Terrestrial animal products and by-products import policy

Revised version

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1. Introduction

This document is about regulating the import of animal products and by-products into Canada for the purpose of preventing animal diseases from entering the country. We are responsible for regulating them and have the authority to do this under the Health of Animals Act and Health of Animals Regulations. It is intended to help importers, brokers, government regulators and other stakeholders.

2. Acronyms

AIRS:
Automated Import Reference System
APABP:
Animal Products and Animal By-products
BSE:
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
CBS:
Canadian Biosafety Standards, 3rd Edition
CBSA:
Canada Border Services Agency
CFIA:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
CITES:
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
ECCC:
Environment and Climate Change Canada
FMD:
Foot and Mouth Disease
HAA:
Health of Animals Act
HAR:
Health of Animals Regulations
HPAI:
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
NCP:
National Centre for Permissions
NISC:
National Import Service Centre
OBCS:
Office of Biohazard Containment and Safety
OMIC:
Official Meat Inspection Certificate
SFCA:
Safe Food for Canadians Act
SFCR:
Safe Food for Canadians Regulations
SRM:
Specified Risk Material
TSE:
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy
USA (U.S.):
United States of America
VND:
Velogenic Newcastle Disease
WOAH:
World Organization for Animal Health

3. Definitions

If there is more than 1 definition for the same word in the Health of Animals Act and the Health of Animals Regulations, both definitions are included and the source of the definition (the act or regulations) is written in brackets after the word.

The definitions in this section are applied for the purposes of this policy, although other CFIA programs may have separate definitions for the same term. Not all of the following definitions are taken from the HAA or HAR.

animal
(HAA) includes an embryo and a fertilized egg or ovum.
animal by-product
(HAA) includes blood or any of its components, bones, bristles, feathers, flesh, hair, hides, hoofs, horns, offal, skins and wool and any thing containing any of those things.
animal by-product
(HAR) means an animal by-product that originated from a bird or from any mammal except a member of the orders Rodentia, Cetacea, Pinnipedia and Sirenia.
animal food
(HAA) means any thing that is capable of being a nutrient for animals and includes any of the constituent elements of an animal ration.
animal food
(HAR) means food containing an animal product or animal by-product for chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, ratites, game birds, ruminants, swine or horses.
animal glands and organs
(HAR) includes ox gall or bile, rennet and similar substances derived from domestic animals.
animal health import permit
a document prepared by the CFIA under section 160 of the HAR for the purpose of importing animals or things.
animal pathogen
(HAR) includes any animal pathogen derived through biotechnology.
animal product
(HAA) includes cream, eggs, milk, non-fertilized ova and semen.
animal product
(HAR) means an animal product that originated from a bird or from any mammal except a member of the orders Rodentia, Cetacea, Pinnipedia and Sirenia.
approved disinfection establishment
(HAR) means any factory, plant or other place approved by the Minister for the cleaning, disinfection or treatment of any animal by-product or any other thing.
aquatic animal
(HAR) means any finfish, mollusc or crustacean or any part of a finfish, mollusc or crustacean at any life stage, as well as any germplasm of those animal
Automated Import Reference System
The Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) is a reference tool that shows the import requirements for CFIA regulated commodities.
bees
are the insects known as Apis mellifera.
beehive
is any container fit to shelter a colony of bees.
bee pollen
is plant pollen that has been collected by bees, whereas "pollen" is collected from plants by humans without having been in contact with bees.
bee product
(HAR) includes bee pollen, bee propolis, royal jelly, beeswax and honey.
beeswax
is a wax secreted by glands on the abdomen of worker honey bees.
beeswax rendering
is applying heat to the comb to melt it, filtering mechanical debris from the liquid wax and then allowing it to harden in a more purified form.
beeswax refining
is washing the wax in hot water to remove honey and dirt, mixing it with fuller's earth and activated carbon, filtering the mixture and then allowing it to cool.
blood meal
(HAR) means dried blood of an animal.
bone meal
(HAR) means ground animal bones, hoofs or horns which may include pieces of hide, flesh or sinew.
bovine
(HAR) means cattle or bison domestically raised or kept, but for the purposes of the import reference document does not include a bison that has ever been in contact with or part of a wild herd.
bristles
stiff hairs commonly found on pigs, often used to make brushes.
Canada

(Interpretation Act) "Canada", for greater certainty, includes the internal waters of Canada and the territorial sea of Canada.

For the purpose of this policy, a shipment is considered to be in Canada if it is:

  • onboard a vessel travelling within Canadian waters
  • onboard a vessel that is docked at a Canadian port
  • on a plane which has landed on Canadian soil
  • on a land vehicle which has crossed the Canada-United States border
  • being held in bond by CBSA on a transportation conveyance or in a bonded warehouse within Canada or
  • within Canadian territory through other means
Canadian waters
(Interpretation Act) "Canadian waters" includes the territorial sea of Canada and the internal waters of Canada.
captive wild animal
a mammal or bird of a species that is typically found in the wild, but is currently confined or kept in a non-natural environment by humans (that is zoos, aquariums, private homes, wildlife sanctuaries, hunting preserves, farmed game animals). The population is available for official disease monitoring and surveillance and the health status of the captive wild animals in a country or zone can be verified by the competent veterinary authority.
cattle
(HAR) means animals of the species Bos taurus or Bos indicus.
colostrum
the antibody-rich secretions from the mammary glands of a female mammal produced immediately following birth which provides immunity and nutrients to the newborn offspring which consumes it.
competent authority (receiving competent authority, foreign competent authority, central competent authority, competent veterinary authority)
a government agency or department that has been delegated the authority to carry out regulated functions. This includes any person or organization that has the authority to oversee and enforce the movement between countries of products or other things regulated under their authority.
complete feed (Feeds Regulations, 2024)
means a mixed feed that, when used for the type and class of livestock stated on the label, provides all of the nutrients necessary for the maintenance of life or for promoting production, except water and, in the case of ruminants and horses, roughage.
compound pet chews
pet chews made of inedible tissue (for example, rawhide, bone) combined, stuffed, or wrapped with meat or other animal products or by-products. Examples: rawhide wrapped with chicken jerky, bone stuffed with meat meal.
container
a vessel used to transport the imported product/by-product that is either reusable and can be cleaned and disinfected between uses or is new and single-use. The product/by-product inside the container may be in bulk or in final packaging. It must be undamaged and prevent spills or leaks. Examples may include, but are not limited to, shipping containers, metal or plastic boxes, bulk bags, totes and materials used to wrap an item being sent by mail or courier.
conveyance
(HAA) means any aircraft, carriage, motor vehicle, trailer, railway car, vessel, cargo container or other contrivance used to move persons, animals or things.
country of origin

(HAR) means:

  • (a) with respect to an animal, the country from which the animal was imported into Canada, where the animal has lived for no less than 60 days in that country in association with other animals of its own species and in any other case, means the country in which the animal was born,
  • (b) with respect to an animal embryo, animal product or animal by-product, the country in which the animal embryo, animal product or animal by-product was taken from an animal or
  • (c) with respect to an animal product or animal by-product – other than non-fertilized ova, semen and meat – that has undergone processing that would prevent the introduction of any reportable disease, any disease referred to in Schedule VII and any serious epizootic disease to which the species from which the product or by-product was derived is susceptible and that can be transmitted by the product or by-product, the country in which the product or by-product underwent that processing
designated country or zone
a country or zone determined by the CFIA to be free of reportable and immediately notifiable diseases that either affect or are spread by, the species of animal or the species from which the product or by-product to be imported into Canada was made. The CFIA uses risk assessment to determine if a disease is in a country and to determine the risk of spreading that disease by the import of animals, animal products or by-products. Refer to the lists of reportable diseases, immediately notifiable and annually notifiable diseases and the CFIA's animal health status by country and animal health status by disease web pages.
disease

(HAA) includes

  • (a) a reportable disease and any other disease that may affect an animal or that may be transmitted by an animal to a person and
  • (b) the causative agent of any such disease
disease
(HAR) means, for the purposes of Parts III and IV, any reportable disease or other serious epizootic disease to which an animal or germplasm is susceptible and which can be transmitted by the animal or germplasm.
disease of concern
is an animal disease for which the CFIA has authority to apply import controls to prevent its entry into Canada through imported animal products or by-products (reportable disease, immediately or annually notifiable disease, emerging disease or any serious epizootic disease to which the animal is susceptible).
dispose
(HAA) includes slaughter or otherwise, destroy, bury or render.
domestic animal
an animal that has historically been born and raised in captivity by humans for a specific purpose such as companionship, food production, transportation, competition etc. The animal's disease status can be verified by the veterinary competent authority.
dry salted (green) hides or skins
are hides or skins cured by rubbing them on the flesh surface with dry salt and leaving to dry.
egg product
(HAR) means any of the following, namely, whole egg, egg shells, egg yolk, egg albumen or any mix of these, in a liquid, dried, frozen or fresh form.
farmed animal
a mammal, bird or bee of a domestic animal species that is kept in captivity. The population is available for official disease monitoring and surveillance and the health of the farmed animals in a country or zone can be verified by the competent veterinary authority.
feathers
are the light, cornified surface outgrowths that form the outer covering of birds.
feral animal
means an animal of a domestic species that lives outside of captivity. The population is not fully available for official disease monitoring and surveillance and the health status of the feral animals in a country or zone cannot be verified by the competent veterinary authority.
fertilizer

(HAR) has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Fertilizers Act:

"fertilizer means any substance or mixture of substances, containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium or other plant food, manufactured, sold or represented for use as a plant nutrient;"

fish meal
means meals, hydrolysates and other rendered by-products of aquatic species (fish, crustaceans and molluscs), but does not include by-products of marine mammals.
fowl plague
(HAR) means highly pathogenic avian influenza.
gluestock
(HAR) means the hair, bones, hoofs, horns, fleshings, hide cuttings or parings of an animal or any other part of an animal that may be used in the manufacture of glue.
hair
is the threadlike outgrowth of the surface of an animal, especially the coat of a mammal [includes angora (hair of Angora rabbits), cashmere (Kashmir) (hair of Cashmere goats), fiber (hair of llamas and alpacas), horsehair (hair of the manes or tails of equine or bovine animals) and mohair (hair of Angora goats)].
hard dried hides or skins
are hides or skins that have been air-dried.
honey
is sweet, thick liquid produced by bees from the nectar of plants as well as from secretions of sap-feeding insects.
honeycomb
is a mass of natural beeswax cells which are hexagonal in shape, built by bees, with liquid honey sealed in the cells. Its purpose is to contain brood (young) and stores of honey.
inedible
means a product/by-product that is not fit or not intended for, use as human food.
insect meal
a ground or powdered substance made entirely from insects.
inspection
(HAR) means an inspection carried out by an inspector, except where a customs officer carries out an inspection pursuant to section 16 of the Act (Health of Animals Act).
inspection port
(HAR) means a place listed in Schedule II where facilities exist to inspect animals.
inspector
(HAA) means a person designated as an inspector pursuant to section 32.
integumentary tissues
a network of features that forms the covering of an organism, including hair, fur, wool, feathers, horns, antlers, hooves, skin and hide.
intermediate facility
is an establishment that processes, packages, handles, stores and/or exports raw inedible animal by-products, but does not function as a slaughterhouse.
international waste
includes aircraft garbage, animal manure and ship's refuse produced on a vessel or aircraft en route to Canada and non-compliant animal-origin materials arriving at the port of entry which are forfeited to the crown.
in-transit
means that a shipment of a product or by-product moves from the country of origin through an intermediate country for delivery to the destination country. The shipment stays under official control and is not released for use in the intermediate country.
jerky (for pets)
a pet food product consisting only of dried meat.
leak-proof container
fully enclosed and made of impervious materials (hard plastic or metal, never wood) and lined with a plastic liner of at least 6 mm thickness to prevent leakage.
lime pulled wool or hair
is wool or hair removed from hides or skins after the skins have been treated by liming or other treatments to loosen the hair.
liming
is the removal of the hair from hides and skins by applying a strong alkaline solution (see annex 7 for further detail).
livestock
(HAR) means animals of the bovine, caprine, equine, ovine and porcine species.
lot (or batch)
means a single production run, at a single facility, using the same ingredients and procedure, over a period not exceeding 24 hours.
manure
(HAR) includes guano, feces with or without urine and anything containing feces from any bird, ruminant or porcine; (includes manure that is produced by animals on board a ship or aircraft while en route to or after arrival in Canada).
meat meal or tankage
means the rendered and dried carcass or part of the carcass of an animal.
meat product

(Safe Food for Canadian Regulations) means the carcass of a food animal, the blood of a food animal or a product or by-product of its carcass or any food that contains the blood of a food animal or a product or by-product of its carcass. It does not include

  • (a) gelatin, bone meal, collagen casing, hydrolyzed animal protein, monoglycerides, diglycerides or fatty acids; or
  • (b) any food that contains a meat product in an insignificant quantity, having regard to the nature of the food and of the meat product
milk
(HAR) means the lacteal secretion obtained from the mammary gland of any ruminant, in concentrated, dried, frozen, reconstituted or fresh form.
milk product
(HAR) means any of the following, namely, partly-skimmed milk, skim milk, cream, butter, buttermilk, butter oil, whey, whey butter or whey cream, in concentrated, dried, frozen or reconstituted or fresh form, but does not include milk proteins, milk sugars and milk enzymes.
Official Meat Inspection Certificate (OMIC)
a certificate issued and endorsed by a veterinarian of a national competent authority, certifying to the importing country's requirements pertaining to public health as well as animal health. OMICs for products from the United States to Canada can be signed by a veterinarian and/or by an authorised inspector but any attestations related to animal health must be signed by an official veterinarian.
official veterinarian
means a veterinarian authorised by the veterinary competent authority of the country to perform certain official tasks associated with animal health or public health including inspections of commodities and issuance of zoosanitary certificates.
ornamental fish
fish that are kept primarily for decorative purposes in aquariums, ponds or water gardens. These fish are not intended for human consumption or for use in animal feed.
packaging
the materials used to contain an imported commodity in the state that it will be used or purchased by the final consumer in a commercial context. Packaging used for imported animal products or by-products must be new, clean, undamaged and prevent spills or leaks. Examples may include, but are not limited to, cans, pouches, bags, etc.
pet
a domesticated animal, not including livestock or poultry, usually kept in a residence as a companion and generally referring to dogs and cats; can also be referred to as a companion animal.
pet food
a nutritionally complete diet for a dog, cat or other animal kept as a pet.
pet food products
pet food, pet treats, compound pet chews and pet supplements
pet supplement
a highly processed nutritional product/by-product whose purpose is to provide additional protein, vitamins, minerals or other products, such as chondroitin sulphate or glucosamine, to pet animals; supplements may be in pill, capsule, powder or liquid form and either be added to food or given directly (orally) to the animal.
pet treat
a pet food product with limited nutritional value that is used as a reward or supplement. Examples: biscuits, liver bites.
pickled hides or skins
are hides or skins that have been prepared and preserved for tanning using an acid bath treatment or by soaking in salt water (brining).
pollen
is male germplasm of plants; it contains proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins; it is collected by bees from a variety of plants at different times of year; it is the only protein source collected by bees for feeding their brood.
poultry
(WOAH - Terrestrial Animal Health Code) means all birds reared or kept in captivity for the production of any commercial animal products or for breeding for this purpose, fighting cocks used for any purpose, and all birds used for restocking supplies of game or for breeding for this purpose, until they are released from captivity.
Birds that are kept in a single household, the products of which are used within the same household exclusively, are not considered poultry, provided that they have no direct or indirect contact with poultry or poultry facilities.
Birds that are kept in captivity for other reasons, including those that are kept for shows, racing, exhibitions, zoological collections and competitions and for breeding or selling for these purposes, as well as pet birds, are not considered poultry, provided that they have no direct or indirect contact with poultry or poultry facilities.
premix
(Feeds Regulations, 2024) means a mixed feed that provides a significant source of nutrients and is a uniform mixture that may contain micro-ingredients, macro-minerals, facilitating agents, specialty feeds and carriers, and that is intended to be further diluted and mixed with other feeds to produce a mineral feed, another premix, a supplement or complete feed.
process
means, pertaining to an animal product or animal by-product, applying a procedure that would prevent the introduction of any disease of concern that can be transmitted by the product or by-product.
processed pet food
pet food that has been heat-treated to an extent that will eliminate diseases of concern from the untreated raw ingredients; may be dry, semi-moist or moist and has been extruded, baked, canned or retorted.
prohibited material

(HAR) means anything that is or that contains any, protein that originated from a mammal, other than:

  • a) a porcine or equine;
  • b) milk or product of milk;
  • c) gelatin derived exclusively from hides or skins or products of gelatin derived exclusively from hides or skins;
  • d) blood or products of blood; or
  • e) rendered fats, derived from ruminants, that contain no more than 0.15% insoluble impurities or their products

(2) Prohibited material that has been treated in a manner approved by the Minister to inactivate the agents that cause transmissible spongiform encephalopathies is no longer prohibited material.

propolis
is a sticky, resinous material gathered by bees from trees and other vegetation. Propolis contains waxes, resins, balsams, oils and pollen.
raw or minimally heat-treated pet food
is a commercial, ready for retail sale diet which has not undergone heat treatment or has not undergone enough heat treatment to meet the definition of processed pet food. The product/by-product may be chilled, frozen or freeze-dried; also known as Biologically Appropriate Raw Diet (BARF) diet.
rawhide
a material prepared by separating an animal hide into 2 or more layers. The inner layer is then converted to a hardened and dried product without the process of tanning.
raw wool, hair or bristles
(HAR) means wool, hair or bristles taken from an animal but does not include wool tops, wool waste, wool noils, wool laps, small trade samples of wool, lime pulled wool and hair, scoured wool and hair and carbonized wool and hair.
regulated animal

(HAR) means a hatching egg, turtle, tortoise, bird, honeybee or mammal, but does not include

  • (a) germplasm;
  • (b) members of the orders Cetacea, Pinnipedia and Sirenia; or
  • (c) members of the order Rodentia, other than
    • (i) prairie dogs (Cynomys sp.), African Giant Pouched Rats (Cricetomys gambianus) and squirrels of the family Sciuridae, from any country and
    • (ii) any other members of the order from Africa
rendered product
an animal by-product that has been prepared or treated for use in or converted into, fertilizer, animal food, fat or oil, other than fat or oil used for human consumption.
rendering
means the series of activities that take place within a rendering plant which prepare and treat animal by-product for use in or conversion into, rendered product.
rendering plant

(HAA) means a place:

