Guideline for preparing export certificates for the Canadian pet food industry

On this page

• List of updates
• Roles and responsibilities of exporters
  • Request for certification
  • Labelling requirements
• Role and responsibilities of CFIA
  • Obligations of certifying veterinarians
  • Free sale declaration
• Supporting documents and safekeeping
  • Exporter's declaration
  • Traceability Certificate (TC)
  • Other supporting documents
• Audits and inspection
• Glossary of terms
• Listing of requirements from importing countries
  • Africa
  • North America
  • Central and South America
  • Asia
  • Middle East
  • Oceania
  • Europe

June 17, 2016

This document contains Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) guidelines for the preparation by the Canadian pet food industry and the documentation requested for certification of pet food prior to export. The exporters must ensure that they have the required certificate endorsed, and have their importer confirm with the specific importing country that the certificate is completed in an acceptable fashion for the specific consignment.

List of updates

Roles and responsibilities of exporters

Exporters have full responsibility for ensuring that all applicable requirements of the importing country are met and for providing satisfactory evidence to that effect to the CFIA veterinarian before export is authorized and appropriate certificate issued.

They must also have qualified and legally responsible personnel to prepare, sign and provide the exporter's declaration as well as to provide any supporting documents as necessary in order to get an export certificate issued.

For advice and guidance on Export Health Certificates, exporters should contact the local CFIA Animal Health district office. They will confirm whether a certificate is available and will be able to provide them with an electronic version of the certificate.

Each shipment must be accompanied by an export certificate signed by a CFIA Veterinarian. The health export certificate must be signed before the shipment leaves Canada. The CFIA will not issue an export certificate after the shipment has left Canada.

Request for certification

These requests vary depending on whether or not there is an existing process for the export of pet food, and if a negotiated certificate is readily available.

In circumstances where there is an official negotiated certificate, the exporter's declaration must include the specific reference number issued by the exporter on the first page of the health export certificate submitted for signature and specific attestations for each country (see section Listing of requirements from importing countries). In some cases, additional documentation is also required such as laboratory testing results issued by accredited laboratories and/or copy of sanitary certificates issued by third countries in case of finished pet food containing imported ingredients.

In some circumstances where there is not an existing certificate negotiated by the CFIA and the country to which the pet food is destined, it is the exporter's responsibility to get the importing country requirements for his/her commodity prior to making an application to the CFIA. Once the conditions have been obtained, the CFIA must ensure that the exported product meets the importing country's zoosanitary requirements and issue an in-house certificate HA2341. The exporter must then assume all commercial risk related to that export.

When exports are covered by an in-house certificate HA2341, the exporter should submit a declaration to describe the product and add a statement on that declaration to discharge the CFIA from any commercial risk related to that export. The information contained in the declaration should reflect the import conditions provided by the exporter. No attestation discharging the CFIA from any commercial risk is required when an import permit is issued by the competent authority of the third country as the import permit is a legal document permitting the import if all its conditions are met.

Examples of when an in-house certificate (HA2341) can be used

1. No negotiated export certificate exists but an import permit is issued by the competent authority of the third country with the import conditions (for example, USA, Australia, etc.): a HA2341 must be issued and must include conditions written on the import permit

   No commercial risk letter is needed as the import permit is a legal document permitting the import if all its conditions are met.

2. No negotiated export certificate exists but import conditions are provided by the exporter/importer: a HA2341 can be issued and will include import conditions provided by the exporter

   The exporter must then assume all commercial risk related to that export.

3. No certification is required (no conditions have to be met or are known): a HA2341 can be issued to mention that the product was manufactured in Canada in order to facilitate the return in Canada if necessary

   The certificate should not be shared with the competent authorities of the importing country.

When endorsing an export certificate, the certifying veterinarian must make sure that the exporter has provided:

• the appropriate export certificate (most recent version)^Footnote 1
• the exporter's declaration
• the microbiological testing laboratory report(s)

In the case where a shipment is transiting through a third country, contact your local district office for further information.

Labelling requirements

CFIA does not regulate the labelling requirements for the Canadian pet food. However the Competition Bureau of Canada has guidelines regarding pet food labelling.

Role and responsibilities of CFIA

Certification requirements and conditions are established through bilateral negotiations with the competent authority of an importing country. Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) staff is responsible for negotiating sanitary and phytosanitary conditions and other technical requirements, as well as to resolve bilateral technical market access issues.

To support Canadian pet food exports, the CFIA has produced guidelines that summarize the import requirements of foreign countries. Importing conditions are subject to change at any time and the CFIA is constantly updating this information. Consult with your local district office to confirm that the conditions within this document are current for a particular country.

The CFIA helps and facilitates exports of pet food products by:

• maintaining a strong and credible system for inspection of animal products and by-products including pet food to verify compliance with importing country requirements
• helping exporters to understand and meet the requirements of foreign countries
• negotiating with foreign countries to eliminate differences in interpretation of inspection requirements to reach agreement on market access conditions acceptable to all concerned
• certifying exports as meeting requirements agreed upon with the importing country

Obligations of certifying veterinarians

Certifying veterinarians should:

• be authorized by the competent authority of the exporting country to sign international veterinary certificates
• only certify matters that are within their own knowledge at the time of signing the certificate such as animal health statements or based on supporting documentations and matters that have been separately attested by another competent party (for example, slaughterhouse veterinarians, inspectors from other CFIA programs or the provincial government, officials from foreign countries etc.)
• sign only at the appropriate time certificates that have been completed fully and correctly. Where a certificate is signed on the basis of supporting documentation, the certifying veterinarian should possess that documentation before signing; and
• have no conflict of interest with respect to the commercial aspects of the animal products being certified and be independent from the commercial parties

Free sale declaration

The production and the sale of pet food in Canada are currently not regulated by the Government of Canada. Therefore, the CFIA does not control the sale of pet food in Canada, unless it is notified that a pet food poses an animal health risk. However, a free sale declaration may be issued by the CFIA if it has been officially requested by the competent authority of the importing country.

Supporting documents and safekeeping

Exporter's declaration

An exporter's declaration must be provided for each export certificate for each shipment. It must include all the requirements listed in section Listing of requirements from importing countries for the country in question applicable to the exported product with the exception of the animal health statements that will be certified by the official veterinarian. It must also refer to an exporter's reference number, to a batch number or a unique identifier for the shipment.

In some circumstances and in order to avoid duplication of documentation submitted to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) district office, 1 declaration could cover several export certificates requested for different shipments on the same day and for the same destination (or with the same import requirements). The declaration must refer to a product that has been already manufactured and not to a product that will be manufactured. Therefore, a declaration done on an annual basis is not acceptable. The declaration must be dated.

The original exporter's declaration (in paper) is required.

Traceability Certificate (TC)

Each time an attestation regarding ante-mortem and/or post-mortem inspection is required on a certificate, pet food companies and intermediate facilities that supply pet food companies with raw material must request a TC. The TC must accompany the raw material originating from:

• a federally inspected slaughterhouse,
• a provincially inspected abattoir operating under a permanent inspection system and subject to a veterinary oversight. Based on CFIA analysis of the provincial inspection systems, this category of abattoirs includes only inspected abattoirs in provinces of Quebec (Type A abattoirs only), Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba,
• animal by-products coming harvested from live animals.

Each shipment (load) of raw material must be accompanied by a TC. The TC must be signed by either the veterinarian or inspector at the slaughterhouse. For animal by-products derived from live animals (for example velvet antler), the TC must be signed by a veterinary practitioner.

The veterinarian, inspector or veterinary practitioner is responsible for completing the following sections of the TC: the reference number and the animal health attestations. The other sections of the TC may be completed by the company.

A pet food company that obtains raw material directly from slaughterhouses must keep on file the TC for 2 years. Although the TC does not need to be presented at the time of veterinary signature for export certification, the TC must be available at any time for CFIA verification.

If a pet food company sources their raw material from an intermediate facility, the company must request a commercial document (for example, an invoice) for each load and keep it on file for 2 years. In such cases, it is the responsibility of the intermediate facility that to request a TC from the slaughterhouse and retain it on file for 2 years.

When raw materials are supplied by federally registered establishments for human consumption (fish establishments, meat processing establishments, etc.) or by provincially licensed processing establishments that are supplied by permanently inspected slaughterhouses in the provinces of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta, a TC is not required. However, a commercial document must accompany each load and be kept for 2 years by the pet food manufacturer.

