The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) sets out the requirements for importing food into Canada that applies to all importers, regardless of the food imported.
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Requirements for importers
Licensing
Learn more about the licensing requirements to import food and the tools that are available to you.
Preventive control plan
Access templates and guides that have been created to help you understand the requirements for a preventive control plan:
- Guide for preparing a preventive control plan (PCP) – For importers
- Preventive control plan (PCP) templates – for importers
- Preventive control plan
Traceability
Find out more about what you need to have in place to meet your traceability requirements.
Food safety and emergency responses
Learn more about how to handle complaints and food recalls for your imported food commodity: Recall procedure: A guide for food businesses
Requirements for imported food
Automated Import Reference System
The import requirements for all food products can be found in the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS). It is updated frequently, so prior to importing you should verify AIRS to ensure that the requirements have not changed.
Food and market specific requirements
Some foods may be subject to additional import conditions. Consult the food and market specific requirements for importing food.
Food safety
The food you import is required to meet general food safety requirements such as having been manufactured, prepared, stored, packaged and labelled under sanitary conditions. For more information, consult Food safety controls, traceability and recalls: Requirements for food businesses.
Labelling
In addition to the food safety requirements for imported food, you are required to become familiar with any applicable requirements related to standards, grades, net quantity and labelling. For more information, consult Food labelling for industry.
Organic products
Organic products imported into Canada must meet the certification requirements and have documentation attesting the product is organic as per Part 13 of the SFCR. For more information, consult the Canada Organic Regime import requirements.
Standards and grades
There are grades and standards referred to in the regulations for numerous food products. These standards of identity and grades have been combined into a collection of Documents incorporated by reference.
Ministerial exemptions
Ministerial exemptions may be required for test market foods or alleviating food shortages in Canada. Under certain circumstances, regulatory requirements may be exempted, and the import of non-compliant products may be permitted. The CFIA may exempt a product from the minimum grade (quality), labelling or packaging requirements or both, where we consider it necessary to prevent or alleviate a shortage of product in Canada.
Products of animal origin
Products of animal origin may also be subject to the Health of Animals Regulations. You are required to become familiar with all legislation that your food may be subject to. For more information, consult Animal, animal product and by-product imports.
Products of plant origin
Products of plant origin may also be subject to the Plant Protection Regulations. You are required to become familiar with all legislation that your food may be subject to. For more information, consult Plant and plant product imports.
Products for trade shows and exhibitions
The Importation of food and plant products for trade shows and exhibitions in Canada is a guide to importing products intended only for sampling or other free distribution during a trade show, exhibition or similar event.
Legislative authority
The regulatory authority preventing the distribution and sale of contaminated, adulterated, or unsafe food in Canada:
Safe Food for Canadians Regulations
Section 8(1)(a) of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations states:
Any food that is sent or conveyed from one province to another or that is imported or exported:
- must not be contaminated
Food and Drugs Act
Section 4(1) of the Food and Drugs Act states:
No person shall sell an article of food that
- has in or on it any poisonous or harmful substance
- is unfit for human consumption
- consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, disgusting, rotten, decomposed or diseased animal or vegetable substance
- is adulterated; or
- was manufactured, prepared, preserved, packaged or stored under unsanitary conditions
Related information
Regulatory requirements: Trade
Learn about the requirements found in Part 2 (Trade) of the SFCR related to the rules around trading food internationally and inter-provincially.
Fact sheet: Importing food
Access a general overview of the import requirements under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR).
Infographic: 3 Key principles for importers
Access a visual representative of the key principles to keeping food safe for importers.
Importing food: A step-by-step guide
Learn about the steps you follow to import food into Canada.
Bringing food into Canada for personal use
Find out more about the requirements for people that are travelling or immigrating to Canada and bring in food for personal use.