  • (a) where animal by-products are prepared or treated for use in or converted into, fertilizers, animal food, fats or oils, other than fats or oils used for human consumption,
  • (b) where a substance resulting from a process mentioned in paragraph (a) is stored, packed or marked or
  • (c) from which a substance resulting from a process mentioned in paragraph (a) is shipped
Royal jelly
is secreted by the glands in the head of the worker bees. It is fed to queens throughout their larval and adult lives and to young workers and drone larvae. It is high in protein and is made with proteins from the pollen.
ruminant
(HAR) means an animal of the suborder Ruminatiae and includes an animal of the family Camelidae.
simple pet chews
products obtained from inedible animal tissues for pet animals to chew; they have no nutritional value and may contain flavorings, colorants and preservatives. They differ from compound pet chews in that they are not stuffed with another animal product or by-product. Examples: pizzles, rawhides, ears, hooves, tails, esophagus, trachea, bones, tendon, antlers.
specified risk material
(HAR) means the skull, brain, trigeminal ganglia, eyes, tonsils, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia of cattle aged 30 months or older, and the distal ileum of cattle of all ages, but does not include material from a country of origin, or a part of a country of origin, that is designated under section 7 as posing a negligible risk for Bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
tanning
a preservation process, usually a chemical treatment, which converts the otherwise perishable skin to a stable and non-decaying material.
tanned hide or skin
is the outer covering of ruminants, ratites, equines and porcines that has been preserved, usually with a chemical treatment, to convert it to leather.
taxidermy
is the preservation of an animal's body by stuffing and mounting for display or study. Often, the head or entire body is processed by the taxidermist, although sometimes specific body parts, such as teeth, tusks or antlers, are prepared. Polyurethane or plastic mannequins are used to support the skins and horns of the hunted animals. The skins are fully prepared and preserved before placement on the mannequin.
terrestrial animal
includes birds and mammals except members of the orders Rodentia (for example rats, mice), Cetacea (for example, whales, dolphins), Pinnipedia (for example, seals, sea lions) and Sirenia (for example, manatees, dugongs)
trophies
are the heads, antlers or other body parts of hunted animals that will be preserved for display by taxidermy.
transshipment
means a movement of products or by-products from the country of origin to a country of destination where the goods pass through an intermediate country. The shipment is officially released into the intermediate country, the container is opened, and a portion of the original cargo is then shipped from the intermediate country to the country of destination.
untanned (raw) hide or skin
(HAR) means the outer covering of ruminants, ratites, equines and porcines that is raw and has not been chemically processed into a permanent and durable form of leather.
Note: includes dry salted, wet salted, hard dried, pickled and limed hides and skins.
veterinary biologic

(HAA) means a thing that is manufactured, sold or represented for use in restoring, correcting or modifying organic functions in animals or for use in the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or prevention of a disease, disorder or abnormal physical state – or its symptoms – in animals and that is:

  • (a) a helminth, protozoa or micro-organism,
  • (b) a substance or mixture of substances derived from animals, helminths, protozoa, micro-organisms or plants, or
  • (c) a substance of synthetic origin
veterinary biologic
(HAR) includes any veterinary biologic derived through biotechnology.
wet blue (in the blue) hides or skins
are hides or skins that have been chrome-tanned.
wet salted (wet green, brined) hides or skins
are hides and skins cured by treating with liquid salt solution.
wild animal
means an animal that lives and breeds in its natural environment with minimal or no human interference. The population is not fully available for official disease monitoring and surveillance and the health status of the wild animals in a country or zone cannot be verified by the competent veterinary authority.
wool

is the hair of sheep or lambs. Some commonly used wool terms:

carbonizing

removal of vegetable matter (for example burrs, seeds, straw) from wool by immersion in mineral acid or acid salts

carding

process that removes short fibers from wool and places the longer fibers parallel to each other

fleece

wool from a single sheep in the grease state

grease (raw) wool

wool immediately after it is shorn from the sheep before any processing or cleaning has taken place to remove the wool grease

pulled (slip) wool

wool removed from a hide after fermentation or a chemical treatment such as liming

scouring

the separation of dirt, grease and foreign matter from grease wool by washing with soap, detergents or alkaline solutions

wool laps

waste generated during the industrial carding of wool composed of wool fibers of different lengths and orientations

wool noils

short fiber left over from combing wool

wool tops

wool that has been scoured and carded and is ready for spinning

wool waste

degreased wool generated during combing, carding or other processes preparatory to spinning

zoosanitary certificate
A certificate issued and endorsed by an official veterinarian of a competent animal health authority, certifying compliance with the importing country's animal health requirements.

4. General legislation

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act (CFIA Act), section 11, empowers the CFIA to administer and enforce the Health of Animals Act. Subsection 14(2) empowers the CFIA to negotiate and enter into arrangements for the implementation of technical requirements for the international movement of products or other things regulated under an act or provision that the CFIA enforces or administers.

The Health of Animals Act, sections 14-18 provide the CFIA the legislative authority to control the introduction or import of diseases into Canada.

Under the Health of Animals Regulations, the following sections are generally applicable to the import of animal products or by-products (further details are provided in specific chapters of this document where necessary):

  • Part II Importation, General, Designation, section 7
  • Part IV, Importation of Animal By-products, Animal Pathogens and other Things (sections 40 and 41)
  • Part IV, section 50, General
  • Part IV, section 51, Animal Pathogens, Animals or Other Organisms, Animal Blood and Animal Serum
  • Part IV, section 52, Importation Permitted
  • Part XIII, section 160 Permits and Licenses

5. General policy statement

Imported animal products and by-products can spread diseases of concern to domestic animals. They can therefore harm Canada's livestock populations, reduce or halt agricultural production and negatively impact Canada's economy. Animal diseases can also negatively impact animal welfare, harm wild animal populations and in the case of diseases that can infect both animals and humans, threaten the safety of Canada's people.

It is the role of the CFIA to protect Canada's livestock populations and to prevent the introduction and spread of animal diseases of concern into Canada. Under the Health of Animals Act and the Health of Animals Regulations, the CFIA animal health program regulates the import of animal products and by-products. Other acts and regulations under the responsibility of the CFIA may also be applicable to some animal products and by-products.

Points considered when determining the risk of an import include:

  • country of origin of the product or by-product (disease status and veterinary system)
  • species the animal product or by-product is made from
  • processing of the product or by-product, if applicable
  • disease status of countries the item may move through
  • end use in Canada
  • WOAH standards and guidelines
  • the disease status and existing national disease controls in Canada

Import conditions are determined based on the previous points through negotiation with exporting countries and may be included in an import permit. In some cases, the risks of importation may be unknown or too high and the importation is not allowed.

In situations where an importer or exporting country is requesting the import of a new product or by-product, a full risk assessment may be required. Information can be found in the CFIA policy: Request to import a new commodity or import from a new country of origin.

6. Scope of products and by-products covered by this policy

Broad categories of animal products and by-products covered by this policy include the following:

  • manure and fertilizer containing manure
  • integumentary (from the outer surface of the animal) and animal-origin display items
  • contaminated things (used equipment and settler's personal effects)
  • milk products
  • products of a rendering plant
  • edible meat products
  • raw inedible by-products
  • pet food, treats and supplements
  • pet chews
  • laboratory and research samples and materials
  • bee products
  • egg products
  • highly processed products/by-products
  • medicinal and natural health products
  • livestock feeds
  • mixtures containing animal-origin ingredients
  • other animal products or by-products not listed previously

Some products and by-products may fall under more than 1 section in this document. For example, spray-dried blood used for lab testing may fall under the laboratory and research samples section, whereas it may fall under the Products of a rendering plant section if it was used for fertilizer.

The scope of the Animal Products and By-products Import Program does not cover:

  • food safety
  • regulation of the trade of endangered species
  • export
  • domestic movement
  • live animal importation
  • the import of products containing no animal-origin ingredients
  • import of human tissues
  • the enforcement of trade tariffs

These topics may fall under other CFIA programs or other government departments or agencies.

Products of insects other than bees are not regulated under the Health of Animals Act and regulations and there are generally no animal health import requirements for these products, with the exception of insect meals.

7. Diseases of concern for Canadian animals

Import controls applied by the CFIA to animal products and by-products are in place to prevent the introduction into Canada of diseases of concern for Canadian animals. The CFIA may apply import controls which address diseases in any of the following categories:

  • any reportable disease
  • any disease referred to in Schedule VII or VIII (immediately notifiable diseases and annually notifiable diseases)
  • any serious infectious animal disease that can be spread through the animal product or by-product

Canada is required under the Health of Animals Regulations to evaluate whether countries that we do trade with have animal diseases of concern before allowing import. A list of countries which have been evaluated and recognized free of specific diseases can be found on the CFIA's Animal health status by disease webpage. Please note that this official disease status is applicable to animal products and by-products originating from domestic or captive wild animals only and does not apply to those from free-roaming wild animals. For example, if a country is listed as free of HPAI, materials from wild geese from that country are not considered free of this disease. Products or by-products from animals such as bison and wild boar that are kept captive or farmed are considered to be from domestic animals, while those from the same species free-roaming in the wild, including feral swine, are considered to originate from wild animals. In the case of BSE, a country is classified by the WOAH using the categories "negligible risk", "controlled risk" and "undetermined risk" and BSE import controls are based on this classification. Canada accepts the WOAH classification of countries for BSE risk. Therefore, the CFIA does not do separate BSE reviews. The CFIA's BSE policy can be found at Bovine spongiform encephalopathy import policy for bovine animals and their products and by-products. For other diseases of concern, countries are classified by Canada as "free" or "not free" and import controls are also based on these categories.

In general, products/by-products from rodents (members of the order Rodentia) don't have animal health import requirements. However, due to concerns about bubonic plague (Yersinia pestis) and other diseases, products/by-products from the following categories of rodents have import restrictions in place:

  • prairie dogs (Cynomys sp.), African Giant Pouched Rats (Cricetomys gambianus) and squirrels of the family Sciuridae, from any country and
  • any other members of the order Rodentia from Africa

The following are some of the diseases more commonly considered "diseases of concern" in imported animal products and by-products, but this is not an all-encompassing list:

  • avian (birds): HPAI, ND
  • bovine (cattle): contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, Foot and Mouth Disease, lumpy skin disease, Rift Valley fever, bovine spongiform encephalopathy
  • ovine (sheep) and caprine (goats): Foot and Mouth Disease, sheep and goat pox, peste des petits ruminants, scrapie
  • swine (pigs): African swine fever (ASF), classical swine fever (hog cholera), Foot and Mouth Disease, swine vesicular disease, pseudorabies (Aujeszky's disease)
  • equine (horses, ponies, donkeys etc.): African horse sickness
  • lagomorph (rabbits, hares and pikas): rabbit viral hemorrhagic disease, myxomatosis
  • cervid (deer, moose, elk, caribou etc.): Foot and Mouth Disease, chronic wasting disease

8. Country evaluations and system or facility approvals

The CFIA regularly receives requests to import animal products and by-products where the exporting country of the product/by-product has not been evaluated. These requests may come from a Canadian importer or from an exporting country. In response, the CFIA will determine whether evaluation of the entire country's veterinary infrastructure, the production system for a specific product/by-product or a specific establishment is required. The competent authority of the exporting country must be willing to participate in the evaluation and there must be interest from Canadian importers in importing the product/by-product.

The first step of a country evaluation is for the CFIA to send a questionnaire to the competent authority of the foreign country requesting detailed information about their veterinary infrastructure, legislation, disease control programs, import and export systems etc. If the responses received are satisfactory, an on-site audit will be the next step required to gather further information. The overall process may take years to complete and it does not guarantee a favourable result.

If the country evaluation is completed successfully, the CFIA will accept zoosanitary certificates from that country and will allow the import of animal products and by-products. The decision will be shared with the foreign competent authority and stakeholders. A list of countries that have already been evaluated and approved may be found at the following page: Countries evaluated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for export of animal products and by-products to Canada.

This list is sometimes informally called the list of countries with "recognized veterinary infrastructure".

In some situations, a full country evaluation is not required. For example, evaluation of a production system or specific establishment may be more appropriate and follows the same steps: a written questionnaire followed by an onsite evaluation. These evaluations are smaller in scope.

Further detail for Canadian importers about the evaluation process is found in the policy: Request to import a new commodity or import from a new country of origin.

9. General roles and responsibilities

The following list outlines some of the main roles and responsibilities related to the import of animal products and by-products, but it is not all-encompassing.

CFIA Animal Health Program
  • Communicate with national-level industry groups, stakeholders and government departments or agencies regarding animal products and by-products import program issues or developments
  • Write and maintain import policy documents
  • Write Canada's animal health import requirements for animal products and by-products
  • Communicate with other countries to negotiate zoosanitary certificates to accompany imported shipments
  • Publish new or updated import conditions in AIRS
  • Complete system evaluations and compliance audits of countries exporting animal products and by-products to Canada
  • Provide scientific advice and support regarding the risk associated with an import and appropriate preventative measures to minimize this risk

OBCS
  • Issue import permits for animal pathogens and animal products and by-products that contain or may contain a pathogen
  • Write Canada's animal pathogen import requirements
  • Set standards for and inspect biocontainment facilities
  • Consult with the Animal Health Program as required regarding import conditions for animal products/by-products imported using a pathogens permit

NCP
  • Issue import permits
  • Receive requests for import permits or risk assessments

National Import Service Centre
  • Review import documentation and compare it to the import permit or import conditions and provide a decision on the eligibility of certain shipments for entry into the country

District offices
  • The primary point of contact for the public and industry on import matters
  • Conduct inspection of importing or processing facilities where required
  • Conduct post-import activities as required by permit conditions
  • For CFIA offices covering ports of entry, conduct inspections at the time of import when required, to confirm eligibility of the animal product(s) or by-product(s) for entry into Canada

CBSA
  • Inspect imported shipments for compliance with CFIA requirements
  • Refer imported shipments to CFIA for further inspection if required
  • Enforce CFIA requirements at the port of entry
  • For further details, please see CBSA Memorandum D19-1-1

Importer
  • Verify the import conditions for the animal product or by-product and comply with those conditions
  • Present all required documents for inspection
  • Properly declare the imported shipment
  • Present the imported shipment to CBSA and CFIA for inspection, if applicable

Competent authorities of exporting countries
  • Negotiate conditions to export animal products and by-products from their country to Canada
  • Complete inspections and sign and stamp inspection questionnaires for exporting premises
  • Verify that exported shipments of animal products and by-products are compliant with Canadian import requirements
  • Prepare, sign and stamp zoosanitary certificates for shipments of animal products and by-products being exported to Canada

Trade Commissioners
  • An intermediate point of communication between the CFIA and the competent authority of the exporting country regarding trade issues, negotiations or disease outbreaks

Industry associations
  • Represent the interests of their members from a specific industry
  • Serve as a point of communication with the government on topics of interest to their industry

World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH)
  • Publish standards for the international trade of animals and animal products/by-products which are used by member countries to safeguard world trade
  • Receive worldwide reports of animal disease occurrences and make the information publicly available

World Trade Organization (WTO)
  • Publish standards for international trade under the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures
  • Receive notices of updates to import conditions or regulations from countries and communicate them internationally for feedback

10. Coding and declaration of animal products and by-products at the time of importation

Imported animal products and by-products are coded using an HS (Harmonized System) and an OGD (Other Government Departments) combination of numbers. The first 6 digits of the code is the HS and follows an international standard set by the World Customs Organization. It is used by regulatory bodies internationally for tariff purposes. The OGD is created by the CFIA to further describe and categorize products and by-products for import purposes. The CFIA OGD may differ from codes used by other regulatory bodies.

Example of coding used by the CFIA for lab tissue samples from swine:

HS description
  • 05 Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included
  • 11 Animal products not elsewhere specified or included; dead animals of Chapter 1 or 3, unfit for human consumption
  • 99 Other

OGD extension
  • 1298 Laboratory or tissue samples, fresh, frozen or fixed
  • 06 Porcine (swine)

In Canada, the CBSA is responsible for making a ruling on the HS code (first 6 digits) and enforcing compliance with proper declaration. It is recommended that importers confirm that CBSA agrees with this portion of the code. Getting a CBSA ruling on the HS code is recommended and may help the importer with using AIRS to find the CFIA import requirements. The CFIA can provide advice on the OGD extension since this will be unique to the CFIA.

Other government departments including CBSA may have different OGD coding than the CFIA for the same product/by-product.

After getting the correct HS code, if the product/by-product does not have a fitting OGD code in AIRS, the importer can contact the NCP to ask for a case by case evaluation. The importer should submit an application for an import permit through My CFIA which will be considered on a case by case basis to determine the import eligibility and import conditions.

Intentionally mis-declaring a product/by-product to CBSA and/or CFIA to avoid regulatory import requirements may result in enforcement and control action. The HS code should be confirmed with CBSA by the importer or broker. Any consequences or enforcement/control action that may result from improper declaration of the HS code (first 6 digits) to CBSA are borne solely by the importer.

The importer or broker is solely responsible for obtaining and using the correct HS code(s) (first 6 digits) from CBSA prior to importing the commodity. The CFIA disclaims any liability for issues arising due to the importer's or broker's failure to obtain or use the correct code(s).

11. General import requirements

Please refer to the following commodity-specific sections for additional information.

All documents required to allow import must be issued before the arrival of the shipment at the port of entry and must be presented to CBSA and/or the CFIA for inspection. All import documents presented to the CFIA for inspection must be written in at least 1 of Canada's official languages, French or English.

Other CFIA programs or other government bodies may have additional requirements for imported animal products and by-products. The importer is responsible for confirming that all such requirements have been met before the imported goods arrive in Canada.

AIRS: consult AIRS to get the current Animal Health import conditions. One or more of the following requirements may apply to the imported commodity.

11.1 Import permit

An import permit is a legal document issued under section 160 of the Health of Animals Regulations. The importer is required to comply with all conditions of the permit in order to import the product/by-product into Canada. An import permit is provided by the CFIA to the importer, specifying the importer's obligations and outlining the import requirements.

Import permits cannot be issued or amended after the commodity has arrived in Canada. That is, a permit may not be issued or amended for a shipment that is:

  • onboard a vessel travelling within Canadian waters
  • onboard a vessel that is docked at a Canadian port
  • being held in bond by CBSA on a transportation conveyance or in a bonded warehouse within Canada
  • on a plane which has landed on Canadian soil
  • on a land vehicle which has crossed the Canada-United States border
  • within Canadian territory through other means

This restriction is in place to ensure that all required risk assessment and certificate issuance is completed before shipments arrive in Canada.