• Fish establishments
• Meat processing establishments

Other supporting documents

The supporting documents include but are not limited to the microbiological test laboratory reports and the sanitary certificates for imported ingredients.

Microbiological test laboratory reports (except for routine testing) must be provided when a certificate is presented for endorsement. Traceability certificates, microbiological test laboratory reports for routine testing and sanitary certificates will be verified during the annual inspection. However, the certifying veterinarian can ask for such documentation for a specific shipment at any time if needed. The processing facility must keep all export documents for a period of 2 years.

A hard copy of other supporting documents is acceptable.

Audits and inspection

Audit

China requires an audit of the facility looking to export to this country. Based on the audit, China will approve or not the facility for export. However, any competent authority of a country can at any time require an audit of a facility that is exporting to that country.

Facility approval

The European Union, Taiwan, Russia, USA and Brazil require that a facility be approved for export and they ask the CFIA to provide that approval.

Inspection and eligibility to export

Given that the pet food industry is not regulated, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspects the facilities on an annual or biennial basis to make sure that the facility satisfies the requirements of the importing country. An inspection must be conducted for each new destination with different import requirements.

Depending on the import conditions of the country, an inspection is required for each establishment involved in each steps of the process from the production facility to the shipping facility. For example, if a company subcontracts another company to do any of the steps of the process (processing, packaging, storage, etc.), these establishments also need to be inspected.

When a satisfactory inspection is completed, the facility is eligible to export. A copy of the inspection checklist must be provided to the facility.

Glossary of terms

Accredited laboratories

means laboratories accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) or any laboratory accredited by The Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation Inc. (CALA)

Additional certification

in the case of imported animal origin ingredients, it means a attestation (other than the export certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country to Canada) that attests to the Third country's import requirements. It's a supporting document for the certifying veterinarian

Animal by-products

means entire bodies or parts of animals, products of animal origin or other products obtained from animals, which are not intended for human consumption

Animal digest

material which results from chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and un-decomposed animal tissue that includes poultry digest. The animal tissues used may be hair, horns, teeth, hooves and feathers

Canned pet food

means heat-processed pet food contained within a hermetically sealed container

Edible

means fit for use as human food

Exporting country

means a country from which commodities are sent to another country called Importing country

Flavouring innards

means a liquid or dehydrated derived product of animal origin used to enhance the palatability values of pet food. Also called a digest which refers to animal protein such as muscle and soft tissue that undergo a digestive process. These ingredients are hydrolyzed or "digested" to break down the animal protein into peptides in a manner similar to digestion in the body. The resulting digest is in a liquid, a paste or powder

Freeze-dried pet food/pet treat

means a product made of raw animal ingredients and processed to remove the moisture by freezing at very cold temperature and then vacuumed to sublime the moisture. If a heat treatment happens, it is not high enough to kill pathogens of concern

Hermetically sealed container

means a container that is designed and intended to be secure against the entry of microorganisms (mostly Clostridium botulinum)

Inedible products

condemned products that are not fit for human consumption; or non-condemned products treated by the operator as condemned meat products; and products which are by their nature not edible (feathers, hides, hair, manure, intestinal contents

Ingredients

mean all constituents that enter into pet food composition. It includes, but not only, raw material, meat and bone meal, fats, vegetables, seeds, vitamins

In-transit

means that a shipment of a commodity moves from the country of origin through an intermediate country for delivery to the country of destination. The shipment remains under official control and is not released for use or consumption in the intermediate country;

Meat

means the edible part of a carcass that is the muscle associated with the skeleton, tongue, diaphragm, heart, gizzard or mammalian oesophagus, with or without accompanying and overlying fat, together with those parts of the bones, skin, sinews, nerves, blood vessels and other tissues that normally accompany the muscle and are not ordinarily removed in dressing a carcass

Meat and bone meal

is defined as processed animal (ruminant, porcine or avian species) protein intended for animal consumption, obtained through thermal processing (rendering)

Meat by-product

means parts of carcasses of ruminant, porcine and avian species, other than meat, derived from slaughtered animals. It includes lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. It does not include hair, horns, teeth and hooves

Microbiological testing

n = number of samples taken
m = the threshold value for the number of bacteria; the results to be considered satisfactory if the number of bacteria in all samples does not exceed m
M = maximum value for the number of bacteria; the result to be considered unsatisfactory if the number of bacteria in 1 or more samples taken is M or more
c = number of samples the bacterial count which may be between m and M, the sample still be considered acceptable if the bacterial count of the other sample is m or less

Example: Salmonella n=5, m=0, M=0, c=0
Enterobacteriaceae: n=5, m=10, M=300, c=2

For Salmonella: on each of the 5 samples, the result must be negative (absence of Salmonella).
For Enterobactericeae: On 2 of the 5 samples, the result can be between 10 and 300; on the other 3 samples, the result must be 10 or less.

Individual testing

this condition requires that 5 random samples from the products to be exported must be tested for Salmonella and Enterobacteriaceae. The laboratory must test 1 gram of each sample for Enterobacteriaceae and 25 grams of each sample for Salmonella. This type of analysis should be used for exports to countries that do not have a clear requirement that all exported lots must be analyzed. In that situation, unless it is specified differently in the certificate, the entire shipment of finished products of the same processing method that will be exported even if the entire shipment is composed of different processing lots can be tested using that method.

Composite testing

when the importing country requires that each lot to be exported is tested, the company may combine the samples and do a single test for each bacterium. After a risk assessment, CFIA subject-matter experts have found that composite testing is equivalent to individual testing, which requires 5 samples per lot. In that situation, unless it is specified differently by the importing country, a single production run, at a single facility, using the same ingredients and processing method over a period not exceeding 24 hours can be tested using that method.

	Individual testing	Composite testing
Definition	Requires that 5 random samples from the products to be exported must be tested for Salmonella and Enterobacteriaceae. The laboratory must test 1 gram of each sample for Enterobacteriaceae and 25 grams of each sample for Salmonella.	When the importing country requires that each lot to be exported is tested, the company may combine the samples and do a single test for each bacterium. After a risk assessment, CFIA subject-matter experts have found that composite testing is equivalent to individual testing, which requires 5 samples per lot.
When it can be used	For exports to countries that do not have a clear requirement that all exported lots must be analyzed. In that situation, unless it is specified differently in the certificate, the entire shipment of finished products of the same processing method that will be exported even if the entire shipment is composed of different processing lots can be tested using that method.	When the importing country requires that each lot to be exported is tested. The processing facility must define through their standard operating procedures (SOPs) what constitutes a lot. This definition should be easily verifiable during the annual inspection. Additionally, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) must explain how eligible lots are segregated from ineligible ones. Unless specified otherwise by the importing country, the facility's definition of a lot can be used for testing.
When it cannot be used	Can always be used	When the processing facility's SOPs do not clearly define what constitutes a lot and how eligible lots are segregated from ineligible ones.
Lab report requirements	1) sample IDs (there must be 5 separate samples received by the lab) and category of sampling (individual versus composite) 2) individual sample size (minimum 1 g for Enterobacteriaceae, minimum 25 g for Salmonella) 3) size of sample tested (minimum 1g for Enterobacteriaceae and minimum 25g for Salmonella) – The lab determines the exact size of the samples to be tested. 4) test results.	1) Sample IDs: there must be 5 separate samples received by the lab which will be responsible for creating the composite sample*. Additionally, indicate the category of sampling (individual versus composite). 2) Individual sample size: minimum of 1 g for Enterobacteriacae, and a minimum of 25 g for Salmonella. 3) Size of sample tested: (Minimum of 5g for Enterobacteriaceae, and a minimum of 125 g for Salmonella). The lab determines the exact size of the samples to be tested. 4) Test results *It is crucial that the composite sample tested refers back to the 5 samples it originates from. This will be checked by the veterinarian during annual inspection. It is also important in case individual testing is required after an unacceptable result for Enterobacteriaceae.
Interpretation of results	Salmonella: the tested product can be exported if none of the 5 separate samples (25 grams) show the presence of Salmonella in the results. Enterobacteriaceae: the tested product can be exported if the results of the separate sample tests show that there are no more than 10 colony-forming units per gram (cfu/g) across the 5 samples or that a maximum of 2 (of 5) samples have between 11 and 299 cfu/g. If the test results of 1 sample are equal to or greater than 300 cfu/g or if the results of 3 or more samples are greater than or equal to 11 cfu/g, the lot cannot be exported.	Salmonella: if found in the composite sample (125 grams) test results, the sampled lots cannot be exported. Enterobacteriaceae: if the test results for the composite sample (5 grams) show more than 20 cfu/g, the sampled lot cannot be exported. The company then has the option to either test the 5 individual samples (if the results for each sample are within acceptable ranges for individual testing, the lot can be exported) or withdraw that particular lot.

