European Union (EU) - Certification of fish landed by EU vessels, stored in Canada and exported to the EU for human consumption

Purpose

This document provides guidance to cold storage facilities who are storing fish caught by European Union (EU) approved vessels, stored in bond and then exported to the EU for human consumption. The cold storage facility is responsible to implement and comply with the requirements outlined in this document.

If the fish is imported into Canada, the appropriate clearance and import requirements will need to be met as per the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) import program. This guidance document does not apply to fish imported into Canada.

Scope

These requirements apply to cold storage facilities that are licensed under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) with the activity "Exporting food", have an acceptable Preventive control plan (PCP) and are on the EU list of approved Canadian establishments.

The EU vessels landing fish in Canada must be from one of the following 27 EU countries.

Eligible product for certification

Fish landed in Canada by EU approved vessels and stored in bond at cold storage facilities. The fish must be in the frozen state at time of certification.

Pre-export approvals by competent authority of importing country

Cold storage facilities:

  • Cold storage facilities must be licenced under the SFCR and must appear on the appropriate establishment list administered by Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG-SANTE). The lists pertinent to fish and seafood are available on the EU website for Third Country Establishments List per Country. Please click on "Canada" to see the following associated documents:

Procedure to update EU approval lists

  • Cold storage facilities wishing to be added to any of the EU approval lists must be in compliance with Canadian regulations.
  • Cold storage facilities are subject to Preventive control plan (PCP) requirements.
  • To request inclusion on any of the EU approval lists, please submit the following information to your local CFIA office:
    • unique establishment identifier
    • Safe Food for Canadians licence number
    • full legal name as it appears on the Safe Food for Canadians licence
    • physical site address associated with the unique establishment identifier as it appears on the Safe Food for Canadians licence
    • applicable establishment type(s):
      • CS – Cold Storage (Fishery Products)
    • name of the EU approval list(s) you are requesting inclusion on

Note: All additions, amendments and deletions will be forwarded to the EU for approval. The approval process takes approximately 3 months, but time frames may vary depending upon circumstances beyond the control of the CFIA.

Effective dates for additions, deletions and modifications to EU approval lists

Additions

  • EU health certificates may only be issued following the validity date of the submission on the relevant approval list. The validity date is the date on which a new or updated list enters into force, and appears on the top right corner of approval lists. This date is typically about 2 months after the submission to DG-SANTE has been sent, but time frames may vary depending upon circumstances beyond the control of the CFIA.

Modifications

  • Where a request is made to modify either the approval number or the cold storage facility  name on any EU approval list, the cold storage facility must ensure that all documentation identifies the old registration number and legal name recorded on the relevant EU approval list until such time as the list is officially amended and the validity date has been reached.

Deletions

  • Deletions are considered to be effective immediately upon submission to DG-SANTE. EU health certificates may only be issued until the last day prior to the date on which the request has been submitted to the European Commission.

Industry requirements

Unloading and Storage Requirements

  • the manner in which the fish is unloaded must meet the requirements of the EU as laid down in Chapter II of Section VIII, of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.
  • the fish does not show signs of decomposition. If the fish is decomposed at the time of unloading, the shipment must be refused.
  • the cold storage operator will maintain a copy of these requirements and implement controls and procedures to verify that they have been met.
  • the fish must be unloaded from an EU approved vessel. The list of EU approved establishment can be found in the TRACES system.
  • the manner in which the fish is stored at the cold storage must meet the requirements as have been established under the Safe Food for Canadian Regulations.

Loading and transport of the fish for export

The manner in which the fish is loaded and transported must meet the following requirements:

  • if the fish is to be loaded on a vessel, the fish must be loaded hygienically in compliance with the relevant requirements laid down in Chapters I and VIII of Section VIII of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/200.
  • if it is an EU vessel, they must be approved. The list of EU approved vessels can be found in the TRACES system.
  • if the vessel is from a third country (other then the EU) the vessel must be on the EU approved list of that country.
  • if the fish is to be loaded in a container, a truck, or an airplane it must be handled in a manner which meets the requirements laid down in Chapter VIII of Section VIII of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.
  • when the product, is exported from Canada, it must be accompanied by the print out(s) of the fishing logbook(s) or relevant parts thereof which has been duly signed and dated by captain of the fishing vessel.

Documentation requirements

The operator of the cold storage facility shall maintain the following documentation:

  • the relevant sections of the EU requirements for unloading, handling, storage, loading and transport of frozen fish products.
  • the procedures to be followed, the person responsible, and the records to be maintained which verify that the EU requirements have been met during the unloading, handling, storage, loading and transport of the frozen fish products.
  • records of all fish products landed, and all fish products shipped under the terms of this permission.
  • records of the state of the fish at time of unloading.
  • a copy of the log provided by the captain of the vessel. The log shall identify the species, quantity, fishing zone, date of harvest and weight by species of all fish landed and be signed and dated by the captain. This log will be requested for each landing of frozen fish. It may be provided in paper or electronic form. If provided in electronic form the signature must be electronically certified.
  • a copy of all certificates issued by CFIA.
  • a copy of all shipping documents issued in respect of product shipped.
  • a copy of the request procedures to be followed when certificates are requested by CFIA, the person authorized to request the certificates, and the date of request and receipt of each certificate.
  • any other documentation as requested by the inspector.
  • Note: the responsibility for enforcement of the documentation and controls established by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) are the responsibility of CBSA.

Requesting Certificate

The procedure for requesting the certificate shall be documented.

The procedure to request a certificate must include the following:

  • the local CFIA sub-district office must be contacted and an official certificate template requested for each certification request. Only the official copy of the certificate template provided electronically by CFIA will be issued.
  • the inspector will make a decision as to the inspection procedures required in order to verify that the cold storage has adhered to the requirements of this document. This may include on-site inspection at the cold storage.
  • once  the inspector has reached a decision that the product is eligible to be certified an electronic template will be provided to the operator for completion.
  • the operator will complete the certificate and return it to CFIA for signature.

Certificate

Health certificate for fishery products intended for human consumption caught by vessels flying the flag of a Member State and transferred in Canada with or without storage.

Form (CFIA/ACIA 5935)

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