11.2 Requirement for an import permit to be issued to a Canadian individual, business or institution

For disease-control purposes, the CFIA may need to locate and trace the movement of animal products or by-products, including those that have been imported. For example, if it was determined that imported porcine meat was the cause of an ASF outbreak, the CFIA would need access to the product and documents regarding its source and distribution, so that additional spread of the disease could be prevented. For this purpose, the Health of Animals Act states the following:

"Provision of documents, information or samples

36 (1) An inspector or officer may, for the purpose of detecting diseases or toxic substances or for a purpose related to verifying compliance or preventing non-compliance with this Act, order a person to provide, on the date, at the time and place and in the manner specified by the inspector or officer, any document, information or sample specified by the inspector or officer.

Duty to provide document, information or sample

(2) A person who is ordered by an inspector or officer to provide a document, information or a sample has a duty to do so on the specified date, at the specified time and place and in the specified manner."

For the CFIA to apply the previous section of the HAA for disease control purposes to products/by-products imported under the authority of an import permit, the import permit must be issued to a Canadian individual, business or institution. If the permit holder was not within Canada, exercising the previous section of the HAA and efficiently controlling the source of the disease could have added challenges.

Exception: An import permit application from a foreign traveller who will be accompanying an imported animal product or by-product for the entire time it is within Canada will be considered by the CFIA on a case-by-case basis.

11.3 Zoosanitary certificate

Zoosanitary certificates are official documents, signed and stamped by an official veterinarian of an exporting country, attesting to animal health statements related to the shipment for export. The purpose of the zoosanitary certificate is to ensure that the commodity for import into Canada meets Canada's animal health requirements. A zoosanitary certificate may be negotiated between the CFIA and the competent authority of the exporting country, with conditions that can only be changed by agreement between the importing and exporting countries. In the absence of a negotiated certificate the zoosanitary certificate must meet the requirements in AIRS or an animal health import permit.

In general, zoosanitary certificates used for the importation of animal products and by-products into Canada must be on official letterhead and include:

General information
  • Importer name and address
  • Exporter name and address
  • Clear product/by-product description, including species of origin
  • Country, region or zone of origin of the product/by-product

Animal health information
  • Animal health (zoosanitary) statements about the disease status of the product/by-product and/or country of origin

Official endorsement information
  • Name of endorsing official veterinarian
  • Signature of endorsing official veterinarian (may be digital if agreed to in advance by the CFIA)
  • Date of endorsement
  • Official seal or stamp
  • Unique reference number

E-certification is the exclusive use of an electronic document as a zoosanitary certificate (in other words, no paper copy is provided). E-certification may only be used where a formal agreement is in place between the exporting country and the CFIA to allow this to be used to import animal products or by-products into Canada. If a paper copy of a certificate is prepared and a scan of it is provided to the CFIA for import purposes, this is not considered e-certification. E-certificates may have digital signatures on them. The use of digital signatures in place of handwritten signatures is only allowed when there is a formal agreement between the exporting country and the CFIA.

11.4 Replacement zoosanitary certificate

Zoosanitary certificates sent with imported shipments can sometimes have mistakes or be missing information. If an inspector believes that a certificate was prepared by the competent authority, but incorrectly, it is acceptable to give the importer the opportunity to get a replacement certificate from the competent authority. It is acceptable for the replacement certificate to be dated after the shipment has left the country of origin if the original was dated before the shipment left. The replacement certificate must:

  • have the incorrect information fixed
  • mention that the certificate replaces the original
  • indicate the reference number of the certificate that it is replacing
  • follow the standard zoosanitary certificate requirements listed in the Zoosanitary certificate section

If the inspector is satisfied that these requirements have been met, they may release the shipment.

It is at the discretion of the foreign competent authority whether to provide a replacement certificate and in some cases they might not provide one. The importer is entirely responsible for getting a replacement certificate and providing it to the CFIA.

11.5 Packaging, containers and vehicles

Packaging, containers and vehicles used to transport animal products and by-products being imported into Canada must be clean on the outside and should not be contaminated with blood, feces, ectoparasites, soil or plant material (for example straw, hay, seeds). They must enclose the imported product/by-product and be unbroken and leak-proof. They must prevent the imported product/by-product from being contaminated and also prevent any contamination from reaching wildlife or livestock during transport. Packaging, containers and vehicles used to import animal products and by-products would qualify as "things" under the" Contaminated Things" chapter of this policy. Failure to comply with these requirements may prevent the shipment from being released into Canada.

The importer must comply with/adhere to all Canadian laws governing the transportation of dangerous goods.

11.6 Importer's declaration

An importer's declaration provides information about the shipment which can be verified by the importer. If it is required, it must accompany the shipment to the border inspection port.

11.7 SRM permit and pathogens import permit for SRM

An SRM permit and OBCS pathogens import permit may be required for the import of bovine-origin products or by-products containing SRM from controlled or undetermined BSE risk countries. The importer is responsible for compliance with all requirements of the CFIA SRM and Pathogens Import programs.

11.8 Case-by-case evaluation

A case-by-case evaluation is done when there are no existing conditions that are appropriate for a specific import. To request one, the importer must provide an import permit application to the NCP. The applicant should provide as much detail as possible with the application to clearly explain the product/by-product and import situation and it is possible that the CFIA may ask for more information. The CFIA will then consider the application and determine whether the disease risks to Canadian animals have been addressed. An import permit may be provided outlining the conditions that must be followed in order to import the product or by-product. However, this is not guaranteed and some applications may be declined.

11.9 Derogation

If an import condition in AIRS or an import permit can't be met, the importer may apply to the CFIA for a derogation. This is a substitution of an existing import condition with an acceptable alternative import condition that would work for the importer and still prevent the introduction of disease into Canada. The importer must clearly explain why they are unable to meet the original condition and propose an alternative plan. The proposal will be reviewed and considered by the CFIA, but a successful outcome isn't guaranteed.

Case‑by‑case evaluation is when CFIA assesses an import request individually to develop new risk‑based requirements, while a derogation is a controlled change to an existing import requirement.

12. Requirements for in-transit and transshipments

Both in-transit shipments and transshipments may have a risk of animal disease introduction into Canada and therefore appropriate controls must be applied.

AIRS is a database of import conditions for food, plant and animal commodities regulated by the CFIA. Unless otherwise specified, the import conditions in AIRS apply to direct shipments of animal products or by-products from the country of origin to Canada.

12.1 In-transit

In-transit means that a shipment of a product or by-product moves from the country of origin through an intermediate country for delivery to the destination country. The shipment stays under official control and is not released for use in the intermediate country.

12.1.1 In-transit with Canada as final destination

The shipment must not be contaminated with animal diseases before arriving in Canada. There are requirements for shipments in-transit through intermediate countries on their way to Canada to prevent contamination of the imported goods with animal diseases. The importer is responsible for ensuring that the shipment meets any requirements of the intermediate country in addition to meeting Canadian import requirements. A Canadian import permit only allows a shipment to enter Canada and does not allow its movement through the intermediate country.

These shipments are exempt from additional animal health requirements (beyond those that would be required for direct shipment) if 1 or more of the following apply:

  • the product/by-product is in sealed tamper-proof retail packaging
  • the product/by-product is in a tamper-proof container that was sealed in the exporting country and the seal number is listed on the government export documents provided by that country
  • the product/by-product will stay only in the secure zone of an airport, seaport and/or bonded warehouse while in the intermediate country and won't be moved by land outside of these zones

Otherwise, the importer must ask for a case-by-case review by providing an application to the CFIA, that includes as much detail as possible about their plan.

It is the importer's responsibility to clearly list any countries that the shipment will move in-transit through to the CFIA so that the disease risk can be determined.

For edible meat and poultry there may be additional requirements about sealing of containers.

12.1.2 In-transit through Canada while going to another destination

For in-transit shipments of all animal products and by-products:

The shipment stays under official control and won't be released for use in Canada. CBSA allows shipments to move in-transit through Canada according to Memorandum D-19-1-1:

"In-transit Shipments

31. For the purposes of this memorandum, "in-transit" is defined as the movement of foreign goods through Canadian territory from a point outside Canada to another foreign point.

32. The CBSA may authorize the in-transit movement of CFIA-regulated commodities under the following conditions:

  • (a) CBSA reporting requirements have been met as outlined in CBSA D3-series memoranda; and
  • (b) the goods meet all CFIA requirements; and
  • (c) the goods are transported by a CBSA-bonded carrier.

33. CFIA requirements for in-transit shipments can be determined by consulting AIRS under the "in-transit through Canada" option(s). Where this option is not available, the shipment must meet CFIA import requirements as listed in AIRS."

To prevent the possibility of spillage or exposure of the in-transit material to the surrounding environment, all eligible shipments of animal products and by-products moving in-transit must, at a minimum, be:

  • contained in closed containers that are in good condition
  • free of spillage or contamination on the outside of the containers
  • sealed by either CBSA, CFIA or a competent authority of the country of origin
  • unopened while transiting Canada
  • transiting Canada directly and promptly to the point of departure

When a shipment transits through Canada, the owner or the person having the possession, care or control of the shipment at the time that it is in Canadian territory will be responsible for compliance with Canadian import requirements and, if applicable, will bear any costs associated with enforcement action such as disposal or removal from Canada as ordered by an inspector.

12.2 Transshipment

transshipment means a movement of products or by-products from the country of origin to a country of destination where the goods pass through an intermediate country. The shipment is officially released into the intermediate country, the container is opened, and some or all of the original cargo is then shipped from the intermediate country to the country of destination.

12.2.1 Transshipment with Canada as final destination

The shipment must not be contaminated with diseases before arrival in Canada. The CFIA will do a case-by-case review and may need further details in order to determine the disease risk for the import. These details may include the following:

  • the amount of time the shipment will be in the intermediate country
  • the animal disease status of the intermediate country
  • the location where the shipment will be opened and any disease risks such as exposure to animals or animal materials
  • whether the shipment will stay under official control in the intermediate country
  • other

It is the importer's responsibility to inform the CFIA of any countries that the product/by-product will move through as a transshipment, to help them determine the animal disease risk. An import permit may be required and there may be additional import conditions beyond those for importing the shipment directly from the country of origin.

Products and by-products that undergo activities such as cutting or repackaging in the intermediate country, but don't undergo any processing that would inactivate diseases must meet the same requirements as those that are transshipped. Additional import requirements to ensure that cross-contamination didn't occur in the intermediate country would apply.

The requirements for transshipment don't apply to animal products and by-products that undergo processing in the intermediate country which inactivates diseases. For those that have undergone this processing, the intermediate country becomes the country of origin and the import requirements in AIRS for product/by-product from the intermediate country apply. (see "country of origin" in the Definitions section)

In addition, the requirements for transshipment don't apply to shipments of edible meat for human consumption. Transshipment requirements for edible meat products are negotiated with the intermediate country and included in the Official Meat Inspection Certificate.

For specific requirements for transshipment of animal products and by-products other than edible meat through an intermediate country where Canada is the final destination of the goods, please refer to the following annexes:

Double Certification: Import requirements may include certification from the country of origin as well as the intermediate country. These imports require planning in advance by the importer and exporter. Prior to exporting the shipment to the intermediate country, the importer must ensure that the Canadian import requirements can be met, either by the certificate issued by the country of origin for export to the intermediate country or using a separate certificate issued specifically for Canada (this is called "forwarding certification"). If neither of these options are possible, the importer must explain this in their import permit application and the situation will be considered by the CFIA.

12.2.2 Transshipment through Canada en route to another destination

When Canada is the intermediate country, the shipment will be opened and a portion may remain in Canada. The CFIA's import requirements for permanent entry of the shipment from the country of origin must be met even though some or all of the shipment may be re-exported from Canada to another destination.

13. Mixtures containing animal ingredients

Imported products and by-products may contain multiple animal-origin ingredients mixed together, for example, fertilizers, livestock feeds and feed ingredients, medicinal products, lab cultures/media/reagents or mixtures used to make pet foods. These commodities may carry an animal disease risk, even though the individual ingredients may be diluted when blended with other materials. AIRS may not list specific import conditions for the blended mixture, but instead may have conditions for the individual ingredients if they were imported on their own. For example, if a medicinal product contains a cattle ingredient, a pig ingredient and a deer ingredient, you are unlikely to find this exact product in AIRS, but you might be able to locate the AIRS conditions for each of the 3 ingredients separately.

The CFIA will consider the following to determine import conditions for a mixture containing multiple ingredients, with at least 1 ingredient from animals:

  1. if any single animal-origin ingredient in the mixture is prohibited from entering Canada, the entire mixture is prohibited from entering Canada
  2. if an import permit is required for 1 or more ingredients, the entire mixture would require an import permit
  3. if a zoosanitary certificate is required for 1 or more ingredients, the entire mixture would require a zoosanitary certificate
  4. if a mixture contains multiple ingredients that are from the same species, the import conditions listed in AIRS from the ingredient with the more stringent conditions are to be applied to the mixture (for example, if the mixture contains 2 ingredients from birds, the first which is approved and the second which requires an import permit and zoosanitary certificate, the entire mixture would require an import permit and zoosanitary certificate)

    This will result in 3 possible outcomes:

    1. if any single ingredient has a "refuse entry" status, then the entire mixture has a "refuse entry" status
    2. if all ingredients have an "approved" status then the entire mixture has an "approved" status
    3. otherwise, all conditions for each ingredient will be specified in the zoosanitary certificate and/or import permit
  5. if the mixture contains ingredients from more than 1 species, the import conditions listed in AIRS from all animal-origin ingredients are to be applied to the mixture
  6. if an import permit is required for more than 1 individual ingredient, a single import permit may be prepared listing the import conditions for all animal-origin ingredients
  7. if any incompatibilities are noticed between the conditions of separate ingredients, program advice should be requested
  8. if AIRS provides a code that clearly fits the imported product, the conditions under that code must be applied
  9. if it is unclear whether there is a fitting code in AIRS for the product/by-product, the CBSA should be asked for a ruling on the correct HS code for the commodity as a whole and this may help with navigating AIRS.
    CBSA is ultimately responsible for making a ruling on the HS code.
  10. if a mixture contains 1 animal-origin ingredient mixed with 1 or more non-animal-origin ingredients (for example, 40% poultry meal and 60% plant-origin ingredients) the conditions that would apply to the single animal-origin ingredient on its own would apply to the mixture as a whole
  11. if a mixture contains an animal product or by-product as well as an animal pathogen or part of one (for example toxin), the import conditions for both the animal product or by-product and the conditions for the animal pathogen applies to the whole mixture (for example animal pathogen permit plus zoosanitary certificate) (Note: a single permit is issued by the OBCS)

The importer is also responsible for complying with other CFIA programs and the requirements of other government departments or agencies. For example, if a mixture contains plant-based ingredients in addition to animal-origin ingredients, the importer is responsible for determining and following any import requirements for the plant-based ingredients. It is possible that separate permits or other documents could be required under the other CFIA programs or other government departments or agencies.

The policy Request to import a new commodity or import from a new country of origin can be used as a guide for having a new product/by-product assessed.

13.1 Hunting baits or "bear bait"

Mixtures of various foods imported to bait bears or other game while hunting must follow animal health import requirements, even if they are brought with a traveller for personal use. Mixtures containing animal ingredients are not allowed to enter Canada unless they meet the commercial import requirements for the ingredients or if an import permit for the mixture has been provided to the importer. If it contains animal-origin materials, the importer/hunter must know all ingredients in the bait and follow the import requirements for each of these ingredients. Bear bait containing animal-origin ingredients that cannot be identified will be refused entry. This is a particularly high-risk end use for animal products or by-products since they are very likely to be eaten by wild animals beyond just bears. If an importer would like to get an import permit for the mixture as a whole, they may provide an application to the CFIA for a case-by-case review. However, a successful outcome is not guaranteed. If the mixture does not contain any animal-origin materials, it would not have animal health import requirements. Hunters are also responsible for verifying and complying with applicable requirements of other regulatory bodies for the activities that they are conducting, for example, provincial/territorial ministries of natural resources, ECCC, CBSA, etc.

14. E-commerce (online shopping)

Worldwide, large numbers of purchases take place over the internet by the consumer for their personal use. This also applies to CFIA-regulated goods such as animal products and by-products. Although these purchases take place in small volumes and have a relatively low value, they still present a significant risk of introducing animal diseases into Canada. Individual consumers buying commodities online may not be as familiar with CFIA import requirements as commercial businesses. Shipments of animal products and by-products imported for personal use could originate from any country in the world and might not be accompanied by a certificate showing that they meet animal health requirements. As a result, consumers may unknowingly buy goods that are subject to CFIA import conditions and have them shipped by mail or courier into Canada without making sure that they follow CFIA requirements.

All shipments regardless of volume or value are required to follow all CFIA import conditions. It is the importer's responsibility to verify what requirements apply to the shipment and to follow them. If these requirements are not followed, it may result in enforcement action such as removal of the shipment from Canada or disposal at the importer's expense.

There are no exemptions in the Health of Animals Regulations for import of animal products and by-products for personal use. All imports of animal products and by-products, including food (meat, eggs, milk and bee products) must meet all animal health requirements. This means that animal-origin foods that are permitted for personal use under the SFCR may still be refused entry for animal health reasons.

Personal use shipments of most animal products and by-products can only enter Canada if they are presented for inspection at a port of entry by a traveller and cannot be imported by mail or courier. Further details about what can be imported into Canada for personal use are located at the following pages: E-commerce and Bringing food into Canada for personal use.

Online shoppers are responsible for ensuring that the products and by-products they import into Canada follow all applicable Canadian regulatory requirements.

15. End uses

The "end use" is the purpose for the product or by-product after it has been imported into Canada. It impacts the animal disease risk and is therefore considered when creating import conditions. This is not an all-encompassing list of available end uses, but covers the ones used most commonly for animal products and by-products. The end uses listed are used in the AIRS. It is possible that other CFIA programs may have different definitions for an end use. If it is unclear which end use applies to an imported commodity or whether an appropriate end use is listed in AIRS, the importer should contact their local CFIA district office.

Using an imported product or by-product for an end use other than the one(s) declared at the time of import may carry an animal disease risk. Importers must first contact their local CFIA district office for direction if considering using the product/by-product for a different end use than used at the time of import (for example, if importing something for human consumption, but instead feeding it to livestock). The importer is also responsible for verifying and complying with the requirements of any other CFIA programs and regulatory bodies.

