Pet food is not a comprehensively regulated commodity in Canada compared to food for human consumption or livestock feeds.
The oversight of pet food by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is limited to compliance with regulatory requirements for import and export of animal products and by-products.
Pet food can contain animal products and by-products. Therefore, the rules for importing live animals, animal products and by-products may apply.
However, certain ingredients used in pet food may be regulated by different regulatory departments in Canada. Depending on the intended purpose of the ingredient or the final product, the following departments may be involved in regulatory oversight:
- Environment and Climate Change Canada – New substances
- Health Canada – Pesticides and Pest Management
- Health Canada – Veterinary Drugs
- Health Canada – Veterinary Health Products
Other pertinent information related to pet food:
You can also refer to the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) to provide accurate and timely information on import requirements.