Poultry

means all domesticated birds used for production of meat

Processed animal proteins

1. According to EU definition: means animal protein derived entirely from Category 3 raw material (ovine meal, bovine meal, poultry, fish meal etc.)
2. For other countries: meat and bone meal from animal origin means the solid protein products obtained when animal tissues are rendered

Lot

unless it is specified differently in the certificate, a lot can be considered as the entire shipment of finished products of the same processing method that will be exported even if the entire shipment is composed of different processing lots

Random sampling

if a shipment consists of 10 processing lots, the company is required to take 5 random samples from that whole shipment instead of 5 random samples from each processing lot. If the 5 samples are taken from 1 of the 10 lots in that shipment, that would not meet the definition of randomness. Moreover, if a shipment is composed of different products from different pet food companies, 5 random samples must be taken per company

Raw material

means unprocessed animal by-product, may also refer to fresh meat that has not been subjected to any treatment irreversibly modifying its organoleptic and physicochemical characteristics. This includes frozen meat, chilled meat, minced meat and mechanically recovered meat

Ruminant

means bisons, bovines, camels, caprines, cervids and ovines

Official authorities or competent authority

means the Veterinary Authority or other Governmental Authority of a Member Country having the responsibility and competence for ensuring or supervising the implementation of animal health and welfare measures, international veterinary certification

WOAH:

World Organisation for Animal Health

Listing of requirements from importing countries

Africa

Algeria (certificate HA2719)

The products:

1. were prepared and stored at a facility certified and controlled by the competent authority

2. contain no ingredients from bovine, ovine, caprine or any other animal species susceptible to bovine spongiform encephalopathy from Canada or any other bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)-infested region or country

   Products from ovine origin come from Australia and/or New Zealand.

3. the facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the products were prepared exclusively using the following animal by products:
   • parts of slaughtered animals that are fit for human consumption under current Canadian law (Meat Inspection Act 1990), but are not intended for human consumption for commercial reasons
   • parts of slaughtered animals that have been declared unfit for human consumption, but are free of any sign of disease that may be transmitted to humans or animals, and are derived from carcasses that were fit for human consumption under current Canadian law
4. have been subject to heat treatment of at least 90°C throughout their substance
5. have been analyzed by random sampling of at least 5 samples taken during or after storage at the processing plant and complied with the following standards: on a basis of at least 5 samples for each lot processed, selected at random during or after storage at the processing plant, and meeting 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 1g
6. have undergone all precautions to avoid recontamination with pathogenic agents after treatment
7. have been packed in new packaging labelled "Not for human consumption"

South Africa
Pet chews (certificate HA2787)

An import permit is required: application to import finished animal feed and pet food

1. The exported products were manufactured in an approved export facility under the authority of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
2. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the exported products are derived from animals which have been subjected to ante- and post-mortem examination and did not show any sign of infectious or contagious diseases and which were not slaughtered in any disease eradication campaign
3. The exported products do not contain any bovine material other than skin or hides
4. The exported products do not contain any ovine or caprine material
5. The exported products were manufactured using procedures approved by the veterinary authorities and were properly applied to ensure efficacy of treatment
6. The exported products have been subjected to a heat treatment of at least 70°C for a minimum of 30 minutes
7. The dried pig ears have been sufficiently processed to assure the destruction of harmful pathogens as demonstrated by the fact that finished products are routinely tested and found to comply with the following standards:
   • Salmonella: absence in 25g; n=5, c=0, m=0, M=0
   • Enterobacteriaceae: absence in 1g; n=5, c=2, m=10, M=300

South Africa
Dry pet food and pet treats, including canned pet food (certificate HA2788)

An import permit is required: application to import finished animal feed and pet food

1. The exported products were manufactured in an approved export facility under the authority of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
2. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the non-ruminant (poultry and/or porcine and/or fish) animal origin materials were obtained from (delete as appropriate):
   1. animals that were born and raised in Canada or legally imported into Canada from USA and/or the raw material used in the production of the pet food or pet treats derived from animals presented for examination at slaughter and evaluated favourably for inclusion in pet food or pet treats, and were slaughtered under standards existing in Canada
   2. animals and carcasses not fit for human consumption but permitted in Canada to be used in the production of pet food or pet treats after having undergone an approved sterilization process
3. The only Ruminant origin materials were legally imported into Canada from Australia or New Zealand
4. No Material of Canadian bovine origin (except dairy, rawhide, and protein free tallow) has been included in the final product
5. Imported ruminant origin ingredients have been segregated to ensure the product has not been commingled with ruminant ingredients from other countries or regions
6. The dry pet food or pet treats have been sufficiently processed to ensure the destruction of harmful pathogens as demonstrated by the fact that finished products are routinely tested and found to comply with the following standards:
   • Salmonella: absence in 25g; n=5, c=0, m=0, M=0
   • Enterobacteriaceae: absence in 1g; n=5, c=2, m=10, M=300
7. The dry pet food or pet treat has been subjected to a heat treatment of at least 90°C throughout its substance
8. In case of canned pet food product, which is packed in hermetically sealed containers has been heat treated to reach a F₀ value equal or greater than 3.0

Egypt (certificate HA2884)
(non-ruminant)

1. The product has been manufactured and stored in approved pet food plant, which are under the supervision of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
2. The previously mentioned product does not contain ruminant material, with the exception of milk and milk derivatives, gelatine and collagen (prepared from skins and hides), tallow containing less than 0.15% in weight of insoluble impurities
3. Poultry or fish are the only raw material of animal origin used in the manufacture of the pet food
4. Dry, semi-moist and dehydrated pet food products were sufficiently processed to assure the destruction of harmful pathogens
5. In the case of sterilized products (hermetically-sealed containers), the above mentioned product has been heated to a minimum F₀ value of 3.0
6. The pet food described above can be sold without restriction in Canada
7. Appropriate controls are in place at the manufacturing and storage facilities to prevent contamination of eligible products with specified risk material (SRM) and susceptible ruminant materials from a non-BSE free country origin
8. The above mentioned product has undergone all precautions to avoid contamination with pathogenic agents after heat treatment
9. The above mentioned product was packed in new packaging material

Nigeria

The following links of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) highlight the documents required to clear pet food from the port.

Firstly, pet food to be imported into Nigeria, either flakes, biscuit, dried or wet canned or in bags, must be registered and the registration, as reflected in the following registration guideline, requires a local representative who shall be importing the product into Nigeria. When the product is registered, the agency will issue registration certificate known as marketing authorisation at the end of the registration procedure which includes Good manufacturing practices (GMP) inspection, laboratory assessment and evaluation of all required documentation. The registration certificate will be enrolled on the Nigeria Single Window for trade to facilitate importation procedure. The enrolment shall be done by the local company. Its at this point that the guideline for importation becomes applicable. No other permit is needed from NAFDAC when the product is registered

• Guidelines for the registration of imported animal feeds (PDF)

Secondly, the importer needs to meet the importation requirements as stated in the following guidelines. During clearance at port the document stated in the guidelines must be provided to NAFDAC officers at Port Inspection Directorate.

• Guidelines for clearing imported bulk food animal feed and food raw materials at the ports of entry (PDF)

Read section "Request for certification" for the appropriate use of the in-house certificate HA2341.

A Free sale certificate is required and must be issued by CFIA.

North America

USA

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) regulates the importation of animals and animal-derived materials to ensure that exotic animal and poultry diseases are not introduced into the United States.

Notes

Neither the USDA nor the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) require that animal material for the manufacture of pet foods come from animals that have been subjected to an ante-mortem inspection.

The FDA has no tolerance for residues of phenylbutazone in animal material of equine origin and intended for use in the manufacture of pet food.

As of August 2024, the use of the VS Special Authorization Letter is no longer necessary, as VS now allows certificate copies to be uploaded to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP)'s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Document Imaging System (DIS) for most shipments. New special authorization letters are no longer issued by the USDA APHIS.