15.1 Canadian goods returning

This end use is selected when a shipment was originally exported from Canada but will be returning to Canada unchanged. This may occur for a number of reasons, for example, it may have been refused entry into the importing country. The policy "Terrestrial animal products and by-products: Returning shipments policy" must be followed.

15.2 Manufacturing

The product/by-product will be used as raw material in a commercial or industrial setting to produce another product. It would not be selected if there was a more specific and appropriate form of manufacturing available in the provided options, for example "Pet food manufacturing".

15.3 Samples for testing

The product/by-product is being imported for routinely available testing offered by a laboratory. For example, blood samples imported for routine veterinary diagnostic tests or food products undergoing routine testing for content. These samples are not generally part of a scientific research project, as they would be categorized under the "Scientific use (research)" end use.

15.4 Livestock Feed

The product/by-product will be fed to animal species defined as livestock under subsection 1(2) of the Feeds Regulations, 2024.

15.5 Pet food manufacturing

The product/by-product will be used as an ingredient to manufacture pet food, including food for ornamental fish.

15.6 Human consumption

The product will be used for consumption by humans and is imported in a commercial context. If it is not imported in a commercial context but is still intended to be consumed by humans, then it would be classified under "Travellers and personal use and not for resale or distribution".

15.7 Industrial use

The product/by-product will be used as part of the process taking place in a factory but won't be sold commercially and is not an ingredient of the goods being manufactured. For example, a factory uses bone charcoal to remove impurities from a product they make, but it is not part of the product that they will be making for commercial sale.

15.8 Scientific use (research)

The product/by-product is imported for use in a specific research project in a private, academic, government or other laboratory. For example, a university imports polar bear tissue samples for a research project in which DNA analysis is conducted. This should be distinguished from the "samples for testing" end use which involves a routinely available test offered by a lab on an ongoing basis, often for multiple clients such as diagnostic testing offered by a veterinary lab.

Products/by-products imported to be further sold commercially by the importer to laboratories for scientific research would not fall under this end use. The "other" category is to be used for commodities intended to be sold commercially.

15.9 Travellers and personal use and not for resale or distribution

A product/by-product that is imported under this end use may not be resold or distributed commercially. It is acquired from outside Canada by the end consumer or brought into Canada by a traveller as part of their personal effects. The quantity and frequency of importation is reasonable for a non-commercial context.

For shipments imported for personal use, in some cases exemptions may occur from certain import requirements that would otherwise apply to commercial shipments. Declaring a commercial shipment as being for personal use in order to avoid commercial import requirements is misrepresentation and may be subject to enforcement action.

Where applicable, requirements for importing food items for personal use as outlined in the SFCA and SFCR must also be followed. Further detail about importing food into Canada for personal use can be found on the Bringing food into Canada for personal use page.

Animal products and by-products under this end use must accompany a traveller/importer (with the exception of egg and milk products from the U.S.). Animal products and by-product for travellers and personal use can't be imported by mail or courier unless there are specific conditions in AIRS to allow this.

15.10 Other end uses

This end use is selected when none of the other available options are applicable. Products/by-products that are imported for commercial sale or distribution would go under this end use unless there is a more fitting option provided.

16. Commodity-specific information

Note: the following commodity-specific information is not exclusive and may apply in addition to the general information provided previously. Where established import conditions exist for a specific product or by-product, they may be found in AIRS. If conditions are not found in AIRS, the product or by-product may need to be evaluated according to the policy: Request to import a new commodity or import from a new country of origin.

16.1 Manure

16.1.1 Legislative authority

Health of Animals Regulations

Part IV – Importation of Animal By-products, Animal Pathogens and other Things

  • 40
  • 41(1) and (2)
  • 1
  • 50

Part XIV – Food for Ruminants, Livestock and Poultry, Rendering Plants, Fertilizers and Fertilizer Supplements

  • 171.2

Note: imported manure for use as a fertilizer must also comply with the Fertilizers Act and the Fertilizers Regulations.

16.1.2 Policy statement

Imported shipments of animal manure and fertilizer containing animal manure, are capable of spreading animal diseases that may threaten Canada's animal populations. Manure and fertilizer containing manure imported from countries, regions or zones that have diseases of concern must have undergone an approved treatment.

The importer must also comply with the requirements of other applicable CFIA programs (such as Fertilizer and Horticulture) or other government departments or agencies.

16.1.3 Scope of commodities covered by this section

  • Animal manure from birds, ruminants and porcines to be used as fertilizer
  • Organic fertilizers and composted growing media containing animal manure
  • Earthworm castings where the earthworms have been fed manure (Note: earthworm castings are also regulated by the CFIA Plant Protection Program)
  • Bat and seabird guano
  • A product containing anything listed previously

Note: the Laboratory and Research Samples section of this policy applies to small volumes of manure imported for laboratory and research end-uses.

16.1.4 Not within the scope of this section

  • Fertilizers containing no animal-origin ingredients
  • Manure from species other than birds, ruminants or porcines
  • Earthworm castings where the earthworms have not been fed on manure (Note: earthworm castings are also regulated by the CFIA Plant Protection Program)
  • Manure samples used for lab analysis or scientific research (please see Laboratory and research samples section of this policy)
  • Fertilizer containing animal-origin ingredients other than manure (see Products of rendering plants section)

16.1.5 Roles and responsibilities

Note: this is not an all-encompassing list.

CFIA Animal Health Program
  • Providing animal health import requirements for manure and fertilizer containing manure based on the Health of Animals Act and regulations
CFIA Plant Protection Program
  • Providing plant health import requirements for fertilizer based on the Fertilizers Act and regulations and the Plant Protection Act and regulations

16.1.6 Additional import requirements

The following requirement may apply:

Treatment to destroy pathogens: see Acceptable treatments for manure annex

16.1.7 Worm castings

Worm castings (feces) may be used in plant fertilizers or growing media. Worms are not specifically susceptible to any animal diseases of concern to Canada. However, they may be fed animal products or by-products, for example manure, which may come from species that are susceptible to animal diseases of concern. Therefore, the worm castings could be contaminated with these diseases. It follows that animal health conditions may apply to worm castings or products containing them as an ingredient. For example, for castings from worms fed animal manure, the manure must meet Canada's animal health requirements. The importer must consult AIRS to determine import conditions for their commodity. It is also recommended to consult with the CFIA Fertilizers, Plant Health and Plant Protection programs for any requirements that they may have.

16.2 Integumentary tissues (hides, feathers, furs etc.) and animal-origin display items

16.2.1 Legislative authority

Health of Animals Regulations

Part IV: Importation of Animal By-products, Animal Pathogens and other Things

  • 40 and 41 - Importation Prohibited
  • 42 - Raw Wool, Hair or Bristles, Hide or Skin
  • 45 – Gluestock
  • 50 - General

Part X: General Provisions

  • 107 (disinfection at an approved establishment)

16.2.2 Policy statement

This section covers the importation of integumentary tissues and animal-origin display items of mammalian and avian species. The products/by-products in this section originate from a wide variety of species, including domestic, captive and wild and may range from completely processed and ready for final use or display to completely raw. Therefore a broad range of import requirements may apply. The importation of integumentary tissues and animal-origin display items from reptiles and amphibians is not regulated by the CFIA.

This policy covers CFIA animal health import requirements only and the Canadian importer must also comply with the import requirements of other CFIA programs and/or other federal, provincial, territorial or municipal government departments. Integumentary tissues imported as pet chews and treats are covered under the Simple pet chews or Pet food sections of this policy.

The importation of products/by-products originating from wild animals and some captive species may require approval under the CITES. The Canadian Wildlife Service of ECCC is responsible for the CITES program for the federal government of Canada. Importers are therefore strongly encouraged to contact ECCC prior to importation to ensure that the product/by-product meets their requirements.

Trophies containing skulls from domestic cattle (Bos taurus or Bos indicus) that are over 30 months of age are considered SRM if the country of origin has a controlled or undetermined risk status for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, as defined by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Therefore these trophies require an SRM permit and an import permit.

Bats (order Chiroptera) or materials originating from them can carry serious diseases of animals and humans such as Rabies, Pseudorabies, Nipah Virus, Hendra Virus, Marburg Virus and Ebola Virus. An import permit and case-by-case evaluation is required for the import of any materials originating from bats.

16.2.3 Scope of commodities covered by this section

  • Wool, hair or bristles
  • Qiviut, mohair, cashmere and fibre
  • Hides and skins
  • Furs or pelts
  • Bones, skulls, teeth and tusks
  • Hooves, horns, nails, claws and antlers
  • Feathers
  • Game/hunting trophies
  • Artwork, crafts, jewellery, display items, collectables, etc. made from animal-origin materials

16.2.4 Integumentary and animal-origin display items that may be imported without CFIA requirements

The following products/by-products are not subject to any CFIA import requirements and don't require any documentation or inspection at the port of entry:

  • fully tanned leather and leather products
  • fully dressed furs and fur products
  • wool yarn and knitted wool products
  • souvenir items made from washed and dyed feathers
  • feather fishing lures
  • professionally mounted fish that have undergone full taxidermy
  • products/by-products from reptiles

16.2.5 Roles and responsibilities

Note: this is not an all-encompassing list.

CFIA Animal Health Program
  • Providing animal health import requirements for integumentary items based on the Health of Animals Act and regulations
  • Update the database of approved disinfection establishments once appropriate paperwork is received from an inspector of the responsible district office
  • Maintain external website of contact information for approved disinfection establishments: Canadian establishments for the disinfection or irradiation of imported animal products and by-products
  • Inspection and approval of disinfection establishments
  • Inspection of imported items for freedom from visible contamination (for example, soil, manure, plant material, blood, parasitic insects etc.) and if necessary, licensing items to approved disinfection establishments under official control to be decontaminated to prevent any disease introduction
CBSA
  • Refer imported items to the CFIA for inspection when required
ECCC
  • Issuing permits under the CITES and enforcement of compliance with these requirements

16.2.6 Additional import requirements

One or more of the following requirements may apply:

Zoosanitary certificate

Shipments of integumentary tissues originating from domestic or captive wild animals in an exporting country that we accept certificates from may enter with a zoosanitary certificate certifying that the exporting country is free of the diseases of concern or that the product/by-product has been processed to prevent transmission of those diseases. These shipments don't require inspection at the port of entry if they are accompanied by an acceptable certificate. The conditions listed in AIRS are applicable to products/by-products of domestic animals. To import those from wild animals, a case-by-case evaluation is necessary.

CFIA inspection at the border inspection port

Items that are not eligible for release with a zoosanitary certificate as described in the previous section are visually inspected by a CFIA inspector at the time of importation. Importers are responsible to contact the CFIA at the port of entry to arrange an inspection. If the items are dirty or contaminated with blood, feces, ectoparasites, soil, plant material (for example straw, hay, seeds) or other material that may carry disease, they will be ordered to be removed from Canada or disposed of, at the importer's expense.

Refer to AIRS to determine if an inspection is required for a specific product or by-product.

Items from either domestic or wild animals that have undergone treatment or preservation in the country of origin so that diseases are inactivated and the item won't decompose at room temperature present a low level of risk of introducing diseases of concern into Canada. Treatments may include boiling, salting, drying, a change in pH, baking etc. Examples of items that have undergone such treatments include:

  • hard-dried, pickled and limed hides and skins
  • professionally prepared taxidermy specimens in display form including fully preserved and mounted hunting trophies
  • washed wool, feathers or down (see Acceptable treatments for feathers annex)

If these fully processed items are found to meet requirements at visual inspection at the port of entry into Canada, they may be released with no further restrictions.

Post-entry disinfection

Following CFIA inspection at the port of entry as described in the previous section, items that are not fully treated or preserved to inactivate diseases must be directed to a pre-approved premises for disinfection. This requirement applies to integumentary tissues and animal-origin display items, when they originate from countries that Canada does not consider to be free of diseases of concern or when they originate from wild animals. Unprocessed hunting trophies of wild animals from countries other than the United States that require further taxidermy or preservation must always be directed to an approved disinfection facility in Canada.

The disinfection premises must be approved and listed on the CFIA website at the time of importation. The premises approval must be renewed every 24 months and the importer is responsible for confirming that the approval is up to date. If no premises has been approved, the inspector will order the items removed from Canada and they must either be returned to the country of origin, sent to a country willing to accept the product or disposed of as international waste, at the importer's expense.

A list of approved post-entry disinfection establishments may be found on the CFIA website at: Canadian establishments for the disinfection or irradiation of imported animal products and by-products.

Proof of origin

Some items from the United States of America (U.S.) only may be released with documentation stating that the origin of the item is the U.S., provided that the documentation is considered acceptable by CBSA. Examples of items requiring proof of origin include:

  • untanned hides and skins
  • animal and bird carcasses and trophies that are not prepared nor mounted and that will be sent for taxidermy preparation in Canada (see "SRM permit" section on bovine skulls/trophies)
  • hoofs and horns that have not been processed
  • museum specimens that have not been processed
  • wool, feathers and down that have not been processed
  • furs that have not been dressed
SRM permit

Items that are considered SRM by Canada, such as bovine (cattle) skulls from animals greater than 30 months of age are required to comply with any applicable requirements of the CFIA SRM program. These requirements may include transport permits, storage permits etc. Details regarding the SRM program may be found on the link: Enhanced Animal Health Protection from BSE - SRM.

16.3 Contaminated things

16.3.1 Legislative authority

Health of Animals Act
  • section 14 – Regulations prohibiting importation
  • section 16 – Importation into Canada
  • section 18 – Removal or destruction of unlawful imports
Health of Animals Regulations

Part VI: Importation of Packing Material, Beehives and Beeswax

  • section 55 - Packing Material

Part X: General Provisions

  • section 105(3) – Disinfection

Plant Protection Act

16.3.2 Policy statement

Imported things including used equipment and incoming travelers' personal effects (for example, items brought by an individual moving into Canada), if not adequately cleaned, can introduce animal diseases which could threaten the health of Canada's animal populations. The CFIA requires that these items are properly cleaned and free of any visible contamination prior to their release at the port of entry into Canada.

16.3.3 Scope of commodities covered by this section

Note: other commodity-specific sections of this policy and other CFIA programs may also apply to some of the following items.

This is not an all-encompassing list.

  • Any items or "things" contaminated by animal manure, urine, blood or other bodily secretions, earth, dirt and related matter, clay, silt, sand, soil minerals, humus, compost, earthworm castings, muck, plant litter and debris, either individually or in combination
  • Used motor vehicles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and bicycles
  • Farm vehicles, tractors, implements, agricultural equipment and tools
  • Garden tools and furniture
  • Vehicles and equipment owned by the Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces or allies
  • Animal equipment, saddles, halters, bridles, livestock blankets and feeding utensils; food bowls, brushes, buckets
  • Footwear and farm clothing
  • Plant propagation equipment
  • Containers, bags, boxes, crates, skids, pallets
  • Therapeutic agents, livestock medicines
  • Straw or other organic packing material
  • Meat-cutting and processing equipment
  • Tandoor ovens made with clay

16.3.4 Not within the scope of this section

  • New commercially packaged items still in their original unopened packaging and free of any contaminants
  • Tandoor ovens where no clay is visible

16.3.5 Roles and responsibilities

Note: this is not an all-encompassing list.

Plant Protection Program
  • Creating sanitary requirements for imported things under the authority of the Plant Protection Act and regulations (Note: it is recommended that the importer confirm whether there are any applicable requirements under the CFIA Plant Protection program)
CFIA Animal Health Program
  • Inspect shipments referred to them by CBSA for cleanliness
  • Approve disinfection sites
  • License shipments to approved disinfection sites if required
CBSA
  • Inspect imported shipments for compliance at the port of entry into Canada
  • Refer shipments to CFIA for further inspection if necessary
Importer/Traveller
  • Get required import documents (permits, certificates, etc.) and provide them for inspection at the time of import
  • Ensure all items entering Canada are thoroughly cleaned of any visible contamination
  • Present all items for inspection at the border inspection port and, if applicable, to the CFIA upon entry into Canada
  • If applicable, transport items under official control to an approved disinfection site for cleaning and disinfection
  • Cover all costs associated with inspection, transport, cleaning, disinfection or disposal if applicable

16.3.6 Additional import requirements

One or more of the following requirements may apply:

  • an item that is not completely free of visible contamination should either be ordered removed from Canada or sent to an approved disinfection site at the inspector's discretion under CFIA supervision (Note: an item with a thin layer of dust believed to have accumulated on the item during transportation would not be considered out of compliance)
  • items must be thoroughly inspected for cleanliness including the:
    • underside
    • nooks
    • crevices
    • wheel wells
  • items that are required to be transported to an inland inspection warehouse or to a disinfection site must be transported so that any potentially contaminated material is contained and won't be released into the environment (for example, an item may need to be wrapped securely in a tarp or placed in a sealed container during transport)

16.3.7 Tandoor ovens

A tandoor oven is a traditional baking or cooking vessel which is generally made of a combination of clay and/or metal. They may be heated using a traditional wood or charcoal fire or more modern forms may be heated using gas or electricity. Tandoor ovens that are made entirely of clay or that have an exposed clay lining require a physical inspection carried out by a CFIA inspector before they may be released. They must be free from contamination with blood, feces, ectoparasites, soil or plant material (for example, straw, hay, seeds). Tandoor ovens where the clay is entirely enclosed and not visible don't require a CFIA inspection.

16.4 Milk products

16.4.1 Legislative authority

Health of Animals Regulations

Part III - Importation of Animal Products

  • 34(1) and 34.1 – Dairy Products and Certain Eggs

16.4.2 Policy statement

FMD is a virus of particular concern in milk products due to its ability to be shed in the milk of an infected animal. An FMD outbreak could also have a devastating impact on Canada's livestock populations and international trade. Regulatory controls placed on the import of milk products are therefore focused on preventing the introduction of FMD into Canada. However, other diseases may also be taken into consideration in the development of import conditions.

Milk and milk products specified in the HAR (other than from the U.S.) must be accompanied by a zoosanitary certificate. The certificate must state either that the exporting country is recognized by Canada as free of FMD or that the milk products have been treated to ensure they are free of the virus. These products won't be accepted from countries that the CFIA does not accept certificates from.

Food and beverages that are mixtures containing regulated milk product ingredients are divided into 2 categories:

  1. don't require refrigeration/freezing before opening (that is are stable at room temperature) and are consumer prepackaged – can come from any country and must have a copy of label or ingredient list
  2. do require refrigeration/freezing before opening or imported in bulk – must be from an evaluated country and have a zoosanitary certificate

For further details, please refer to AIRS.

