Export policies: animal products and by-products

• Approval of facilities that produce gelatin and collagen not intended for human consumption, to be used as feed material or for purposes outside the feed chain, intended for dispatch to or for transit through the European Union (EU)
• Approval of Facilities to Export Treated Hides and Skins of Ungulates for Technical Purposes (tannery) to the European Union
• Approval of Facilities to Process Animal Proteins Not Intended for Human Consumption for Export to the European Union
• Definition of Categories 1, 2, and 3 Animal Products and By-Products According to the European Legislation (EC) 1069/2009
• Explanatory Notes on the Veterinary Certificate for the Import of Products of Animal Origin Into the European Union
• Export Certification of Animal By-Products Not for Human Consumption to the European Union
• Export Certification of Furs and Game Trophies to the European Union
• Export of feathers to the European Union
• Export of Game Meat and Other Animal Products to the European Union for Non-Commercial Use
• Export of Unprocessed Wool or other Hair to the European Union
• Fish oil/Fish meal Exported from the United States to Canada for Eventual Export to the European Union under Regulation (EC) no 1069/2009 and its Implementing Legislation (EU) no 142/2011
• Import Conditions of Animal Samples for Analysis or Research Purposes Only to the European Union
• Inedible Animal By-Products Exported from Mexico to Canada for Eventual Export to the European Union under Regulation (EC) no 1069/2009 and its Implementing Legislation
• Inedible Animal By-Products Exported from the US to Canada for the Manufacture of Pet Food (in Canada) for Export to the Russian Federation
• Inedible Animal By-Products Exported from the US to Canada for the Manufacture of Pet Food (in Canada) for Export to Ukraine
• Plant approval or registration for export of intermediate products intended for technical use to the European Union
• Registration or approval of facilities to export animal by-products not intended for human consumption to the European Union (EU)
• Registration or Approval of Facilities to Export Blood and Blood Products Not Intended for Human Consumption for Use Outside the Feed Chain to the European Union

Apart from the Health of Animals Act and Regulations, Section 69, which provides the regulatory authority, numerous factors are considered in establishing zoosanitary export agreements.

The objective of the Export Program is to ensure that only healthy animals and animal products and by-products which meet the import health requirements of an importing country are exported from Canada, and that in the case of live animals, that they are transported in a humane manner.

Under the Health of Animals Act and Regulations, livestock, poultry, animal embryos and animal semen exported from Canada must be accompanied by a health certificate issued or endorsed by a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) veterinary inspector. The health certificate is a legal document which confirms that the sanitary requirements of an importing country have been complied with.

As a member of the Word Trade Organization (WTO) and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canada must observe international trade rules, which confer both rights and obligations. It is within the CFIA's mandate to support and enhance exports. Accordingly, the CFIA works in collaboration with clients and stakeholders to ensure that trading partners also meet the obligations of international trade agreements, as appropriate.

For export negotiations, responsibilities are divided into commodities such as live ruminants, companion animals, animal products, or poultry, to name a few. Each commodity is supported by a team consisting of Senior Veterinary Officers and Veterinary Program Specialists. Their responsibilities include initiating negotiations when appropriate; negotiating the best possible import conditions with officials of an importing country's veterinary service; ensuring that agreed conditions of export are as practical and cost-effective as possible and that they reflect the Canadian situation; participating in missions abroad and hosting missions of foreign veterinary authorities; interpreting and providing advice on export conditions to area/regional staff and the public; and liaising with scientific staff in laboratories and elsewhere to ensure that tests being requested can be carried out and are based on the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH; founded as Office International des Épizooties (OIE)) recommendations and/or are the most appropriate test available.

Once a zoosanitary export agreement has been established, a veterinary health certificate is created and provided to the CFIA's Area Export Officer who are responsible for responding to queries from the public and facilitating all export shipments. If you are interested in exporting a commodity, please contact the Export Officer responsible for the province in which you reside or from which you are interested in exporting a commodity.