Effective January 21, 2025, the Importer's Statement of Compliance for Shelf-Stable, Thermally Processed Pet Food, Chews, and Treats from Canada to the United States will no longer be required for shipments of pet food products exported to the USA. Each shipment of pet food products will have to be accompanied by a commercial document (for example invoice, bill of lading, manifest) and a zoosanitary export certificate. The commercial document must list the products in the shipment, their quantities, and clearly indicate the number of the zoosanitary export certificate.

Raw pet food and/or treats (HA3025)

1. No USDA import permits for Canadian raw pet food and/or treats is required
2. The certificate HA3025 is to be issued for every shipment
3. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will inspect and approve on an annual basis facilities exporting raw pet food to USA every 2 years

4. As of January 3, 2022, and following the publication of the new rules on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in small ruminants, the import conditions for pet food have been updated and all the restrictions related to the small ruminant material have been removed.

   The USDA checklist has been amended accordingly.

When using certificate HA3025, the exporter's declaration should state that:

The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that:

1. the pet food and/or treats containing animal products and by-products were produced in a facility or facilities located in Canada or the USA, under official supervision and authorized for export by the official competent veterinary authority in the country of origin
2. the raw material or ingredients used to produce the exported pet food/treats were derived only from country(ies) and/or region(s), a region or zone __________ (insert the name), currently recognized by APHIS as free of diseases of concern with the species of origin
3. the raw pet food and/or treats were not derived from animals slaughtered/depopulated as part of a disease eradication and/or control process

4. the certified pet food/treats in the shipment meet the following requirements:

   1. in case of bovine-origin raw material or ingredients, they include:
      • bovine hides-skins, bovine hide-derived gelatin or collagen, milk/milk products, and/or tallow composed of a maximum level of insoluble impurities of 0.15% by weight
      • other bovine raw material (meat/offal) that:
        • were harvested in a country recognized by APHIS as controlled bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk country
          1. were derived only from bovines that were not subject to a pithing process or a stunning process using a device injecting compressed air or gas into the cranial cavity
          2. do not contain and is not contaminated with APHIS-defined specified risk materials (SRMs) and mechanically separated meat derived from skull and vertebral column of bovines 30 months of age or older from controlled risk countries, and over 12 months of age from an undetermined risk countries

          and/or

        • were harvested in a country recognized by APHIS as negligible risk for BSE
   2. In the case of porcine material they contain materials derived from animals not slaughtered in an establishment located in a current United States Department of Agriculture Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) recognized zone or region established due to the detection of African swine fever
   3. they contain animal material originating from:
      • avian species, not from Brazil
      • ovine and caprine species
      • other species (specify)

   The certified pet food/treats were produced and handled in a manner to ensure that such commodities do not contain and are not contaminated with material ineligible for export to the United States including ruminant meat and bone meal and greaves from APHIS-defined controlled or undetermined BSE risk countries, APHIS-defined SRMs and mechanically separated meat derived from skull and vertebral column of bovines 30 months of age or older from controlled BSE risk countries and over 12 months of age from an undetermined BSE risk countries.

Shelf-stable thermally processed pet food/chews/treats (certificate HA2828)

1. No USDA import permits for Canadian shelf-stable thermally processed pet food/treats/chews is required
2. The certificate HA2828 can be used for single or multiple shipments and is valid for a period of 30 days
3. CFIA will inspect and approve facilities exporting pet food to USA every 2 years

4. As of January 3, 2022, and following the publication of the new rules on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in small ruminants, the import conditions for pet food have been updated and all the restrictions related to the small ruminant material have been removed

   The USDA checklist has been amended accordingly.

When using the certificate HA2828, the exporter's declaration should state that:

For any other imported ingredient not covered by these agreements, contact the CFIA district veterinarian to find out how to proceed.

1. the thermally processed pet food/chews/treats containing animal products and by-products were produced in a facility or facilities located in Canada or the USA, under official supervision and authorized for export by the official competent veterinary authority in the country of origin
2. the certified pet food/chews/treats in the shipment meet the following requirements:
   1. they contain no ruminant processed animal proteins and no bovine-origin raw material or ingredients
   2. in case of bovine-origin raw material or ingredients and/or ruminant processed animal proteins, they include:
      • bovine hides-skins, bovine hide-derived gelatin or collagen, milk/milk products, and/or tallow composed of a maximum level of insoluble impurities of 0.15% by weight
      • bovine blood/blood product (including bovine blood meal) produced in Canada:
        1. i. obtained from slaughtered bovines that were not subject to a pithing process or a stunning process using a device injecting compressed air or gas into the cranial cavity, and which passed ante-mortem inspection
        2. ii. by utilizing a blood collection method that prevents contamination of the blood with APHIS-defined SRMs
      • other bovine raw material (meat/offal) that:
        1. a) were harvested in a country recognized by APHIS as controlled BSE risk country
           1. i. were derived only from bovines that were not subject to a pithing process or a stunning process using a device injecting compressed air or gas into the cranial cavity

           2. ii. do not contain and is not contaminated with APHIS-defined SRMs and mechanically separated meat derived from skull and vertebral column of bovines 30 months of age or older from controlled risk countries, and over 12 months of age from an undetermined risk countries.

           and/or

        2. b) were harvested in a country recognized by APHIS as negligible risk for BSE
      • ruminant processed animal proteins originating only from a country recognized by APHIS as negligible risk for BSE
   3. The certified pet food/chews/treats were sufficiently thermally processed to ensure the destructions of pathogens that represent a risk to animal health and to be shelf-stable without refrigeration
   4. The certified pet food/chews/treats were produced and handled in a manner to ensure that such commodities do not contain and are not contaminated with material ineligible for export to the United States including ruminant meat and bone meal and greaves from APHIS-defined controlled or undetermined BSE risk countries, APHIS-defined SRMs and mechanically separated meat derived from skull and vertebral column of bovines 30 months of age or older from controlled BSE risk countries and over 12 months of age from an undetermined BSE risk countries

   Others (use in-house certificate HA2341)

   • A USDA import permit is still required when:
     • a company that has imported heat-treated, shelf-stable dried and canned finished products from another country (except USA) and wants to re-export them to the USA
     • the pet food has not been heat treated
     • during the transition period during which the companies have not been approved under the new procedure
     • research samples are shipped from Canada to the USA unless they are compliant with all import conditions of the HA2828

   When an import permit is required, the in-house certificate (HA2341) must be used. It must list the import requirements as mentioned on the import permit. It must refer to the import permit. Read section "Request for certification".

   When using in-house certificate HA2341, the exporter's declaration must include the following information:

   • USDA import permit number
   • a copy of valid import permit attached to the declaration
   • the exporter's reference number and/or batch number
   • a description of the product based on the description listed on the USDA import permit (for example, "pet food" or "pet treats")
   • the animal-based ingredients (based on the description listed on the import permit, for example, "pork", "poultry" or "fish")
   • that the product meets the specific conditions as mentioned on the USDA import

   Agreement of CFIA with third countries for additional certification

   Note: the CFIA has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA (USA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (USA) and the SAGARPA (Mexico) to issue additional certification to Canadian import requirements for export of animal origin materials (by-products, meals, fish meal and fish oil) from those countries to Canada for the manufacture of pet food (in Canada) which will be exported to third countries (EU, Russia and Ukraine).

   USA

   Current agreements for imported ingredients

   • 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
   • Inedible Animal By-Products Exported from the U.S. to Canada for the Manufacture of Pet Food (in Canada) for Export to the Russian Federation
   • Inedible Animal By-Products Exported from the U.S. to Canada for the Manufacture of Pet Food (in Canada) for Export to Ukraine

   For any other imported ingredient not covered by these agreements, contact the CFIA district veterinarian to find out how to proceed.

   Mexico

   Note: as of October 29, 2019, Animal products and by-products exported to Mexico, must be presented in new boxes, bags or packaging, must come free of ectoparasites and without signs of disease. In case they come in small sacks, combos, boxes and containers these must come in pallets, and the labels must match the documentary information. The containers must come free of organic residues, both in their inside and outside and with chilling equipment and anti-spilling system, when required.