16.4.3 Scope of commodities covered by this section

  • Milk (lacteal secretion obtained from the mammary gland of any ruminant)
  • Partly skimmed milk
  • Skim milk
  • Colostrum
  • Cream
  • Butter
  • Buttermilk
  • Butter oil (and ghee)
  • Whey (including whey protein concentrates)
  • Whey butter
  • Whey cream
  • Products for animal consumption containing 1 or more of the regulated milk product ingredients previously noted
  • Foods and beverages for human consumption that are mixtures containing 1 or more of the regulated milk product ingredients previously noted

16.4.4 Not within the scope of this section

  • Foods commonly recognized as dairy products that are not defined as milk products under the Health of Animals Regulations such as cheese, kashk, yogurt, ice cream and kephir
  • Food safety or public health requirements (refer to Food imports)
  • Premises licensing or approval
  • Packaging and labelling requirements
  • Interprovincial movement of milk products
  • Export of milk products
  • Single type (homogeneous) milk enzymes, milk proteins or milk sugars, such as these examples:
    • catalase
    • lipase
    • peroxidase
    • phosphatase
    • casein
    • lactoferrin
    • whey proteins:
      • alpha-lactalbumin
      • beta-lactoglobulin
      • proteose peptones
  • Transferrin
  • Lactose (composed of glucose and galactose)

16.4.5 Roles and responsibilities

Note: this is not an all-encompassing list.

CFIA Food Program
  • Determining public health requirements for milk products for human consumption
CFIA Animal Import Program
  • Evaluating the veterinary infrastructure and animal disease status of an exporting country before allowing importation, in collaboration with CFIA's Science Branch Animal Health Risk Assessment (AHRA) Unit
  • Determining animal health requirements for the import of milk products
CFIA Animal Feed Program
  • Determining requirements under the Feeds Act and Feeds Regulations, 2024 for the import of both livestock feeds that contain milk products/by-products and single ingredient feeds that originate from or are milk products/by-products
  • Determining requirements under the Health of Animals Act and regulations for the import of colostrum for the prevention of failure of passive transfer (when a newborn animal has not consumed enough colostrum)

16.4.6 Additional import requirements

One or more of the following requirements may apply

16.4.7 Other applicable legislation for milk products

Milk and milk products may also be required to comply with other legislation including the following:

It is the importer's responsibility to comply with all applicable laws.

16.5 Products of rendering plants

16.5.1 Legislative authority

Health of Animals Regulations

Part IV: Importation of Animal By-products, Animal Pathogens and other Things

  • 46 - Meat and Bone meal, Bone Meal, Blood Meal, Tankage, Feather Meal, Fish Meal, Rendering Plant Products, Animal Manure, Garbage and Ship's Refuse
  • 52 – Importation Permitted (Note: this section allows the CFIA to make exceptions to the Animal Health requirements of Part IV if properly documented treatment has taken place or in accordance with an import permit)

Part XIV: Food for Ruminants, Livestock and Poultry, Rendering Plants, Fertilizers and Fertilizer Supplements

  • 166 – Importation of Products of Rendering Plants (Note: all products of a rendering plant require an import permit for entry into Canada)
  • 167 – Importation or Sale of Products of Rendering Plants
  • 167.1(2) – Recall Procedures

Imported fertilizers containing products of rendering plants must also comply with the Fertilizers Program under the Fertilizers Act and the Fertilizers Regulations.

Products of rendering plants imported as ingredients for use in livestock feeds must also comply with the Animal Feed Program's requirements under the Feeds Act and Feeds Regulations, 2024.

16.5.2 Policy statement

Products of rendering plants include the by-products listed in Scope of commodities covered by this section. These by-products are commonly used to make fertilizer, livestock feed and pet food, but don't include products intended for human consumption. They would have undergone a processing procedure such as heat, digestion, spray-drying, etc. Rendered animal by-products could spread animal diseases, particularly if they are used in livestock feed. BSE as well as other Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) are diseases of particular concern in products of rendering plants because they can survive the rendering processes. Regulatory controls placed on the import of products of rendering plants are particularly focused on preventing the introduction of BSE (and other TSEs) into Canada, however other diseases are also taken into consideration.

Products made from insects, such as insect meals, are not specifically an animal disease concern and don't meet the definition of an animal by-product or a rendered material. However, if they were produced in a facility that also handles other animal-origin materials, there is potential for cross-contamination with animal diseases of concern. It is therefore necessary to ensure that these products are well separated before allowing importation.

16.5.3 Rendering system approval

Before allowing the import of higher risk rendered by-products into Canada, particularly terrestrial animal origin meat and bone meal or blood meal, the CFIA must evaluate and approve the rendering system of the exporting country, including regulatory oversight. The purpose of this approval is to ensure that the transmission of animal diseases of concern to Canada is prevented before allowing a rendered by-product to enter Canada. There is a particular focus on prevention of cross-contamination with ruminant material and equivalency with Canada's domestic requirements under the 2007 Enhanced feed ban. In some cases, the result of the evaluation may be approval of specific establishments, but not the entire system. Rendering system approval is required for fish meal produced in countries of controlled or undetermined risk for BSE. Please see Countries with approved rendering systems or establishments annex.

There are some lower risk rendered by-products that are exempted from the requirement for rendering system approval. System approval is not required for the importation of fish meal or other rendered fish by-products produced in countries with a negligible risk status for BSE. Fish oil and insect meal may be imported from any country without rendering system approval. Hydrolyzed poultry protein may also be imported from countries with a negligible risk status for BSE without rendering system approval. However, other import requirements still apply to these exempted by-products.

Canada accepts the WOAH classification of countries for BSE risk. Therefore, the CFIA does not do separate BSE reviews. The CFIA's country BSE status listings can be found in the policy Bovine spongiform encephalopathy import policy for bovine animals and their products and by-products.

16.5.4 Scope of commodities covered by this section

  • Meals (also referred to as processed animal proteins), for example:
    • blood meal
    • bone meal
    • feather meal
    • fish meal
    • meat meal
    • insect meal

Note: Terrestrial Animal Health only has import requirements for by-products derived from aquatic animals if they were handled, stored or produced in a rendering plant due to the potential for cross-contamination with ruminant material.

  • Greaves
  • Suet
  • Rendered fats and oils that are not for human consumption (for example, inedible tallow and fish oil)
  • Digests and hydrolysates (for example, poultry digest)
  • Fertilizer containing rendered by-products
  • Rendered ingredients used in livestock feeds
  • Inedible spray-dried by-products such as blood, plasma, etc.
  • For mixtures containing products of a rendering plant, see the section Mixtures containing animal ingredients

16.5.5 Not within the scope of this section

  • Fats and oils for human consumption (that is edible tallow)
  • Fertilizer containing unprocessed manure as the only animal-origin ingredient
  • Processed pet food
  • Raw inedible products/by-products that have not undergone a rendering process
  • Mixed feeds for livestock (see Feeds, premixes and supplements chapter)

16.5.6 Roles and responsibilities

Note: this is not an all-encompassing list.

CFIA Animal Health Program
  • Review and approve the rendering system in a foreign country before allowing rendered by-products to be imported from that country
  • Receive and review the CFIA facility questionnaire for export of rendered products to Canada and the import permit application to ensure that the foreign establishment meets Canadian requirements before an import permit is provided
CFIA Animal Feed Program
  • Determining requirements under the Feeds Act and Feeds Regulations, 2024 for the import of both livestock feeds that contain rendered ingredients and single ingredient feeds that originate from or are rendered products/by-products
Competent veterinary authority of the exporting country
  • Inspecting the foreign exporting site and completing the CFIA facility questionnaire for export of rendered products to Canada
  • Ensuring that a CFIA facility questionnaire for export of rendered products to Canada has been completed and that all aspects are compliant before signing and stamping a zoosanitary certificate for the export of rendered by-products to Canada
Importer
  • Communicating the requirement for the CFIA facility questionnaire for export of rendered products to Canada to the foreign exporter and making sure that they have access to the document
  • Providing the completed and government signed CFIA facility questionnaire for export of rendered products to Canada to CFIA Operations along with the import permit application

16.5.7 Additional import requirements

One or more of the following requirements may apply:

CFIA facility questionnaire for export of rendered products to Canada

This document must be provided at least once per year for any rendering plant exporting a rendered by-product (other than fish oil) to Canada in order to get an import permit. It is completed by the competent authority of the exporting country after an inspection of the exporting site. It focusses on the handling and separation of ruminant materials, avoiding cross-contamination and record-keeping.

Certificate of analysis

A laboratory report from an accredited third-party laboratory with the test results for a specific shipment. This is commonly needed for protein free tallow to make sure that the shipment meets the necessary insoluble impurities level (less than or equal to 0.15%).

Segregation protocol

Some exporting sites may handle multiple materials from various sources and not all of these materials may be eligible for import into Canada. If it is determined from the CFIA Facility Questionnaire for Export of Rendered Products to Canada that there are ineligible materials on site, a segregation protocol must be approved by the competent authority of the exporting country. The protocol must outline how the export of ineligible materials and cross-contamination of eligible materials, will be prevented.

Import permit

According to section 166 of the HAR, all products of a rendering plant require an import permit for entry into Canada. This also applies to mixtures containing a product of a rendering plant.

CFIA facility questionnaire for export of bovine liver powder from the United States

This document must be provided at least once per year for any rendering plant in the United States exporting bovine liver powder to Canada in order to get an import permit. It is completed by the competent authority of the United States following an inspection of the exporting site. It focusses on the handling and separation of materials, preventing contamination with SRM, avoiding cross-contamination and record-keeping.

16.6 Edible meat products

16.6.1 Legislative authority

Most meat products are regulated under the authority of the SFCA and SFCR as well as the Health of Animals Act and the Health of Animals Regulations. Products that are exempt from the definition of a meat product under the SFCA and SFCR because they contain "insignificant quantities" of meat are not exempt from import requirements under the HAA and HAR.

Health of Animals Regulations

Part IV: Importation of Animal By-products, Animal Pathogens and other Things

  • 40 and 41: Importation Prohibited
  • 43: Boneless Beef
  • 48: Ship's Stores
  • 49: Carcasses of Game Animals

16.6.2 Policy statement

The oversight of imports of meat and meat products for human consumption is jointly managed by the Food Program, which is responsible for public health requirements and the Animal Health Program, which is responsible for animal health requirements. Edible meat is a significant concern for the introduction of diseases that could affect animals and humans.

The web page "Certification conditions for importation of meat products" on the CFIA website contains all of the conditions which an approved exporting country has to meet to export meat products for human consumption to Canada. The import conditions found under each country's section are negotiated with that country and are included in Official Meat Inspection Certificates (OMICs) which are sent with the imported shipments. In the case of New Zealand and Australia there is no need for a paper copy of the certificate as there is electronic certification in place with these 2 countries.

Commercial import of meat and meat products for human consumption is only allowed from approved facilities in approved countries (exemptions are described in Imports of meat and meat products for human consumption but not intended for commercial distribution).

The approval of countries wishing to export meat and meat products to Canada is collaboratively managed by the CFIA's Animal Health Program and Food Program.

The eligibility of a country is based on an animal health evaluation and a meat systems evaluation, to determine if it can meet the CFIA's public and animal health requirements.

Information on the CFIA's Foreign Food Safety Recognition Process can be found online: International verification activities.

Animal Health import requirements for meat and meat products for end-uses other than human consumption are the responsibility of the Animal Health Program. If meat is imported for human consumption, it is inspected after arrival and the importer requires an SFCR license. This is also true if the importer would like the option of splitting the shipment and sending some of it for inedible purposes after arrival. If a shipment is imported for end uses other than human consumption, it does not need to comply with the SFCR or the inspection requirement, however it can't be redirected back to human consumption.

16.6.3 Scope of commodities covered by this section

  • Dry-cured, salt-cured or air-dried meat (for example, prosciutto)
  • Fresh or frozen meat
  • Cooked meat
  • Canned meat
  • Casings
  • Edible fat for human consumption (for example, poultry fat)
  • Food products containing meat as an ingredient (includes foods regulated under section 25 of the SFCR)
  • Natural health products meeting the definition of a meat product (for example, dried chicken feet, essence of chicken or pan sheet liquid)

16.6.4 Not within the scope of this section

  • Export, domestic movement or other domestic regulation of meat
  • Food safety or public health
  • Trade tariffs
  • Provincial or territorial regulation of meat
  • The import of live animals destined for meat

Note: raw inedible animal by-products are covered in the Raw Inedible By-Products section of this document.

16.6.5 Roles and responsibilities

Note: this is not an all-encompassing list.

CFIA Food Program
  • Strengthening government oversight of food safety of imported food products by assessing foreign country inspection systems
  • Auditing foreign inspection systems to recognize them as equivalent to Canada's and publishing audit reports
  • Maintenance assessment of foreign countries
  • Oversight, maintenance and publication of "Certification conditions for importation of meat products"
  • Publication of public health import requirements for meat and meat products (for human consumption) in AIRS
  • Lead on export certificate negotiation with exporting countries
  • Communicate with technical experts from the concerned foreign competent authorities
  • Communicate with Canadian stakeholders on issues about the trade of food
CFIA Animal Health Program
  • Evaluating the veterinary infrastructure and animal disease status of an exporting country
  • Providing animal health requirements for meat for human consumption to the CFIA Food Program for the purpose of export certificate (OMIC) negotiation
  • Applying additional animal health requirements beyond those in the official meat inspection certificate when required to address animal health risks, that is import permits
  • Collaborating with the CFIA Food Program to do audits to recognize foreign inspection systems
Competent veterinary authority of the exporting country
  • Inspecting the exporting premises in order to have them added to CFIAs list of approved establishments
  • Providing zoosanitary certificates or OMICs after verifying compliance with Canadian import conditions

16.6.6 Additional import requirements

Approved establishment

Meat products for human consumption imported from abattoirs or processing plants must come from premises on the list of CFIA approved establishments unless they are:

  • personal shipments not exceeding the amount that is allowed under the SFCR/SFCA
  • shipments used for analysis, evaluation, testing, research or an international food exhibition not exceeding the amount that is allowed under the SFCR/SFCA

If a premises is not on the list of CFIA approved establishments, a request from the foreign competent authority is required and communication may be sent to the CFIA Food Program

Note: the previously mentioned weight limits don't apply to wild-hunted game carcasses imported for personal use by the importer.

Disease status recognition

The import requirements will depend on the animal health status of the exporting country, region or zone as indicated in the Animal health status by country page on the CFIA website.

Web page "Certification conditions for importation of meat products"

For the import of commercial shipments of meat for human consumption, the web page "Certification conditions for importation of meat products" has information about approved meat inspection systems and types of meat products eligible for export to Canada. If an edible meat product isn't listed on this web page, it can't be imported into Canada for human consumption.

This page lists certification statements and attestations required on the OMIC, including those provided by Animal Health.

Official Meat Inspection Certificate

An Official Meat Inspection Certificate is the document used to certify public health and animal health requirements for meat products under the SFCA and SFCR.

Inspection at an approved Canadian establishment post-import

This is a public health requirement of the Food Program

Government or commercial seals on packaging or containers

Shipments of meat may be required to have government or commercial seals on the packaging or container to show that they were produced in a federally inspected establishment to which they can be traced through a chain of custody. That seal number is captured on the OMIC accompanying the shipment. Meat that is packaged with seals is less likely to have been tampered with or cross-contaminated between the time of preparation and the time of arrival in Canada.

Import permit

An import permit is required for edible meat that has not been fully cooked and is from a country with regions that are not recognized by Canada as free of diseases of concern for the species that the meat originates from.

Zoosanitary certificate

A zoosanitary certificate may be required for the import of meat that is not intended for human consumption and won't have an OMIC, for example samples for testing.

16.6.7 Imports of meat and meat products for human consumption but not intended for commercial distribution

Edible meat imported for reasons other than commercial distribution for human consumption does not have to meet all the requirements of the SFCR. However, there is still a risk that these shipments could transmit animal diseases and all animal health requirements must be met.

Meat accompanying travellers for personal use

Personal use importations are for the importer's own use or consumption and are not intended for commercial re-sale or distribution. Personal importations of meat that are exempt from the SFCR may still have animal health conditions that must be complied with. These importations are only allowed if the traveller brings the meat into Canada with them. The products may not arrive by mail or courier. Please see Bringing food into Canada for personal use.

The document Maximum quantity limits for personal use exemption has been linked to the SFCR and must be followed. Importations that don't exceed the quantity limits for personal use are exempt from SFCR import requirements.

Personal importations of meat and poultry products, including fresh meat, that don't exceed the maximum quantity limits for the personal use exemption may be imported from the United States. The label must clearly indicate the contents and proof that the product originated in the United States may be required.

From all other countries, only cooked, commercially prepared, commercially sterile and shelf-stable (that is safe at room temperature) meat in hermetically sealed packaging may be imported for personal use. Hermetically sealed packaging includes glass jars, cans, semi-rigid disposable serving dishes for ready-to-eat meals and retort pouches. Fresh, dried and cured meats are not permitted. These restrictions are in place to prevent entry of serious animal diseases into Canada such as ASF. The packages must have identifying marks indicating the product and the country of origin. Beef may only be imported from countries of negligible risk for BSE or mad cow disease.

An OMIC is not needed for personal importations of meat and the exporting premises doesn't need to be on CFIA's approved list of establishments.

Samples

Under SFCR section 23 (1)(b) importations of meat or meat products not exceeding 100 kg that are destined for analysis, evaluation, research or a Canadian or international food exhibition are exempted from the import requirements of the SFCR. Meat or meat products imported as samples don't have to come from an approved establishment. However, Animal Health requirements such as an import permit and zoosanitary certificate apply. Public health requirements also apply under the Food and Drugs Act and Food and Drugs Regulations, even for samples exempt from the SFCA and SFCR.

Carcasses of game animals

Section 49 of the HAR outlines requirements for the import of carcasses of game animals from the United States. This section applies only to an identifiable carcass, not to cut meat and a hunting license must accompany the carcass. There is no CFIA weight limit on the carcass. The importer is responsible for complying with any provincial import requirements, for example, some provinces do not allow deer carcasses due to Chronic Wasting Disease. If the carcass did not require a hunting license (for example if a US state doesn't require a license to hunt wild boar), then it isn't eligible for import under this regulation. For imports of carcasses of game animals from other countries, a risk assessment is required according to the policy Request to import a new commodity or import from a new country of origin.

Ships' stores

Meat and meat products carried on a ship within Canadian waters are exempt from Canadian documentation requirements if they are kept on the ship according to section 48 of the HAR.

