Step-by-step guide: Grow your food business across Canada

Know whether you need an SFC licence

Before you begin, determine whether your products and business activities require a Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licence.

Why this matters: Understanding your licensing requirements early will help you plan your expansion with confidence.

• Licensing Interactive Tool
• Food business activities that require a licence

Understand the costs

If you're planning to expand into new markets, it's important to understand any fees that may apply.

Why this matters: Knowing your costs upfront helps you budget and prepare for growth.

• CFIA Fees Notice

Put food safety procedures in place

Step 1. Conduct a hazard analysis

Take time to identify anything that could affect the safety of your products, such as biological, chemical or physical hazards.

Why this matters: Safe food helps protect your customers, your reputation and your business.

• Conduct a hazard analysis

Step 2. Put in place simple food safety controls

Once you have identified potential risks, you will need processes to help manage and control them. These measures can include controls related to food handling, production, storage, and recall procedures.

Why this matters: Strong food safety practices help build trust with customers, retailers and distributors.

• Requirements for preventive controls

Step 3. Document your food safety procedures (if required)

Some businesses may need a preventive control plan (PCP), which documents how food safety risks are managed.

Use the PCP Interactive Tool to determine if your business requires one. You should also review any product-specific requirements that apply to the foods you produce.

Why this matters: Documented processes can help support business growth, consistency and regulatory compliance.

• Requirements for preventive control plans
• Preventive control plan exception for small food businesses
• Humane treatment of food animals during slaughter

Prepare your labels and packaging

Before selling your products more broadly, ensure your packaging, labelling and advertising meet Canadian requirements.

Why this matters: Accurate labels help consumers make informed choices and can prevent delays or corrections later.

• Food labelling: Industry Labelling Tool

Put traceability system in place

As your business grows, you'll need to know where your products come from and where they're sold. Traceability requirements help support food safety and make it easier to respond if an issue arises.

Why this matters: Good traceability helps protect your brand and build customer confidence.

• Traceability Interactive Tool

Apply for your licence (last step)

When you are ready:

• connect with the Concierge Team
• create a My CFIA account
• submit your licence application

Be sure to select the correct food commodity categories and business activities to help avoid processing delays.

Why this matters: Completing your application accurately can help you get to market sooner.

• My CFIA
• My CFIA User Guidance

After you apply

Submitted your licence application? Let us know by emailing us at CFIA.internaltrade-commerceinterieur.ACIA@inspection.gc.ca.