   Mexico
   Pet food containing no ingredients of animal origin (certificate HA2554)

   1. The pet food does not contain ingredients of animal origin.

   Mexico
   Pet food (certificate HA2730)

   1. The product originates from the country indicated in this certificate
   2. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the raw material of animal origin was derived from healthy animals which received ante- and post-mortem inspection in slaughterhouses under official sanitary control
   3. The product has been prepared and stored in a plant approved and supervised by the competent authority
   4. The product is deemed fit for dogs and cats consumption
   5. In the case of product containing avian origin material, the facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that:
      • the country of origin is free of Newcastle Velogenic, highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
        or
      • the raw material has been heat treated at a temperature of 60°C for a minimum of 10 minutes
        or
      • the raw material and/or the product were heat treated in hermetically-sealed containers, to a minimum F₀ value of 3.0
        or
      • the raw material and/or the product has been heat treated to reach internal temperature of at least 70°C
   6. In the case of product containing porcine origin material, the facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that:
      • the country of origin is free of foot and mouth disease, African swine fever and hog cholera (classical swine fever)
        or
      • the raw material has been heat treated at a temperature of at least 69°C for a minimum of 30 minutes
        or
      • 80.5°C for a minimum of 3 minutes
        or
      • the raw material and/or the product were heat treated in hermetically-sealed containers, to a minimum F₀ value of 3.0
        or
      • the raw material and/or the product has been heat treated to reach internal temperature of at least 70°C
   7. In the case of product containing ruminant origin material, the facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that:
      1. the country of origin is free of foot-and-mouth disease
      2. the product contains milk, milk proteins, gelatin and collagen (exclusively prepared from hides and skins), and protein free tallow (with less than 0.15% of insoluble impurities)
      3. the product contains ovine or caprine ingredients derived from Canadian animals or from materials or animals legally imported from Australia or New Zealand

      4. the product contains bovine meat which originates from countries classified by the World, Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH; founded as Office International des Épizooties (OIE)) as negligible or controlled risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and does not contain any of the following materials of bovine origin: brain, eyes, spinal cord, skull and small intestine (distal ileum)

         Controls are in place to prevent cross contamination with these materials.

   8. In the case of product containing animal product meals, the facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the meals meet the following conditions (certify the correct option):
      1. the porcine or poultry meals originate from the country indicated in this document as the country of origin of the product or have been legally imported, and in both cases, originate from rendering plants approved* by the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food
      2. The caprine and/or ovine meals were legally imported from Australia and/or New Zealand, countries considered free of scrapie and negligible risk for BSE
      3. Tissues were processed to a minimum temperature of 80°C. Maximum moisture in the meal does not exceed 10%

   9. In the case of product containing aquatic origin material, the product has been subjected to a heat treatment of at least 70°C for 5 minutes

      *List of SENASICA (in Spanish only) approved facilities: for the complete list, click on "Consulta general".

      Note: the CFIA and SENASICA have reached an agreement on export certification for pork and poultry meal to Mexico. These animal meals intended for export must come from establishments approved by SENASICA on the proposal of the CFIA and not have been processed from raw materials containing dead animals collected on the farm. These conditions apply not only to meals exported directly to Mexico but also to animal meals used for the production of pet food exported to Mexico. Before exporting pet food containing these meals, it is the responsibility of the pet food company to ensure that the annual approval of the rendering plant has not expired.

      In this regard, to avoid any disruption of the pet food trade as well as any misunderstanding at the Mexican border, it is important that rendering companies request their renewal of approval from the CFIA district office at least 2 months prior to the expiration of the current approval.

      Also, in order to avoid any misunderstanding with the identification of the rendering establishments which is linked to the fiscal year (fiscal year-number), SENASICA accepted that the rendering establishments be identified for their export approval, no longer by their number obtained from the Animal Feed Division, but by the one issued by the Animal Import-Export Division and beginning with ABP followed by a number (ABP-XXX).

   Agreement of CFIA with third countries for additional certification

   Note: the CFIA has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA (USA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA (USA) and the SAGARPA (Mexico) to issue additional certification to Canadian import requirements for export of animal origin materials (by-products, meals, fish meal and fish oil) from those countries to Canada for the manufacture of pet food (in Canada) which will be exported to third countries (EU, Russia and Ukraine).

   Mexico

   Current agreement for imported ingredients

   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

   For any other imported ingredient not covered by these agreements, contact the CFIA district veterinarian to find out how to proceed.

Central and South America

Argentina (certificate HA2840)

1. The processing establishment is authorized by the Veterinary Authority of the exporting country, and all its equipment is subject to cleaning and disinfection processes that will ensure the absence of primary residual materials of a distinctly different origin from its ingredients
2. The animals from which the product was obtained were not slaughtered as a result of the control and/or eradication of diseases and did not originate from areas subject to restriction of movement due to diseases of the species, and were slaughtered in establishments officially authorized by the Veterinary Authority(β)
3. The animals(β) from which the pet food was obtained passed the ante mortem exam and were submitted to the post mortem exam
4. The pet food(α):
   1. was subjected to a thermal process that involved an extrusion in which the high atmospheric pressure causes a high temperature over a short period of time
   2. was subjected to a commercial sterility thermal process that resulted in a value of F₀ > 3 and during and after the process, were kept hermetically sealed maintaining their commercial sterility
   3. was subjected to a thermal process in which a temperature of at least 80⁰C was reached for 30 minutes in the whole product, or another equivalent thermal treatment approved by Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA)
5. Necessary precautions were taken after processing to prevent any contact with any source of contamination
6. The exported pet food(α):

   1. do not contain in their composition, material of ruminant origin

      or

   2. containing material of ruminant origin(α):
      1. (4) The exported pet food contains animal materials of bovine origin originating from [(Insert country(ies) of origin) __________](γ)  officially recognized by the WOAH, as a country with a negligible risk for BSE without having an indigenous case for this disease(γ)

         and/or

      2. (α) The exported pet food contains bovine animal materials (except meat and bone meal) originating from [(Insert country(ies) of origin) __________](γ) officially recognized by the WOAH, as a country with a negligible risk for BSE with indigenous case and the raw material meet the following sanitary requirements.
         1. The animals from which the material originates were not stunned for slaughter with a method using air or gas injection in the cranial cavity, or by cutting of the spinal cord
         2. The raw material of bovine origin used to produce the exported pet food were prepared and handled in a way to prevent any contamination with: brain, eyes, skull and spinal cord, from cattle above 30 months of age at the time of slaughter and tonsils and distal ileum form bovine of any age)
         3. The raw material of bovine origin did not contain or had no contact with mechanically separated meat from the skull and spinal column of cattle over 30 months of age

         and/or

      3. (α) The food contains bovine meat and bone meal originating only from [Canada], officially recognized by the WOAH as having a negligible BSE risk with indigenous cases and the raw material complies with the following health requirements:
         1. the animals from which the material originates, were born and remained until slaughter in the exporting country or were imported from a country with the same or higher BSE sanitary status
         2. the animals from which the material originates, were born after the date from which the ban became fully effective, to feed the ruminants meat and bone meal or greaves derived from ruminants
         3. the animals from which the material originates were not stunned for slaughter with a method using air or gas injection in the cranial cavity, or by cutting of the spinal cord
         4. the raw material of bovine origin used to produce the exported pet food were prepared and handled in a way to prevent any contamination with: brain, eyes, skull and spinal cord, from cattle above 30 months of age at the time of slaughter and tonsils and distal ileum form bovine of any age)
         5. the raw material of bovine origin did not contain or had no contact with mechanically separated meat from the skull and spinal column of cattle over 30 months of age

         and/or

      4. (α) The food contains bovine animal material originating only from [(Insert country(ies) of origin) __________](γ), officially recognized by the WOAH as having a controlled BSE risk status and the raw material complies with the following health requirements:
         1. the animals from which the material originates were not stunned for slaughter with a method using air or gas injection in the cranial cavity, or by cutting of the spinal cord
         2. the raw material of bovine origin used to produce the exported pet food were prepared and handled in a way to prevent any contamination with: brain, eyes, skull and spinal cord, from cattle above 30 months of age at the time of slaughter and tonsils and distal ileum form bovine of any age)
         3. the raw material of bovine origin did not contain or had no contact with mechanically separated meat from the skull and spinal column of cattle over 30 months of age
         4. the pet food does not contain as raw material meat and bone meal from countries officially recognized by the WOAH as having a controlled BSE risk status

         and/or

      5. (α) The exported pet food contains (α) the following ingredients: milk and milk products/hides and skins/gelatin and collagen prepared exclusively from hides and skins/protein free tallow (with a maximum of insoluble impurities of 0.15% in weight)/dicalcium phosphate (with no trace of protein or fat) as the only bovine ingredients

         and/or

      6. (α) The exported pet food contains ovine/caprine raw material originating from [(Insert country(ies) of origin) __________](γ) a recognized scrapie free country(ies) by the Republic of Argentina

         and/or

      7. (α) The exported pet food contains(α): meat (excluding: skulls, with brain, ganglia and eyes; vertebral column, including ganglia and spinal cord; tonsils; thymus; spleen; intestine; adrenal glands; pancreas; liver and any protein products derived from them), hides and skins, gelatin, collagen prepared from hides and skins, tallow (maximum level of insoluble impurities of 0.15% by weight), dicalcium phosphate without traces of protein or fat of the species [ovine and/or caprine]
      8. (α) The raw material certified in points a), b), c) and/or d) are the only components of bovine origin
      9. (α) The raw material certified in points e) and/or f) are the only components of ovine or caprine origin
7. The merchandise/packaging to be exported bears the official stamp or seal or printed identification that certifies that this merchandise comes from the establishments listed in this certificate and is correctly labelled and has an identification that enables its fitness for export to the Republic of Argentina to be recognized
8. The handling, loading and transport conditions comply with the internationally recommended hygiene and health standards and ensure the necessary precautions to avoid contact of the pet food with any potential source of contamination with it