Foods with an "insignificant" quantity of meat ingredients

Some food products containing an "insignificant" amount of meat are exempted from the SFCR and may be imported for human consumption without an OMIC. However, these foods must still meet animal health requirements under the HAR. The import requirements are determined based on risk and will depend on how the product is processed and packaged. A zoosanitary certificate may be required for products which aren't shelf stable or are imported in bulk. Importers may use the AIRS to locate the import conditions for the specific product.

Natural health products

Some products traditionally recognized as natural health products, such as dried chicken feet, also meet the SFCR definition of a meat product. These products must therefore meet all the SFCR requirements for import as a meat product.

16.6.8 Other end uses and pet food manufacturing

Shipments of edible meat originating from approved establishments in approved countries may be imported for commercial use for purposes other than human consumption, for example pet food manufacturing. These shipments may be declared under "other end uses" or "pet food manufacturing". They must be accompanied by documentation meeting all certification requirements, however an SFCR license and post-entry inspection are not required.

16.6.9 Other applicable legislation for poultry products

Poultry products may also be required to comply with other legislation including the following:

It is the importer's responsibility to comply with all applicable laws.

16.7 Raw inedible by-products

16.7.1 Legislative authority

Health of Animals Regulations

Part IV: Importation of Animal By-products, Animal Pathogens and other Things

  • sections 40 and 41 – Importation Prohibited
  • 42.1 – Animal Glands and Organs

16.7.2 Policy statement

Raw inedible animal by-products are waste materials from slaughterhouses that produce meat for human consumption. Examples include:

  • meat
  • offal
  • glands
  • carcasses
  • frames

Since they have not undergone a disease-inactivating processing method, they present a high risk of disease introduction into Canada. The AIRS should be used to determine whether established import conditions exist and if they don't then the CFIA may need to develop new conditions according to the policy Request to import a new commodity or import from a new country of origin. Waste material from animals slaughtered in countries and slaughter establishments approved for export of edible meat to Canada is eligible to be imported as a raw inedible by-product. Please refer to the web page "Certification conditions for importation of meat products" for a list of approved countries and the web page "Foreign countries establishments eligible to export meat products to Canada" for a list of approved establishments. Both slaughter establishments and processing establishments need to be on the CFIA's approved list, but if the by-product is in sealed packaging then warehouses that temporarily store it don't need to be on this list.

In addition to slaughter and processing establishments that are approved for direct export of edible meat to Canada, intermediate facilities which process, package and freeze raw inedible by-products originating from approved slaughter establishments may be approved by arrangement between the CFIA and the exporting country.

In all cases the exporting country or zone must be recognized by Canada as free of diseases of concern for the by-product and species to be imported unless it is treated with irradiation.

16.7.3 Scope of commodities covered by this section

  • Ingredients for pet food (for example, meat or organs or carcasses)
  • Ingredients for pharmaceuticals (for example, pancreas used for insulin production) or natural health products
  • Ingredients for industrial and manufacturing end-uses
  • Raw inedible by-products destined for rendering in Canada
  • Raw inedible by-products for feeding to mink and foxes

16.7.4 Not within the scope of this section

  • Rendered by-products
  • Products/by-products that have undergone heat treatment as a disease-inactivating processing step
  • Products intended for human consumption
  • Samples for laboratory analysis or scientific research

16.7.5 Roles and responsibilities

Note: this is not an all-encompassing list.

CFIA Animal Health Program
  • Negotiating animal health import requirements for raw inedible by-products (not for human consumption)

16.7.6 Additional import requirements

One or more of the following requirements may apply:

Zoosanitary certificate

A zoosanitary certificate is used to certify the required animal health statements. Raw inedible by-products from some of the countries designated by the CFIA as free of diseases of concern have established import conditions and negotiated zoosanitary certificates.

Import permit

An import permit is required for raw inedible by-products imported from some countries. Refer to AIRS for specific details.

Denaturing

Imported inedible animal by-products must be mixed with or sprayed with an acceptable denaturant. The denaturant must be well distributed so that all the material is denatured.

Acceptable denaturants include:

Note: these agents may not have been evaluated for safety for use in products for animals. The importer is responsible for verifying that the denaturant is safe for the intended end use.

The only exception to the requirement for denaturing is when a by-product is visibly and clearly not suitable for human consumption (for example, pancreas for pharmaceutical use).

Labelling requirements

Each container or pallet should have the following information on the label:

  • a description of the by-product (for example, denatured beef lungs)
  • the words "Product of" followed by the name of the exporting country
  • the statement "Not for use as human food" or "ne peut servir à l'alimentation humaine"
  • the quantity (weight)
  • the name and address of the establishment where the inedible by-product was produced or labelled or the words "Prepared For" followed by the person or business the by-product was produced or labelled for
  • storage instructions; "Keep Frozen, Keep Refrigerated" as applicable
  • the words "Plant Number" followed by the establishment number of the foreign establishment in which the raw inedible animal by-product was prepared
Approved establishment

All imported raw inedible animal by-products within the scope of this chapter must come from an establishment approved by the CFIA to export edible meat to Canada or from an establishment that has been specifically approved to export raw inedible animal by-products.

CFIA facility questionnaire for export of raw inedible animal by-products to Canada from intermediate processing, packaging, handling and storage facilities

This document must be provided when applying for an import permit to import raw inedible by-products from establishments that are not approved to export edible meat to Canada. It is completed by the competent authority of the exporting country following an inspection of the exporting premises. It places a particular emphasis on the handling and separation of raw inedible by-products which are eligible for export to Canada from those that are not, in order to avoid cross-contamination.

Processing of raw animal glands and animal organs at an approved establishment in Canada

Under section 42.1 (1) of the HAR, a person may import raw animal glands and animal organs into Canada from a country or a part of a country not referred to in section 41 if the glands and organs are transported under seal of an inspector directly from the place of entry to an establishment approved by the Minister for the purposes of processing.

The importer must apply to the CFIA for approval of the processing establishment before the by-product is imported. The processing establishment will be evaluated to confirm that there are adequate biocontainment practices in place to prevent release of diseases of concern.

Irradiation

Under limited circumstances, raw inedible by-products may be imported from a country that is not recognized as free of all diseases of concern for the species of origin if it is treated with irradiation in the country of origin.

16.8 Pet food

16.8.1 Legislative authority

Health of Animals Regulations

Part IV: Importation of Animal By-products, Animal Pathogens and other Things

  • 40 and 41 – Importation Prohibited

Part XIV: Food for Ruminants, Livestock and Poultry, Rendering Plants, Fertilizers and Fertilizer Supplements

  • 166 – Importation of Products of Rendering Plants
  • 167 – Importation or Sale of Products of Rendering Plants

16.8.2 Policy statement

Pet food containing animal-origin ingredients, including products of a rendering plant, can introduce animal diseases into Canada. While traditional processed pet foods such as canned pet food or kibble are heat treated and present a lower risk, there are others on the market that are raw, freeze dried or heat treated less than is required to destroy any diseases that could be present in the ingredients. Any pet foods containing beef ingredients must meet requirements to prevent the introduction of BSE.

The CFIA regulates the import of pet food containing animal-origin ingredients under the authority of the Health of Animals Regulations to prevent the introduction of animal diseases into Canada. There are no authorities in the regulations for controlling nutritional value or quality of pet food.

Imports of pet food containing animal-origin ingredients are allowed from countries where the pet food system has been approved by the CFIA or from individual establishments approved by the CFIA.

16.8.3 Scope of commodities covered by this section

  • Pet food containing animal-origin ingredients (for example, dog food, cat food and food for other domestic pets) such as
    • dry kibble
    • semi-moist pet food
    • canned pet food
    • raw, minimally heat treated or freeze-dried pet food and pet treats
  • Pet treats (for example, dog biscuits) (Note: this does not include simple pet chews which are covered in the Simple pet chews section)
  • Compound chews (Note: compound chews have the same import requirements as pet food and pet treats, whereas simple chews have different import requirements and are covered in the "Pet chews" section)
  • Commercially prepared foods for:
    • exotic pets (reptiles, amphibians etc.)
    • laboratory animals
    • zoo animals
    • birds
    • ornamental fish
    • rabbits, ferrets and other small mammals kept as pocket pets
    • pet supplements and oils (fish oil etc.)
  • Commercially prepared samples for laboratory analysis, feeding trials or show/exhibition

Note: any food for an animal species that is not regulated by the Feeds Act and Feeds Regulations, 2024 may be regulated by the Health of Animals Act and regulations if it contains animal-origin ingredients. (for example, food for laboratory or zoo animals)

16.8.4 Not within the scope of this section

  • Pet food containing no animal-origin ingredients
  • Pet chews (See the Pet chews section)
  • Feeds intended for livestock and covered under the authority of the Feeds Act and Feeds Regulations (See Feeds, premixes and supplements section), including feeds for aquatic animals raised for human consumption
  • Domestic production and sale of pet food
  • Pet foods or pet treats containing insect ingredients as the only animal-origin materials
  • Animal products and by-products used as ingredients for pet food manufacturing

16.8.5 Roles and responsibilities

Note: this is not an all-encompassing list.

CFIA Animal Health Program
  • Negotiating animal health import requirements for pet food containing animal-origin ingredients
  • Reviewing premises questionnaires and if they are compliant, providing import permits
Importer
  • Ensuring that the facility questionnaire is completed for the exporting pet food premises and that it is given to the CFIA
Competent authority of the exporting country
  • Inspecting the exporting premises and completing the facility questionnaire

16.8.6 Pet food imported as samples for laboratory testing, diet trials or for exhibition purposes

Pet food samples may be imported for laboratory testing, for diet trials or for exhibition purposes. Samples may either be imported under the same conditions as commercial pet food or if they are imported from countries that are approved by Canada to export processed pet food, they may be imported to an approved facility with an import permit. Importing sites in Canada for pet food samples are approved following a successful inspection by CFIA Operations staff. This doesn't apply to raw inedible materials or other unprocessed samples imported for laboratory analysis which would fall under other chapters of this policy such as Laboratory and research samples or Raw inedible by-products.

Please consult AIRS for specific conditions and ensure to choose the correct end use.

16.8.7 Additional import requirements

One or more of the following requirements may apply:

Inspection and completion of "Annex 1 - Importation of commercially prepared food, treats and compound chews for feeding to pets, zoo or laboratory animals: facility questionnaire for risk assessment"

For the export of commercial shipments of pet food from a foreign country into Canada, the exporting premises may require an inspection and that a premises questionnaire is completed, signed and stamped by an official of the competent authority of the exporting country on an annual basis. It will be reviewed by the CFIA and used to determine the risk of introducing animal diseases into Canada and whether an import permit can be issued for pet food produced at the premises. Annex 1 is required for the import of pet food from an establishment in an exporting country with a recognized veterinary infrastructure, but where the CFIA has not evaluated and approved the entire pet food production system. It is indicated in AIRS under "Additional Instructions" if an Annex 1 is required.

See Annex 1 - Importation of commercially prepared food, treats and compound chews for feeding to pets, zoo or laboratory animals: facility questionnaire for risk assessment.

Zoosanitary certificate

All commercial shipments of pet food containing animal-origin ingredients must be accompanied by a zoosanitary certificate. The conditions of the certificate are negotiated by the CFIA with the exporting country.

Import permit

Commercial shipments of pet food from specific countries with a recognized veterinary infrastructure, but where the CFIA has not evaluated and approved the entire pet food production system, require an import permit. Refer to AIRS for information on whether an import permit is required for pet food from specific countries. Import permits are also required to import samples of pet food.

16.8.8 Requirements for personal imports of pet food

A traveler from the United States (U.S.) may bring into Canada a personal import of pet food (limit of 20 kg per animal per entry) if all of the following requirements are met:

  • the pet food or product must be processed, originate from the U.S. and be commercially packaged
  • the pet food or product must be in the possession of the traveler at the time of entry from the U.S.
  • the animal that will eat the imported pet food or product must accompany the traveler at the time of entry
  • the imported pet food or product will be fed only to the animal that accompanied the traveler into Canada
  • the pet food or product may either be wet or dry, but must be in its original unopened packaging or can
  • the label must clearly indicate the list of ingredients

16.8.9 Importing pet food from a new country

The process outlined in the policy: "Request to Import a New Commodity or Import from a New Country of Origin" may be applied to pet food from countries that have not been evaluated and approved by the CFIA.

16.9 Simple Pet chews

16.9.1 Legislative authority

Health of Animals Regulations

Part IV: Importation of Animal By-products, Animal Pathogens and other Things

  • 40 and 41 – Importation Prohibited
  • 42 – Raw Wool, Hair or Bristles, Hide or Skin

16.9.2 Policy statement

Simple pet chews are different from pet treats or compound chews because they have little or no nutritional value and are not intended to be a source of nourishment for the pet (see Definitions). While many pet chews are heat treated sufficiently to eliminate diseases of concern, some still have a risk of containing diseases such as FMD (especially chews made from bone and horn cores). It is therefore necessary that the CFIA place import controls on pet chews under the authority of the HAR. Pet chews can also be contaminated by bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, resulting in public health risks to pet owners handling the chews.

16.9.3 Scope of commodities covered by this section

Animal-origin washed, heat treated and dried, single- or multi-ingredient pet chews made of:

  • antlers
  • bones (with or without bone marrow)
  • ears
  • feet (for example, chicken feet)
  • hooves
  • horns with or without horn cores
  • ligaments
  • penises (pizzles, bully sticks)
  • rawhide
  • snouts
  • stomachs (tripe)
  • tails
  • tendons
  • trachea/esophagus (windees, toobles, weasand)
  • other animal tissues with no nutritional value

16.9.4 Not within the scope of this section

  • Pet products containing no animal-origin ingredients
  • Processed pet food, pet treats and compound pet chews
  • Pet products containing meat (including organ meat), jerky, meat and bone meal
  • Pet supplements

16.9.5 Roles and responsibilities

Note: this is not an all-encompassing list.

CFIA Animal Health Program
Importer
  • Providing a completed facility questionnaire (if applicable) for the exporting pet chew premises to the CFIA
Competent authority of the exporting country
  • Inspecting the exporting pet chew manufacturing premises and completing the facility questionnaire if applicable
  • Issuing zoosanitary certificates meeting Canada's import requirements

16.9.6 Additional import requirements

One or more of the following requirements may apply:

Bacterial culture testing

Testing by an independent accredited laboratory in the country of origin is required for all pet chews including rawhide.

Each shipment must be accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis, showing test results linked to the by-product(s) being imported into Canada, unless this information is included in the zoosanitary certificate. The bacterial testing protocol can be found in the Bacterial culture testing requirements for pet chews annex. When provided as a separate document from the zoosanitary certificate, the certificate of analysis must include a lot number that also appears on the zoosanitary certificate, commercial invoice or Importer Statement of Compliance.

Zoosanitary certificate requiring 1 or more of the following statements
  • That the by-product is dried and contains no other animal products or by-products
  • That the country is free of the diseases related to the species of animal used in the production of the chew
  • That the pet chews were heat treated sufficiently to destroy diseases, including Salmonella
  • After heat treatment, precautions must be taken to ensure that pet chews are not exposed to cross-contamination
  • The country of origin of the by-product (please note that, if transshipped, pet chews must be declared under the country they were produced or processed in)

Premises questionnaire (Annex 1 - Importation of commercially prepared food, treats and compound chews for feeding to pets, zoo or laboratory animals: facility questionnaire for risk assessment)

The questionnaire must be provided along with the application if an import permit is required. For the export of shipments of certain pet chews from selected foreign countries into Canada, the exporting premises may need an inspection and a premises questionnaire completed, signed and stamped by an official of the competent authority of the exporting country on a yearly basis. It will be reviewed by the CFIA and used to determine the risk of introduction of animal diseases into Canada and whether an import permit can be issued for pet chews produced at the premises.

Import permit

An import permit may be needed for pet chews made from species of animals for which requirements have not yet been developed.

Importer's Statement of Compliance

Pet chews imported from the United States must be accompanied by the Importer's Statement of Compliance for U.S. Origin Pet Chews containing Animal Products and by-Products.

Other
  • Proof of origin acceptable to CBSA

16.10 Laboratory and research samples

16.10.1 Legislative authority

Health of Animals Regulations

Part IV: Importation of Animal By-products, Animal Pathogens and other Things

  • 40 and 41 – Importation Prohibited
  • 50 – General
  • 51(c), 51.1 and 51.2 – Animal Pathogens, Animals or Other Organisms, Animal Blood and Animal Serum

16.10.2 Policy statement

Animal products and by-products may be imported into Canadian laboratories for direct use in research and testing or by commercial distributors supplying materials to these laboratories. Materials imported for laboratory use must meet all animal health requirements to prevent the introduction of animal diseases into Canada. Outbreaks of animal diseases originating from laboratories have happened in other countries and it is critical for protection of Canada's livestock, poultry and agricultural resources that such outbreaks are prevented.

When determining the risk for the import of cell lines, both the living cells from terrestrial animals and any animal-origin ingredients in the media, for example fetal bovine serum, will be evaluated. Both may contain animal diseases, regardless of the quantity of the ingredient or age of the cell line. Due to the complexity of some cell line importations, a risk assessment may be required according to the policy: Request to Import a New Commodity or Import from a New Country of Origin.

Bats (order Chiroptera) or materials originating from them can contain serious diseases of animals and humans such as Rabies, Pseudorabies, Nipah Virus, Hendra Virus, Marburg Virus and Ebola Virus. Various factors must be considered to evaluate the risk for each planned importation. Therefore, an import permit and case-by-case evaluation is required for the import of any materials from bats.

Due to concerns regarding bubonic plague (Yersinia pestis) and other diseases, laboratory samples from the following categories of rodents have import restrictions in place:

  • prairie dogs (Cynomys sp.), African Giant Pouched Rats (Cricetomys gambianus) and squirrels of the family Sciuridae, from any country and
  • any other members of the order Rodentia from Africa.

Note: if an import permit for animal products and by-products can't be provided because of the level of risk, the importer may apply for a permit to import pathogens through the OBCS.

