requirements for your business.

    You will need to make sure you meet all applicable SFCR requirements, including preventive control requirements, before you apply for your licence. Many food businesses will also need a written preventive control plan (PCP).

  3. Create a My CFIA account and apply for a licence

    Your My CFIA account will allow you to apply for a licence.

    You can also request, manage and track service requests (for example, licences, permits, registrations and certificates) online for yourself or on behalf of a business.

Learn the key requirements

Preventive controls

To help ensure food sold in Canada is safe and accurately represented, your food business needs to meet food safety requirements, including identifying and controlling risks to food and food animals. You need to have a complaint, investigation, notification and recall system in place and may also need a written PCP.

Learn more about preventive controls and PCPs.

Traceability

Traceability records and labels allow businesses to track food during a food safety investigation or food recall.

Check out our traceability interactive tool.

Labelling

All information on food labels or in advertisements must be accurate, truthful and not misleading.

Learn about the packaging and labelling requirements.

More information

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