Note: this certificate is for export of pet food, cooked and dried and/or low acidity hermetically packed and/or extruded, containing or not ingredients of ruminant origin.

(α) Cross out as appropriate

(β) Applies only to ruminants

(γ)  The country(ies) of origin of the ruminant raw material(s) must be validated by the DNSA upon agreement of the certificate of veterinary inspection model.

Barbados (certificate HA2721)

1. The pet food has been entirely manufactured in the exporting country in a facility approved and monitored by the competent veterinary authority of the exporting country
2. The above mentioned product does not contain proteins derived from bovine animals, with the exception of milk and milk by-products; nor have any constituents been in contact with any bovine protein, except milk
3. In the case of dried or semi-moist products, the above mentioned product was produced in such a way that the ingredients of animal origin have been subject to a heat treatment of at least 90°C throughout their substance
4. In the case of sterilized canned products (hermetically-sealed containers), the above mentioned product has been heated to a minimum F₀ value of 3.0
5. The pet food described above can be sold without restriction in Canada
6. The above mentioned product has undergone all precautions to avoid recontamination with pathogenic agents after treatment
7. The above mentioned product was packed and sealed in a new packaging/bags at the manufacturing plant labelled as pet food and shows a list of raw materials or ingredients and the nutritional data for the product

Brazil (certificate HA2783)

Note: the facility has to be approved for export to Brazil by Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária (MAPA). To do so, a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) check list has to be filled out during the annual inspection. Contact your local CFIA district office for more information.

1. The product does not contain ruminant ingredients, except
   • milk and milk products milk derivatives, gelatin, collagen (prepared from hides and skins) and tallow with a maximum of 0.15% (by weight) of insoluble impurities,
     and/or
   • ruminant ingredients legally imported from BSE negligible risk countries and which were processed in a way to prevent any contact with raw material originating from countries with a different health status
2. In the case of dry, and semi-moist pet food, the product was processed to ensure the destruction of harmful pathogens
3. In the case of sterilized food (hermetically sealed), the product was thermally processed to achieve a value F₀ of at least 3.0
4. Appropriate control measures and storage to prevent contamination with specified risk material (SRM) were implemented in the manufacturing facilities
5. The product was handled to prevent re-contamination with pathogens after treatment
6. The product was packaged with new materials
7. The processing plant complies with requirements of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

Brazil (certificate HA3080)

Bird feeds containing vitamin D as the only animal origin ingredient

Note: the facility has to be inspected and approved by the CFIA for export to Brazil.

1. The products do not contain any animal origin materials except vitamin D3 (originating from sheep lanolin)
2. The products came from a company inspected by the competent of the exporting country and all its equipment is subjected to cleaning and disinfection processes that control the presence of residues of raw materials that are not part of the product formulation
3. The products were packed in new packaging
4. The conditions of handling, loading and transportation follow good manufacturing practices procedures, in order to avoid the contact of the products with any potential source of contamination
5. There was no commingling of products or ingredients with any item of ruminant origin from any country with a sanitary status for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) lower than Brazil

Chile (certificate HA2822)

Notes

The pet food manufacturer must complete a product monograph and submit it to Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG) in order to have their products approved.

List of third country establishments producing ruminant meat and bone meal that are approved for export to Chile.

• For the moment, there are no establishment in Australia or New Zealand producing ruminant meat and bone meal that are approved for export to Chile
• The only countries with approved ruminant meat and bone meal establishments are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay
• Make sure when using ruminant meat and bone meal from these countries, that the establishments of origin are on the list mentioned

The Chilean resolution No:7885/2017 establishing maximum limits for chemical contaminants in products intended for animal feed, indicates that, in terms of mycotoxins, aflatoxin B1 is the only concern and that the maximum limit of aflatoxin B1 allowed in pet food is 0,01 ppm (10 ppb)

1. For complete foods or dry supplements (extruded or pelletized) and semi-moist supplements containing ingredients of animal origin:

   1. • meat and bone meal of ruminant origin, originates from a country that is free of scrapie and is recognized by the WOAH as being negligible risk for BSE according to the Terrestrial Animal Health Code

        or

      • the product does not contain meal made from meat and bone meal of ruminant origin
   2. meat and bone meal of ruminant origin comes from an establishment authorized by SAG to export to Chile
   3. SAG has authorized the export of the pet food products to Chile
   4. the processed pet food has been heat treated to 90°C internal temperature
   5. each production batch underwent the following microbiological analysis:
      • Salmonella: absent in 25 grams, with n=5, c=0, m=0, M=0
      • Enterobacteriaceae: n=5, c=2, m=10, M=300 in 1 gram
2. For complete pet food or moist supplements in hermetically sealed containers containing ingredients of animal origin:
   1. comply with 1 a), b), c) listed above and 4
   2. each production batch was heat treated to reach F₀ greater than 3 or each production batch was analyzed for botulinin toxin and the results are attached to the health certificate
   3. the pet food containers are hermetically sealed to maintain sterility
3. Dehydrated products derived from animal by-products:
   1. comply with 1 a), b), c) listed above and 4, except for products made from cowhide, in which case they comply with 1 c) and 4
   2. The products were heat treated to reach 90°C internal temperature
   3. Each production batch was tested for Salmonella and results were negative in a 25 gram sample (n=5, c=0, m=0, M=0). The result is attached to the zoosanitary certificate
4. Complete pet food or supplements containing ingredients of plant origin do not exceed 0,01 ppm (10 ppb) aflatoxin B1

Resolution no. 7.885 of 2017 establishes maximum limits of contaminants in complete food, supplements, additives and ingredients intended for dog and cat food (PDF)

Columbia

Pet food containing ruminant ingredients (certificate HA2723)

Notes

While we are waiting for official clarification, the requirement for Clostridium perfringens testing applies to canned pet food.

For Clostridium perfringens, a result of less than 10 CFU/gram is considered an absence for export of pet food to Columbia.

1. The ruminant meat or meat meal used in the pet food formulation has been legally imported into Canada from Australia and/or New Zealand, or other countries recognized as negligible risk for Bovine Spongiforme Encephalopathy (BSE) in accordance with current WOAH criteria
2. The pet food products contain (delete as appropriate):
   1. milk and milk derivatives
   2. gelatine and collagen (prepared from skins and hides)
   3. tallow containing less than 0.15% in weight of insoluble impurities
3. Dry, semi-moist and dehydrated pet food products were sufficiently processed to assure the destruction of harmful pathogens. The pet food has been heat treated using the following method:
   • 70°C for at least 30 minutes
   • 75°C for at least 5 minutes
   • 80°C for at least 1 minute
4. Random samples taken after the heat treatment, were found negative for Clostridium perfringens (absence in 1g)
5. The moisture content of the processed meat meal used in the pet food formulation does not exceed 12%
6. In the case of sterilized products (hermetically-sealed containers), the above mentioned product has been heated to a minimum F₀ value of 3.0
7. The pet food described above can be sold without restriction in Canada
8. The above mentioned product has undergone all precautions to avoid contamination with pathogenic agents after treatment
9. Appropriate controls are in place at the manufacturing and storage facilities to prevent contamination of eligible products with specified risk material (SRM) and susceptible ruminant materials from a non-BSE free country origin
10. The above mentioned product was packed in new packaging material
11. The pet food manufacturer keeps records of inventory for incoming materials of animal origin received and for finished pet food products dispatched

Pet Food not containing ruminant ingredients (certificate HA2724)

Notes

While we are waiting for official clarification, the requirement for Clostridium perfringens testing applies to canned pet food.