16.10.3 Scope of commodities covered by this section

  • Animal blood and its derivatives such as serum, plasma and antibodies
  • Animal-origin nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), including samples on preservation cards
  • Pathology slides of animal tissues or fluids
  • Carcasses or body parts
  • Animal tissue samples and fluids
  • Fecal, manure or urine samples for research or testing purposes
  • Animal cell lines
  • Any cell lines containing an animal product or by-product in the media (for example fetal bovine serum or FBS)
  • Stem cells
  • Other animal products or by-products for use in a laboratory or for research

16.10.4 Not within the scope of this section

  • Samples from members of the orders Cetacea, Pinnipedia and Sirenia
  • Rodents other than squirrels, prairie dogs, African giant pouched rats or any rodents originating from Africa (lagomorphs are not rodents and are still regulated)
  • Veterinary biologics, for example vaccines (see the Veterinary biologics section of the CFIA website for further information)
  • Pathogens or commodities known or believed to contain pathogens and samples from non-human primates (contact the OBCS regarding these imports)
  • Goods covered by the Highly Processed Products section of this policy
  • Samples of finished pet food or processed pet food ingredients imported for laboratory analysis or research trials (see the Pet food chapter of this policy)

16.10.5 Roles and responsibilities

Note: this is not an all-encompassing list.

CFIA Animal Health Program
  • Determine controls or conditions to be applied to the import of animal products and by-products when they are not specifically known or believed to contain pathogens (Note: Animal Health may refer applications to OBCS if it is felt that the risk can't be prevented sufficiently through an Animal Health import permit)
  • Evaluate the disease status of the country of origin
OBCS
  • Providing import permits under HAR sections 51 (b) for the following:
    • samples for which an animal health import permit could not be provided due to the level of risk
    • samples from non-human primates

Contact the OBCS regarding these imports.

National Centre for Permissions
  • Provide permits for the import of laboratory or research samples
Canadian Centre for Veterinary Biologics
  • Regulates the import of veterinary biologics (vaccines, diagnostic test kits, etc.) in Canada under the authority of the Health of Animals Act and regulations (it is possible for products regulated by the CCVB to contain animal products/by-products)

16.10.6 Import requirements for laboratory and research materials of animal origin for commercial distribution

For animal products and by-products that are intended to be imported for commercial use and where established conditions are not available in AIRS, importers may request an evaluation according to the policy Request to import a new commodity or import from a new country of origin. For example, a laboratory may routinely import bacterial culture medium containing fetal bovine serum from a commercial supplier in large quantities. In this case a zoosanitary certificate should be negotiated through the CFIA. This is in contrast to materials that are imported once or only a few times in small quantities which are generally the subject of the research, testing or analysis.

When laboratory and research materials originating from animals are imported for commercial sale by a distributor who is not the end user, the import conditions in AIRS may be found under the end uses of "other end uses" or "commercial". The end uses of "samples for testing" and "scientific use (research)" are reserved for importers who will be using the materials to conduct laboratory testing or research.

16.10.7 Import requirements for laboratory and research samples

Note: when determining import conditions for a product or by-product, the CFIA's country disease freedom lists don't apply to wildlife, only domestic or captive animals. Therefore, a case-by-case review is required for samples collected from wild animals. For example, for samples collected from wild birds, the status of the country of origin for HPAI would not be factored into decisions regarding import conditions since this status only applies to domestic or captive birds.

One or more of the following requirements may apply:

Laboratory approvals

An approval of the importing laboratory may need to be completed by the OBCS for compliance with laboratory biocontainment and biosafety requirements of the Canadian Biosafety Standards, 3rd Edition. A valid compliance or certification letter assigning a biocontainment level from OBCS may need to accompany an application in order for an Animal Health import permit to be issued. Laboratory approvals from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) may also be considered.

Destruction/disposal requirements

Requirements to properly destroy and/or dispose of any remaining material after the testing or research may be a condition of an import permit. This may involve incineration, autoclaving or other disease-inactivating procedures or disposal at an approved international waste landfill site.

Record-keeping requirements

Record-keeping requirements may be included in import permits to assist with tracing activities if they become necessary for disease-control purposes. Record-retention periods may also be included.

Treatment of samples

In some cases, treatments (such as heat) may be applied to samples to inactivate diseases and reduce the risk of animals being exposed to them. As indicated in sections 41(1)(b) and (c) of the HAR, if a product/by-product is from a country that is not considered free of diseases of concern and it has not been adequately treated, the disease risk would not be sufficiently prevented. In this case the shipment would not be allowed to enter Canada.

For the CFIA to consider the use of a treatment process that has not yet been evaluated, a request must be made to the CFIA by submitting an application to the NCP. In some cases, a formal Risk Assessment request will be required, as outlined in the CFIA policy Request to import a new commodity or import from a new country of origin.

Restriction to in vitro use only

"In vitro" use means that the material won't be brought into contact with or introduced into animals, whereas "in vivo" use means that the material will be brought into contact with or introduced into animals. Restricting animal-origin samples to in vitro use only may be a condition of an import permit. The risk of onward disease transmission is considerably lower if the material is not brought into contact with or introduced directly into, live animals.

16.11 Bee products

16.11.1 Legislative authority

Health of Animals Regulations

Part VI: Importation of Packing Material, Beehives and Beeswax

  • 57 – Beehives and Beeswax

16.11.2 Policy statement

Many viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic diseases affect honeybees. The diseases and pests of concern which could further spread in Canada because of the importation of honeybee products are:

  1. Varroa mites (Varroa jacobsoni and Varroa destructor)
  2. Tracheal mites (Acarapis woodi)
  3. Small hive beetle (Aethina tumida)
  4. American foulbrood (Paenibacillus larvae)
  5. European foulbrood (Melissococcus plutonius)
  6. Tropilaelaps spp. mites

Preventative measures may be placed on imports of bee products depending on their place of origin, the time of year of import, the destination within Canada and the end use.

16.11.3 Scope of commodities covered by this section

  • Beeswax (including wax cappings)
  • Bee propolis
  • Royal jelly
  • Honeycomb
  • Honey
  • Beehives
  • Bee pollen

"Pollen" is distinct from "bee pollen". Bee pollen has been collected by bees whereas pollen is obtained directly from plants by humans without having been in contact with bees. Bee pollen may have import requirements under the Animal Health program whereas pollen does not. However, pollen may have import requirements under the Plant Protection Program.

16.11.4 Not within the scope of this section

  • Importation of live bees
  • Importation of pathogens affecting bees
  • Food safety or public health requirements (refer to Food imports)
  • Packaging and labelling requirements
  • Export of bee products
  • Pollen that has not been collected by bees

16.11.5 Roles and responsibilities

Note: this is not an all-encompassing list.

CFIA Food Program
  • Determining public health requirements for bee products intended for human consumption
CFIA Animal Health Program
  • Providing Animal Health requirements for the import of bee products
CFIA Animal Feeds Program
  • As of December 2025, determining requirements under the Feeds Act and Feeds Regulations, 2024 for the import of both livestock feeds that contain bee products/by-products and single ingredient feeds that originate from or are bee products/by-products

16.11.6 Additional import requirements

Note: it is prohibited to import used beehives or bee equipment under the Health of Animals Regulations paragraph 57 (a).

One or more of the following requirements may apply:

Absence of live honeybees or bee brood in the shipment

Since live honeybees or bee brood can be a potential source of disease, it is essential that they are not in any shipments of imported bee products arriving in Canada.

Irradiation

If used for bee feeding in Canada, bee products may require irradiation at 10 kGy to inactivate diseases. A certificate must be presented to a CFIA inspector showing that the irradiation was completed. A list of approved irradiation facilities for bee products is posted on the Import Policies – Animal Products and By-Products page of the CFIA website.

Country freedom from bee diseases of concern

If a shipment of a bee product is imported from a country that is free of Small Hive Beetle, an export certificate may be required attesting to this freedom.

Restrictions on the time of year of the importation

If unprocessed beeswax is from a country of origin affected by Small Hive Beetle, the import permit may restrict the time of year during which the importation may take place. It may only be imported into Canada during the colder months to prevent insect survival.

Freezing the product

A wax shipment may be required to be frozen and if so, the refrigerated transportation conveyance must display a temperature reading of -20 degrees Celsius (-9 degrees Fahrenheit) upon reaching the port of entry into Canada.

Approval of facility

It may be required that the import takes place into a site previously approved by the CFIA for the rendering and processing of beeswax.

Non-insulated building and time of year

If the product is received into a non-insulated building in Canada during the colder times of year as mentioned previously, the conditions would prevent the survival of small hive beetle in the product. Therefore, it may be an import requirement to receive the bee product into a non-insulated building during a colder time of year.

Professional extermination services

At the end of the cold season, the receiving facility may need to get professional extermination services to destroy any remaining pests and to provide a certificate of extermination to the CFIA.

Incinerating wax debris

It may be required that any wax debris in the transportation vehicles or storage buildings which is swept from the floors is to be incinerated as soon as possible and is never to be swept outside.

16.12 Egg products

16.12.1 Legislative authority

Health of Animals Regulations

Part III: Importation of Animal Products

  • 34 – Dairy Products and Certain Eggs

Part IV: Importation of Animal By-products, Animal Pathogens and other Things

  • 41 - Importation Prohibited

16.12.2 Policy statement

Eggs and their products could potentially spread animal diseases such as HPAI and VND. Outbreaks of these diseases can have harmful impacts on Canada's poultry populations and international trade. Regulatory controls placed on the import of eggs and egg products are therefore focused on preventing the introduction of these diseases into Canada. However, other diseases may also be taken into consideration in the development of import conditions.

Animal Health import requirements apply to eggs and egg products from any avian species. This is in contrast with the public health requirements for eggs found in the Safe Food for Canadian Regulations, which apply only to eggs from domestic chickens and turkeys. Eggs or egg products from wild birds require a case-by-case review.

16.12.3 Scope of commodities covered by this section

  • Whole eggs
  • Egg shells
  • Egg yolk
  • Egg albumen
  • Any mix of these in a liquid, dried, frozen, preserved or fresh form
  • Edible bird's nests (other than cooked, canned, commercially sterile)
  • Balut

16.12.4 Not within the scope of this section

  • Fertilized eggs intended for hatching
  • Food safety or public health requirements (refer to Food imports)
  • Premises licensing or approval
  • Food labelling requirements
  • Interprovincial movement of egg products
  • Export of egg products

16.12.5 Roles and responsibilities

Note: this is not an all-encompassing list.

CFIA Food Program
  • Determining public health requirements under the SFCR for egg products intended for human consumption
CFIA Animal Health Program
  • Providing animal health requirements for egg products for human consumption to the CFIA Food Program
  • Determining animal health requirements for the import of eggs for purposes other than human consumption
CFIA Animal Feeds Program
  • Determining requirements under the Feeds Act and Feeds Regulations, 2024 for the import of both livestock feeds that contain egg products/by-products and single ingredient feeds that originate from or are egg products/by-products

16.12.6 Additional import requirements

One or more of the following requirements may apply:

16.13 Highly processed products/by-products

16.13.1 Legislative authority

Health of Animals Regulations

Part IV: Importations of Animal By-products, Animal Pathogens and other Things

  • 41(1) and (2), 41.1 (1) and (2) – Importation Prohibited
  • 51.2(1) and (2)
  • 52(1) and (2) – Importation Permitted

16.13.2 Policy statement

Highly processed products/by-products are derived from terrestrial animals and the standard industry methods of production eliminate diseases other than TSEs. These commodities have minimal animal health requirements other than those protecting against TSEs. They are generally used in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, fertilizer or for industrial or laboratory purposes.

16.13.3 Scope of commodities covered by this section

Note: this is not an all-encompassing list.

  • Albumin (including bovine serum albumin)
  • Amino acids
  • Animal glue
  • Bone charcoal
  • Bone oil
  • Chondroitin sulphate
  • Collagen, collagen casings
  • Dicalcium phosphate
  • Enzymes of animal origin (for example, rennet, phosphatase, peroxidase)
  • Fatty acid
  • Fibrin
  • Gelatin
  • Gelatin capsules
  • Glucosamine
  • Glycerides
  • Glycerol
  • Glycolipids
  • Hormones of animal origin (for example, insulin, adrenocorticotropic hormone)
  • Lactic acid
  • Lactose
  • Lactulose
  • Oleostearin
  • Ossein
  • Peptides
  • Peptone
  • Phospholipids
  • Serum substitutes (for laboratory purposes)
  • Sorbitan esters
  • Tricalcium phosphate (bone ash)
  • Triglycerides
  • Vitamin A made from porcine gelatin
  • Vitamin D made from lanolin from sheep's wool

Note: nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA are covered in the Laboratory and Research Samples section of this policy.

16.13.4 Not within the scope of this section

  • Food safety or public health requirements (refer to Food import program)
  • Premises licensing or approval
  • Packaging and labelling requirements
  • Export of highly processed animal products/by-products
  • Egg albumen (different than "albumin" which is derived from blood)
  • Vitamins A and D that don't originate from animals
  • Foods for human consumption containing gelatin or collagen as the only animal-origin ingredient and that are imported in final retail packaging are exempt from animal health requirements (highly processed products such as gelatin have a low animal health risk and products that are individually packaged for human consumption have a minimal chance of entering the livestock feed chain)

16.13.5 Roles and responsibilities

Note: this is not an all-encompassing list.

CFIA Food Program
  • Determining public health requirements for highly processed animal products for human consumption
CFIA Animal Health Program
  • Providing animal health requirements for highly processed animal products/by-products
CFIA Animal Feeds Program
  • Determining requirements under the Feeds Act and Feeds Regulations, 2024 for the import of both livestock feeds that contain highly processed products/by-products and single ingredient feeds that originate from or are highly processed products/by-products

16.13.6 Additional import requirements

One or more of the following requirements may apply:

Labelling requirements

Labelling requirements for prohibited material as required in the Health of Animals Regulations may apply.

Importer's declaration

A declaration from the importer (dated, signed and linked to the shipment being imported) may be required indicating 1 or more of the following

  • the species of origin and end use of the product/by-product
  • that the product/by-product is not derived from bones of bovine origin
Zoosanitary certificate

A zoosanitary certificate may be required attesting to information outlined in the Zoosanitary certificate guidelines for highly processed products/by-products annex.

Treatments/processing methods

One or more treatment/processing requirements may need to be applied to the product/by-product.

16.14 Medicinal and natural health products

16.14.1 Legislative authority

Health of Animals Regulations

Part IV: Importation of Animal By-products, Animal Pathogens and other Things

  • 41 and 41.1 - Importation prohibited

Part X General Provisions

  • 107 - Disinfection

16.14.2 Policy statement

Medicinal and natural health products are materials that are administered to humans or animals with the intention of providing health benefits. If they contain animal-origin ingredients, they must follow animal health import requirements. If they fit the definition of a meat product then they must also follow the import requirements for edible meat.

The following commodities, when going for human use, have a minimal animal health risk and don't have any animal health import requirements:

  • highly processed commercially prepared and packaged products (meaning capsules, tablets, vials for injections, liquids, ointments) containing animal material where no pieces of animal tissue can be visibly identified
  • personal importation of 1 kg or less of powdered or sliced antler or antler velvet

16.14.3 Scope of commodities covered by this section

Note: this is not an all-encompassing list. If the following commodities listed are intended for end-uses other than medicinal or natural health, they may fall under other sections of this policy or other CFIA programs. If any of them fit the definition of a meat product, requirements under the SFCA/SFCR apply.

  • Antler velvet
  • Dried animal placenta
  • Dried bladders
  • Dried bones
  • Dried chicken feet
  • Dried embryo extract
  • Dried gall bladders
  • Dried gizzard lining
  • Dried pizzles/penises
  • Dried tail glands
  • Dried tendons
  • Essence of chicken (pan sheet liquid)
  • Homeopathic medicines
  • Omega 3 and essential fatty acids
  • Powdered antler
  • Processed bile
  • Shredded bones of various species
  • Sliced antler
  • Traditional medicines
  • Vitamin and mineral supplements

16.14.4 Not within the scope of this section

  • Food safety or public health requirements
  • Packaging and labelling requirements
  • Export of medicinal and natural health products
  • Requirements under the CITES

16.14.5 Roles and responsibilities

Note: this is not an all-encompassing list.

CFIA Animal Health Program
  • Providing animal health requirements for medicinal and natural health products
CFIA Food Program
  • Providing public health requirements for medicinal and natural health products which meet the definition of a meat product. These products are regulated under the SFCR
Health Canada
  • Assessing all natural health products before allowing their sale in Canada and verifying that natural health products are properly manufactured (without contamination or incorrect ingredients) as required by the Natural Health Products Regulations
ECCC
  • Regulating natural health products made from endangered species under the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species

16.14.6 Additional import requirements

One or more of the following requirements may apply:

Proof of origin

Most products manufactured in the U.S. are allowed entry into Canada with proof of origin that is considered acceptable to CBSA.

Zoosanitary certificate

An original zoosanitary certificate signed by an official veterinarian of the government of the country of origin may be required certifying that the product originated from a country or zone designated by Canada as free from diseases of concern (for example, BSE and FMD in the case of bovine products).

Official Meat Inspection Certificate

If the imported natural health product also meets the definition of a meat product under the SFCR, then the import requirements for edible meat apply. Refer to the Edible meat products chapter for further information.

16.15 Feeds, premixes and supplements for livestock, poultry and animals not considered pets

This section is not implemented until further notice is provided

16.15.1 Legislative authority

Health of Animals Regulations

Part IV: Importation of Animal By-products, Animal Pathogens and other Things

  • 46 - Meat and Bone meal, Bone Meal, Blood Meal, Tankage, Feather Meal, Fish Meal, Rendering Plant Products, Animal Manure, Garbage and Ship's Refuse
  • 52 – Importation Permitted

Part XIV: Food for Ruminants, Livestock and Poultry, Rendering Plants, Fertilizers and Fertilizer Supplements

  • 162, 163 – Prohibited Material
  • 164 – Feeding prohibited material to a ruminant
  • 166 – Importation of Products of Rendering Plants
  • 167 – Importation or Sale of Products of Rendering Plants
  • 167.1(2) – Recall Procedures
  • 168, 169 – Food and Food Ingredients

Feeds Act and Feeds Regulations, 2024

16.15.2 Policy statement

Imported complete feeds, premixes, supplements and other mixed feeds for livestock animals and poultry may contain animal origin ingredients. Since they are fed directly to animals, they have a risk for spreading animal diseases. BSEand other TSEs are diseases of particular concern in complete feeds, premixes, supplements and other mixed feeds due to their potential to survive the rendering processes and heat that may be applied during the manufacture of feed. Risk-based regulatory controls placed on the import of these commodities are particularly focused on preventing the introduction of BSE (and other TSEs) into Canada, however other diseases of concern are also taken into consideration.

Food for animals that are not considered livestock or poultry (that is, those not listed as Designated Livestock under section 1(2) of the Feeds Regulations, 2024) which contain animal-origin ingredients must still comply with import requirements under the Health of Animals Act and regulations. This includes food for zoo, laboratory and farmed fur-bearing animals such as mink and foxes.

