July 22, 2025
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has updated its plant health requirements to simplify importation of certain micro-organisms into Canada.
The requirements for importing micro-organisms are provided in the CFIA directive D-12-02: Import Requirements for Potentially Injurious Organisms (Other than Plants) to Prevent The Importation of Plant Pests in Canada.
The CFIA has updated Appendix 1 of the directive to include over 100 bacterial and fungal taxa, identified at the species or genus level, that no longer require a plant protection import permit. Additionally, there are no requirements on the movement or handling of these organisms within Canada.
These changes account for factors such as the organisms' presence in Canada and their potential impact on plant health. The CFIA has determined that future imports of these organisms pose negligible risk to the Canadian environment or economy.
Before applying for a plant protection import permit, please consult Appendix 1 to determine whether a permit is needed. As outlined in the CFIA's Automated Import Reference System, Appendix 1 is valid documentation that a permit is not required.
If you have questions, please contact CFIA-IAS_ACIA-EEE@inspection.gc.ca.