For Clostridium perfringens, a result of less than 10 CFU/gram is considered an absence for export of pet food to Columbia.

1. The above mentioned product does not contain ruminant material, with the exception of milk and milk derivatives, gelatine and collagen (prepared from skins and hides), tallow containing less than 0.15% in weight of insoluble impurities
2. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the raw material of poultry and/or pork origin were obtained from officially inspected slaughterhouses and were slaughtered under standards existing in Canada, or have been legally imported from the USA
3. Dry, semi-moist and dehydrated pet food products were sufficiently processed to assure the destruction of harmful pathogens. In the case of pet food derived from poultry or poultry products, the pet food has been heat treated to ensure the destruction of the avian influenza virus, using the following method:
   • 70°C for at least 30 minutes
   • 75°C for at least 5 minutes
   • 80°C for at least 1 minute
4. Random samples taken after the heat treatment, were found negative for Clostridium perfringens (absence in 1g)
5. The moisture content of the processed meat meal used in the pet food formulation does not exceed 12%
6. In the case of sterilized products (hermetically-sealed containers), the above mentioned product has been heated to a minimum F₀ value of 3.0
7. The pet food described above can be sold without restriction in Canada
8. Appropriate controls are in place at the manufacturing and storage facilities to prevent contamination of eligible products with specified risk material (SRM) and susceptible ruminant materials from a non-BSE free country origin
9. The above mentioned product has undergone all precautions to avoid recontamination with pathogenic agents after treatment
10. The above mentioned product was packed in new packaging materials.
11. The pet food manufacturer keeps records of inventory for incoming materials of animal origin received and for finished pet food products dispatched

Freeze-dried pet treats (certificates HA2723 or HA2724)

Certificates HA2723 or HA2724 can be used for the export of freeze-dried pet treats if all sanitary requirements on HA2723 or HA2724 can be certified. In addition, the importer must complete other registration procedures (as an importer and for the product) for free sale in Colombia.

Costa Rica (certificate HA2819)

Note: as per Costa Rica Law 37279, the product must be registered with Costa Rica before exportation (new product or renewal). A free sale declaration is required to do so.

1. The product is available for sale in Canada
2. The product has been manufactured in plants supervised by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
3. The product has been manufactured and packaged following good manufacturing practices, sufficient to render it microbiologically stable
4. Pet food (dry, semi moist, and dehydrated) has been heat treated to a minimum internal temperature of 70°C. Canned pet food products have been treated in hermetically sealed containers with an F₀ of 3.0 or more

5. Finished products (except for product in hermetically sealed containers) were processed to assure the destruction of harmful pathogens

   Precautions have been taken to avoid contamination of the product with pathogenic agents after heat treatment.

6. Specified risk materials: brains, eyes, trigeminal ganglia, tonsils, dorsal root ganglia, skull, and spinal cord from cattle over 30 months of age, and the distal ileum from cattle of all ages are not used in the manufacture of pet food
7. Precautions have been taken during processing and storage of pet food products to prevent any commingling or cross-contamination with prohibited ruminant-origin materials
8. Pet food contains no ruminant origin ingredients except (include as applicable):
   1. dairy
   2. protein free tallow with a maximum level of insoluble impurities of 0.15% in weight
   3. ovine or bovine (specify) ingredients legally imported from Australia, New Zealand, or other countries (list as applicable) recognized as free of scrapie and negligible risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy
   4. bovine ingredients do not contain specific BSE risk materials

El Salvador (certificate HA2999)

Note: before being able to export to El Salvador, facilities must be approved by the Salvadorian authorities and the products registered in El Salvador.

1. The pet food product has been manufactured and stored in a facility that is under official supervision.
2. The pet food contains:
   • milk and milk derivatives
   • gelatine and collagen (prepared from skins and hides)
   • tallow containing less than 0.15% in weight of insoluble impurities
3. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the ruminant meat and bone meal used in the pet food has been legally imported into Canada from countries recognized as negligible risk for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in accordance with current WOAH criteria
4. In the case of dry pet food, the product has been heat-treated during the manufacturing process and the core temperature has reached 1 of the following parameters to ensure the destruction or inactivation of relevant pathogens:
   • 70°C for at least 30 minutes
   • 75°C for at least 5 minutes
   • 80°C for at least 1 minute
   • 90°C throughout the substance
   • has undergone other treatments approved by the competent authority
5. In the case of canned pet food, the product was processed to reach commercial sterility (F₀ equal to or greater than (≥) 3.0)
6. The above mentioned product has undergone all precautions to avoid recontamination with pathogenic agents after treatment
7. The certified pet food was produced and handled in a manner to ensure that the product does not contain and is not contaminated with material ineligible for export to the importing country, including specified risk material (SRM) as defined in Canada
8. The above mentioned pet food was packed in new packaging material
9. The pet food described above can be sold without restriction in Canada

Guatemala

Pet food containing ruminant ingredients (certificate HA2780)

1. The ruminant meat or meat meal used in the pet food formulation has been legally imported into Canada from Australia and/or New Zealand, or other countries recognized as negligible risk for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in accordance with current WOAH criteria
2. The pet food products contain (delete as appropriate):
   1. milk and milk derivatives
   2. gelatine and collagen (prepared from skins and hides)
   3. tallow containing less than 0.15% in weight of insoluble impurities
3. Dry, semi-moist and dehydrated pet food products were sufficiently processed to assure the destruction of harmful pathogens. The pet food has been heat treated using the following method:
   • 70°C for at least 30 minutes
   • 75°C for at least 5 minutes
   • 80°C for at least 1 minute
4. The moisture content of the processed meat meal used in the pet food formulation does not exceed 12%
5. In the case of sterilized products (hermetically-sealed containers), the above mentioned product has been heated to a minimum F₀ value of 3.0
6. The pet food described above can be sold without restriction in Canada
7. The above mentioned product has undergone all precautions to avoid recontamination with pathogenic agents after treatment
8. Appropriate controls are in place at the manufacturing and storage facilities to prevent contamination of eligible products with specified risk material (SRM) and susceptible ruminant materials from a non-BSE free country origin
9. The above mentioned product was packed in new packaging material
10. The pet food manufacturer keeps records of inventory for incoming materials of animal origin received and for finished pet food products dispatched

Pet food not containing ruminant ingredients (certificate HA2781)

1. The above mentioned product does not contain ruminant material, with the exception of milk and milk derivatives, gelatine and collagen (prepared from skins and hides), tallow containing less than 0.15% in weight of insoluble impurities
2. The raw material of poultry and/or pork origin were obtained from officially inspected slaughterhouses and were slaughtered under standards existing in Canada, or have been legally imported from the USA

3. Dry, semi-moist and dehydrated pet food products were sufficiently processed to assure the destruction of harmful pathogens

   In the case of pet food derived from poultry or poultry products, the pet food has been heat treated to ensure the destruction of the avian influenza virus, using the following method:

   • 70°C for at least 30 minutes
   • 75°C for at least 5 minutes
   • 80°C for at least 1 minute
4. The moisture content of the processed meat meal used in the pet food formulation does not exceed 12%
5. In the case of sterilized products (hermetically-sealed containers), the above mentioned product has been heated to a minimum F₀ value of 3.0
6. The pet food described above can be sold without restriction in Canada
7. Appropriate controls are in place at the manufacturing and storage facilities to prevent contamination of eligible products with Specified Risk Material (SRM) and susceptible ruminant materials from a non-BSE free country origin
8. The above mentioned product has undergone all precautions to avoid recontamination with pathogenic agents after treatment
9. The above mentioned product was packed in new packaging material
10. The pet food manufacturer keeps records of inventory for incoming materials of animal origin received and for finished pet food products dispatched

Honduras (certificate HA2998)

Note: in order for a facility to be able to export pet food to Honduras, the pet food must first be registered with SENASA. Contact your local CFIA district office to obtain the appropriate documentation.