The CFIA's policy on BSE can be found at Bovine spongiform encephalopathy import policy for bovine animals and their products and by-products.

In addition to any animal health requirements applied to livestock and poultry complete feeds, premixes, supplements and other feeds (both mixed feeds and single ingredient feeds) the importer is also responsible for compliance with all requirements under the CFIA Animal Feed Program, including product registration.

Feeds and feed ingredients that do not contain animal origin ingredients can also spread animal diseases. For example, hay and other forages may be contaminated with or fertilized intentionally with manure. For this reason, the Health of Animals Regulations prohibit the import of fodder and forage to be used to feed ruminants, swine or horses from any country other than the United States. The CFIA also imposes import controls on grains and oilseeds from countries affected by ASF so that these commodities are treated or handled to reduce the risk of transmission of ASF before they can be fed to livestock.

16.15.3 Scope of commodities covered by this section

  • Complete feeds, premixes, supplements and other mixed feeds for livestock and poultry species containing animal-origin ingredients
  • Grains and oilseeds used as feed ingredients where there is a high risk of contamination with animal diseases of concern, for example corn intended for feeding swine from a country with an active outbreak of ASF (refer to Importers: understanding feed controls to prevent ASF)
  • Aquaculture feed containing terrestrial animal ingredients or products of a rendering plant including fish meal or other fish products/by-products
  • Food for lab animals
  • Food for zoo animals
  • Food for farmed fur-bearing animals such as mink or fox

16.15.4 Not within the scope of this section

  • Grains and oilseeds used as feed ingredients with a low risk of contamination with animal diseases of concern
  • Rendered by-products used in the manufacture of livestock and poultry feeds after they are imported into Canada (see Products of rendering plants section)
  • Pet food (intended for dogs, cats, pocket pets, ornamental fish, etc.) (see Pet food section)
  • Aquaculture feed not containing terrestrial animal ingredients or products of a rendering plant

16.15.5 Roles and responsibilities

Note: this is not an all-encompassing list.

CFIA Animal Health Program
  • Determining requirements under the Health of Animals Act and regulations for the import of feeds
CFIA Animal Feed Program
  • Determining requirements under the Feeds Act and Feeds Regulations, 2024 for the import of mixed feeds and single ingredient feeds

16.15.6 Additional requirements

One or more of the following requirements may apply:

  • import permit
  • zoosanitary certificate
  • list of ingredients

Currently under development

16.16 Other commodities not addressed in the previous sections

16.16.1 Legislative authority

Health of Animals Regulations

Part IV: Importation of Animal By-products, Animal Pathogens and other Things

  • 40 and 41 - Importation prohibited

Due to the various products/by-products that may be covered under this chapter, other sections of the Health of Animals Act and the Health of Animals Regulations may also apply.

16.16.2 Policy statement

Unique animal-origin products or by-products may not clearly fall under 1 of the previous chapters of this policy, however they could contain animal diseases of concern to Canada. It may therefore be necessary for the CFIA to apply import conditions for some of these commodities to reduce risk.

Since these products or by-products may be unique, established import conditions may not always be available in AIRS. In this case it may be necessary for the CFIA to review import requests, taking into consideration any animal-origin ingredients and develop appropriate import conditions.

16.16.3 Scope of commodities covered by this section

  • Products or by-products made of or containing, animal-origin ingredients which are not covered in one of the previously mentioned commodity-specific chapters of this policy

16.16.4 Not within the scope of this section

  • Products containing no animal-origin materials
  • Products/by-products containing animal-origin materials that are covered in one of the other commodity-specific chapters of this policy

Note: items that don't contain animal-origin materials but carry an animal health risk due to potential cross-contamination with animal diseases would be covered under the Contaminated Things chapter.

16.16.5 Roles and responsibilities

Importer
  • Verifying whether established import conditions exist for the product or by-product by checking AIRS and consulting with CFIA staff as required
  • Providing detailed information to the CFIA clearly outlining all relevant details of the product or by-product to assist with a case-by-case review
CFIA Animal Health Program
  • Reviewing the application on a case-by-case basis to determine disease risk and creating appropriate import conditions as required
Animal health risk sssessment staff
  • Completing a full or partial Animal Health Risk Assessment, if requested, to support decision-making by the Animal Health Program regarding import conditions
National Centre for Permissions
  • Serving as the point of contact for the importer when applying for an import permit

16.16.6 Additional requirements

Case-by-case review

Unique products and by-products that aren't commonly imported are unlikely to have established import conditions in AIRS. Therefore, it's likely that a case-by-case review would need to be completed by the CFIA Animal Health Program according to the policy Request to import a new commodity or import from a new country of origin. It's likely that detailed information about the shipment will be requested from the applicant to help the CFIA understand the disease risk and to determine the appropriate course of action. It's not guaranteed that a case-by-case review will result in a favourable outcome for the importer and in some cases the request may be declined if it's determined that the disease risk can't be sufficiently reduced.

Ingredient list and other details about the product/by-product

Since established import conditions may not be available due to the uniqueness of these products and by-products, it's recommended that the applicant provide as much detail as possible about the product/by-product to the NCP. This should include all animal-origin ingredients and their countries of origin, as well as any disease-inactivating treatments that may have been applied to the product/by-product. The requirements of other CFIA programs, for example Plant Protection or Aquatic Animal Health, may also be applicable and these programs may need to be consulted. Requirements of other regulatory bodies may also apply and won't be reflected in AIRS.

17. Other government departments and agencies

The importer is responsible for confirming and complying with the requirements of all government departments and agencies that may be applicable. These may include, but are not limited to, the following:

18. Other CFIA programs

It's the importer's responsibility to confirm and comply with all applicable CFIA programs. These may include, but aren't limited to the following:

19. Other legislation

The importer is responsible for confirming and complying with the requirements of all legislation that may be applicable. This may include, but isn't limited to, the following:

20. Links

21. Annexes

Annex 1: Acceptable treatments for manure

Porcine, ruminant, avian, equine: all of the manure products/by-products were heated throughout by moist heat with the following treatments at the indicated minimum temperatures and minimum times listed:

  • to a minimum of 61 degrees C for a minimum of 80 minutes or
  • to a minimum of 65 degrees C for a minimum of 70 minutes or
  • to a minimum of 70 degrees C for a minimum of 25 minutes or
  • all of the manure products/by-products were composted and the interior temperature of the compost pile was raised to a minimum temperature of 77 degrees C and the interior of the pile was maintained at this temperature (77 degrees C) for a minimum of 7 days

Annex 2: Acceptable treatments for feathers

Feathers or down for export to Canada may be processed to ensure the inactivation of HPAI virus and ND virus using one of the following treatments

  • washed and steam-dried at 100°C for 30 minutes
  • fumigation with formalin (10% formaldehyde) for 8 hours
  • irradiation with a dose of 20 kiloGray, or
  • any equivalent treatment which has been demonstrated to inactivate HPAI virus and ND virus and that has been evaluated and approved by the competent animal health authority of (insert country of origin) for this purpose

If the word "processed" is used to describe feathers, it means that they have been subjected to one of the treatments listed previously in this annex.

Annex 3: Acceptable treatments for milk products from countries that are not recognized free of FMD by Canada

The product has been subjected to the following treatments:

  • 1) Pasteurization with UHT; or
  • 2) Pasteurization with HTST; and
    • a) a second HTST treatment; or
    • b) the pH has been lowered below 7 and held there for at least 1 hour

Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) pasteurization: means a sterilization process applying a minimum temperature of 140°C for at least 5 seconds.

High Temperature Short Time (HTST) pasteurization: means a process applying a minimum temperature of 72°C for at least 15 seconds

Annex 4: Bacterial culture testing requirements for pet chews

The testing method to be followed for pet chews requires that each lot or batchFootnote 1 has had 5 samples subjected to random sampling and testing at an external accredited laboratory (taken prior to or after storage at the processing plant), complying with the following standards

Salmonella: absence in 25g: n = 5, c = 0, m = 0, M = 0,

Enterobacteriaceae: n = 5, c = 2, m = 10, M = 300 in 1 gram;

Where:

n = number of samples to be tested. For every individual lot or batch (not shipment), 5 samples must be tested.

m = threshold value for the number of bacteria; the result is considered satisfactory if the number of bacteria in all samples does not exceed m;

M = maximum value for the number of bacteria; the result is considered unsatisfactory if the number of bacteria in 1 or more samples is M or more; and

c = number of samples the bacterial count of which may be between m and M, the sample still being considered acceptable if the bacterial count of the other samples is m or less.

The lot or batch number(s) of the products/by-products to be exported must appear on both the certificate of analysis and at least one of the following:

  • the shipping invoice
  • a copy of the label or ingredients list
  • the product/by-product description on single window for electronic declaration

Annex 5: Acceptable treatments for egg products

  • Albumen - Minimum temperature of 55°C for at least 38 minutes
  • Liquid whole egg - Minimum of 61°C for at least 3.5 minutes
  • Egg Yolk - Minimum temperature of 60°C for at least 6 minutes
  • Any other equivalent treatment as determined by CFIA headquarters

Treatments outlined in the "Established temperature and time requirements" for pasteurization of egg products in the "Preventive controls for eggs and processed egg products" are also acceptable.

Annex 6: Zoosanitary certificate guidelines for highly processed products/by-products

The zoosanitary certificate required for the import of a highly processed product/by-product may require the following:

  • species
  • body part or tissue of origin
  • country of origin
  • that the product/by-product was not prepared using or cross-contaminated with, the following bovine tissues or any products/by-products derived from them: the skull – including the brain, trigeminal ganglia and eyes, the spinal cord and the vertebral column (excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the transverse processes of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae and the wings of the sacrum) – and the palatine tonsils from all bovine animals aged 30 months or older; and that the product/by-product was not prepared using the distal ileum from bovine animals of all ages
  • for products/by-products made from hides and skins of bovine animals aged 30 months or older and stunned using a penetrating device, that the face plates were removed or trimmed of hide a minimum of 2.5 cm around the stun hole and a minimum of 2.5 cm around all parts of the face plate which were visibly contaminated with brain tissue or washed, scraped, vacuumed or otherwise processed to remove visible brain materials
  • for products/by-products made from bones of bovine animals aged 30 months or over, the bones used to prepare the product/by-product were derived from bovine animals that were not subjected to a stunning process prior to slaughter, with a device injecting compressed air or gas into the cranial cavity or to a pithing process

Annex 7: List of acceptable treatments used by disinfection sites for integumentary tissues (associated with skin) and trophies

Irradiation

  • 40 kiloGray (kGy) at 20°C or room temperature (for all integumentary tissues)

Chemical disinfection

Cleaning and disinfection of raw hides and skins
  • Salting: cover for at least 28 days in salt (NaCl) containing 2% sodium carbonate Na2CO3
  • Soaking, with agitation, in a 4% (weight/volume) solution of washing soda (sodium carbonate – Na2CO3) maintained at pH 11.5 or above for at least 48 hours
  • Tanning (recommended for green salted hides): soaking, with agitation, in a formic acid solution (100 kg salt [NaCl] and 12 kg formic acid per 1000 L water) maintained at below pH 3.0 for at least 48 hours; (wetting and dressing agents may be added); agitate the materials being disinfected every 2 hours for about 10 minutes; at least once every 12 hours, check the pH, which should not be allowed to rise above pH 3.0
Cleaning and disinfection of wool and hair
  • Liming (chemical depilation with slaked lime or sodium sulphide) - a pH 12.6-13.2 is sufficient to inactivate most pathogens; this method is also recommended for wool where contamination with anthrax spores cannot be ruled out
  • Industrial scouring - the immersion of wool in a water-soluble detergent held at 60-70°C
  • Industrial washing - the immersion of the wool in a series of baths of water, soap and sodium hydroxide (soda) or potassium hydroxide (potash)
Cleaning and disinfection of bristles
  • Boil for at least 1 hour
  • Immerse for at least 24 hours in a 1% solution of formaldehyde that is prepared from 30 mL commercial formalin per litre of water
Cleaning and disinfection of trophies (without skin attached) from wild animals
  • Boiling in water for an appropriate time to ensure that any matter other than bone, horns, hooves, claws, antlers or teeth is removed
  • Soaking, with agitation, in a 4% (weight/volume) solution of washing soda (sodium carbonate – Na2CO3) maintained at pH 11.5 or above for at least 48 hours
  • Tanning - soaking, with agitation, in a formic acid solution (100 kg salt [NaCl] and 12 kg formic acid per 1000 L water) maintained at below pH 3.0 for at least 48 hours; (wetting and dressing agents may be added); agitate the materials being disinfected every 2 hours for about 10 minutes; at least once every 12 hours, check the pH, which should not be allowed to rise above pH 3.0

Annex 8: Transshipment through the United States

Determination of import requirements by commodity type

Locate the commodity of interest in the AIRS and determine if it is eligible to export to Canada directly from the country of origin.

Ineligible commodities

If the product/by-product is listed as "refuse entry" for direct export from the country of origin to Canada then it is not eligible for transshipment through the United States to Canada

Eligible commodities

a) Commodities requiring a CFIA import permit when trans-shipped through the U.S.

Rendered materials, commodities with multiple animal origin ingredients, commodities posing a higher risk of transmission of foreign animal diseases, commodities that do not meet the requirements in part b) and commodities that are not listed as safe commodities for BSE by the WOAH require an import permit for entry into Canada. This process allows CFIA to carry out a risk assessment and determine whether import is permitted. If the application for an import permit is successful, the conditions to be certified by USDA will be listed in the import permit. The import permit must be issued before the shipment is presented for entry into Canada. Please refer to the CFIA National Centre for Permissions for Permissions for further information on applying for an import permit.

An import permit is required for transshipment of the following commodities:

  • rendered materials (processed animal proteins) and fertilizers containing rendered ingredients
  • pet food, treats and chews
  • raw inedible by-products
  • cattle skulls
  • animal origin laboratory samples including blood products/by-products and tissue samples
  • raw manure

b) Commodities not requiring a CFIA import permit when trans-shipped through the U.S.

Single ingredient commodities that pose a low risk of transmission of foreign animal diseases do not require an import permit for entry into Canada, provided that the zoosanitary certificate issued by the country of origin for entry of the shipment into the U.S. contains all information required in AIRS as if the commodity were imported directly to Canada. In order to enter Canada the shipment must be presented with an original zoosanitary certificate issued by the USDA certifying the standard conditions for transshipment listed in the next section, along with a copy of the zoosanitary certificate issued by the country of origin for entry into the U.S.

An import permit is not required for transshipment of the following commodities through the U.S:

  • milk and milk products
  • eggs and egg products
  • integumentary tissues such as:
    • hides and skins
    • feathers
    • hooves
    • horns
    • antlers

    except pet chews, which require an import permit

  • fertilizers containing processed manure but no rendered materials

USDA certification requirements for commodities not requiring a CFIA import permit

Each shipment must be accompanied by an original zoosanitary certificate endorsed by a full-time, salaried veterinarian of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that certifies the following:

  1. the products for export to Canada originating from __________ were legally imported into the USA (citing the required import documents such as import permit or zoosanitary certificate number)
  2. the products were not changed or processed in any way while in the USA (activities like packaging do not constitute processing)
  3. the products for export to Canada were not cross-contaminated with any animal product or by-product of lesser zoosanitary status while in the USA

c) Commodities with no zoosanitary requirements when trans-shipped through the U.S.

For commodities where no zoosanitary certificate is required when that commodity is exported directly from the country of origin to Canada, no zoosanitary certificate endorsed by USDA-APHIS is required for trans-shipment through the U.S. For example, avian origin gelatin may be imported directly into Canada from any country with no zoosanitary certificate. As a result, no zoosanitary certificate from USDA-APHIS is required for entry into Canada when this commodity is trans-shipped through the U.S.

Annex 9: Transshipment through countries other than the United States

Determination of import requirements by commodity type

Locate the commodity of interest in the AIRS and determine if it is eligible to export to Canada directly from the country of origin.

Ineligible commodities

If the product/by-product is listed as "refuse entry" in AIRS for direct export from the country of origin to Canada then it is not eligible for transshipment through an intermediate country to Canada.

Eligible commodities

If there are import conditions listed in AIRS for the commodity to be imported directly from the country of origin to Canada, then transshipment through an intermediate country may be considered. The Canadian importer must apply for an animal health import permit in order to get permission for import. Transshipment through intermediate countries other than the United States is only permitted after successful completion of a risk review and the import permit must be received from the CFIA before the shipment is presented for entry into Canada. The following conditions must be met in order for an application for an import permit to be considered:

  • the animal product or by-product is eligible to be imported into Canada directly from the country of origin
  • the intermediate country through which the commodity is to be trans-shipped has a veterinary certification system recognized by the CFIA
  • the commodity is eligible to be legally imported into the intermediate country where the transshipment will occur
  • the commodity will be handled and controlled in the intermediate country in a manner which will prevent cross-contamination of the shipment with animals, animal products or by-products which present a risk of introduction of serious animal diseases into Canada

If permission is granted for the commodity to be imported, the animal health import permit will provide the detailed conditions that must be met for shipments to enter Canada. In most cases zoosanitary certification both from the country of origin and from the intermediate country where transshipment occurs will be required. The Canadian zoosanitary statements that must be certified by the country of origin may be included in either:

  • the zoosanitary certificate intended for the intermediate country if they accept having Canadian conditions included in their certificate, or
  • a separate zoosanitary certificate intended exclusively for Canada (forwarding certification).

If the statements are included in the zoosanitary certificate intended for the intermediate country, the importer would be responsible for confirming that the competent authority of the intermediate country would accept this.

Please refer to the CFIA NCP for further information on applying for an import permit.

Commodities with no zoosanitary requirements when trans-shipped through a country other than the U.S.

For commodities where no zoosanitary certificate is required when that commodity is exported directly from the country of origin to Canada, no zoosanitary certificate endorsed by the competent authority of the intermediate country is required for trans-shipment. For example, avian origin gelatin may be imported directly into Canada from any country with no zoosanitary certificate. As a result, no zoosanitary certificate from the intermediate country is required for entry into Canada when this commodity is trans-shipped.

Annex 10: Countries with approved rendering systems or establishments

All rendered by-products from all establishments

  • Australia
  • New Zealand

Non-ruminant rendered by-products (including fish meal) from all establishments

  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Spain
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

Rendered porcine blood by-products from approved establishments

  • Romania

Fish meal and rendered fish by-products from all establishments

  • All countries recognized by the WOAH as negligible risk for BSE
  • Mauritania

Fish meal and rendered fish by-products from approved establishments

  • Morocco
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