1. The pet food product has been manufactured and stored in a facility that is under official supervision
2. The pet food contains:
   • milk and milk derivatives
   • gelatin and collagen (prepared from skins and hides)
   • tallow containing less than 0.15% in weight of insoluble impurities
3. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the ruminant meat and bone meal used in the pet food has been legally imported into Canada from countries recognized as negligible risk for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in accordance with current WOAH criteria
4. In the case of dry pet food, the product has been heat-treated during the manufacturing process and the core temperature has reached 1 of the following parameters to ensure the destruction or inactivation of relevant pathogens:
   • 70°C for at least 30 minutes
   • 75°C for at least 5 minutes
   • 80°C for at least 1 minute
   • 90°C throughout the substance
   • has undergone other treatments approved by the competent authority
5. In the case of canned pet food, the product was processed to reach commercial sterility (F₀ of at least 3.0)
6. The above mentioned pet food has undergone all precautions to avoid recontamination with pathogenic agents after treatment
7. The certified pet food was produced and handled in a manner to ensure that the product does not contain and is not contaminated with material ineligible for export to the importing country, including Specified Risk Material (SRM) as defined in Canada
8. The above mentioned pet food was packed in new packaging material
9. The pet food described above can be sold without restriction in Canada

Nicaragua (certificate HA3000)

Note: the company and the product must be registered and approved by the Institute of Agricultural Protection and Health (IPSA). Contact your local CFIA district office to obtain the appropriate documentation.

1. The pet food product has been manufactured and stored in a facility that is under official supervision
2. The pet food contains:
   • milk and milk derivatives
   • gelatin and collagen (prepared from skins and hides)
   • tallow containing less than 0.15% in weight of insoluble impurities
3. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the ruminant meat and bone meal used in the pet food has been legally imported into Canada from countries recognized as negligible risk for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in accordance with current WOAH criteria
4. In the case of dry pet food, the product has been heat-treated during the manufacturing process and the core temperature has reached 1 of the following parameters to ensure the destruction or inactivation of relevant pathogens:
   • 70°C for at least 30 minutes
   • 75°C for at least 5 minutes
   • 80°C for at least 1 minute
   • 90°C throughout the substance
   • has undergone other treatments approved by the competent authority
5. In the case of canned pet food, the product was processed to reach commercial sterility (F₀ of at least 3.0)
6. The above mentioned pet food has undergone all precautions to avoid recontamination with pathogenic agents after treatment
7. The certified pet food was produced and handled in a manner to ensure that the product does not contain and is not contaminated with material ineligible for export to the importing country, including Specified Risk Material (SRM) as defined in Canada
8. The above mentioned pet food was packed in new packaging material
9. The pet food described above can be sold without restriction in Canada

Peru (certificate HA2775)

1. The product was prepared using raw materials from: (name species)
2. For products made from meat meals and bovine bones: (cross out option that does not correspond)

   • the raw materials and the product come from a country with negligible risk for BSE

     or

   • the raw materials were imported legally from a country with negligible risk (indicate country) according to the WOAH list
3. The processing plant is authorized for the preparation of these products by the Official Competent Authority of the exporting country and has verifiable established procedures that prevent cross contamination with BSE risk materials
4. The product is suitable for animal consumption
5. During its preparation, the food has been subjected to a treatment that guarantees the destruction of any pathogenic agent that affects animal health (indicate treatment)
6. The necessary precautions were taken after treatment to prevent the product coming into contact with any microorganism that is potentially pathogenic for animals
7. The product has been handled hygienically and packaged in clean packaging, made of impermeable, sealed and resistant materials, able to protect it from environmental contamination; so that the sterility obtained during the heat process is maintained

Trinidad and Tobago (certificate HA2792)

1. The processing pet food plant (insert name) is recognized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as eligible for export to Trinidad and Tobago
2. The petfood described above can be sold without restriction in Canada
3. The product has been manufactured to a heat treatment of at least 90°C throughout their substance and was packed in new packaging material
4. In the case of sterilized canned products, the pet food has been heated to a minimum F₀ value of 3.0
5. Random samples of dry pet food taken after the heat treatment have been tested and were found negative for Salmonella
6. The pet food has been processed in an establishment operating under Canadian Food Inspection Agency supervision

Asia

China

GACC: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China represents the competent authority in China.

Preamble: the CFIA inspects the facility looking to export to China and recommends approval. After reviewing the documentation, the GACC can choose to have the facility audited or not. If the GACC approves the facility, it will be registered on the list of approved facilities. In order to have the establishment approved, the following steps must be taken:

1. request the GACC List of Required Documents: the company must first request the GACC list of required documents to the CFIA Animal Health district office. Once completed, the documents must but forwarded to the district office
2. facility inspection: the CFIA district veterinarian will inspect the facility and complete the generic inspection checklist as per established procedures
3. submission to International Affairs Branch (IAB): once the veterinarian confirms that the establishment meets Chinese requirements, the CFIA district office will send the inspection package to the International Affairs Branch (IAB)
4. forwarding to the embassy: The IAB will forward the package to the Canadian embassy in Shanghai for follow-up with the GACC

It should be noted that even if a facility is approved for export to China, the product must also be registered with the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture (MARA) before it can be exported. In order for the product to be registered with the Ministry of Agriculture, the following steps must be taken:

1. the company must first submit its paper application package through their local contact or representative to the Ministry of Agriculture for evaluation
2. after review by the Ministry of Agriculture, if the product is satisfactory, the package will be forwarded to MARA's internal laboratory system
3. the laboratory staff will look over the application and will advise the applicant (directly) if samples are required to be submitted, and their quantity. In this case, the necessary information to import these samples and the laboratory of destination will be provided

Refer to GACC list of approved pet food plants (number 13) (in Chinese only).

Only approved genetically modified organism (GMO) ingredients (PDF - in Chinese only) and approved feed additives by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture are allowed for use in pet food intended for export to China.

Refer to Chinese Ministry of Agriculture lists for the approved list of additives.

If the exported product contains no ruminant ingredient or raw material and is declared as being free of ruminant ingredient, a Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is mandatory.

If the exported product contains raw material or ingredients from ruminants (except dairy products, tallow containing less than 0.15% insoluble impurities and gelatin made from hides), these must absolutely come from establishments approved by GACC and from negligible BSE risk countries.

Access the list of establishments approved by GACC (in Chinese only) to export ruminant material to China.

Note: as of October 20, 2021, China confirmed the following:

• China recognize the current existing practice at local ports of no requiring of MARA registration certificates anymore for imported pet food products
• GACC confirmed that CFIA may go ahead to issue certificate for approved manufactures to export their pet food products without MARA registration certificate

For the export of pet food not containing animal origin ingredients, the certificate HA2756 can be used. To avoid issues at the border in China, no animal species must be checked out and no condition must be crossed out on the certificate.

China (certificate HA2756)

1. The pet food processing plant is approved and supervised by the authorized department of the country or region and has undergone establishment registration with GACC
2. The finished product does not contain and has not been contaminated during production, storage and transportation with ruminant material originating from Canada or any controlled BSE risk country, except for dairy products, tallow with less than 0.15% of insoluble impurities, and gelatin made from hides and skins
3. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that in the case of non-ruminant animal raw material, the raw material are obtained from animals that have been slaughtered in an officially approved slaughterhouse and did not show any clinical signs of infectious diseases after having undergone ante and post-mortem inspections, did not originate from slaughtered animals that were slaughtered due to an epidemic outbreak and did not originate from dead animals
4. The finished product has been tested by PCR method and did not show evidence of ruminant material
5. In case of Ruminant raw materials, the materials originate from countries with negligible BSE risk and from GACC registered establishments; are traceable; and are not cross contaminated with other ruminant products during production, storage and transportation
   • name of animal raw material: (insert name)
   • animal species: (insert species)
   • country of origin: (insert country)
   • name of sourcing facility: (insert name)
   • official registration number: (insert number)
6. In case of fish origin raw material, the raw material were derived from fish or other animals, caught in the open sea, except sea mammals and by-products from plants manufacturing fish products for human consumption
7. In case of plant origin raw material, the plants do not contain genetically modified (GMO) ingredients which have not been approved by the Chinese competent authorities (CAs)
8. The used additives are in compliance with the requirements laid down in relevant Chinese laws and regulations of food additives
9. The processed pet food has been subjected to a heat treatment of a least 90°C for 15 minutes, throughout its substances or has undergone other treatments approved by GACC to effectively eliminate any pathogens
10. The above mentioned product was packed in new packaging, on which it is clearly indicated that the content is destined for feeding to pets only, bear labels indicating Not For Human Consumption
11. The product complies with relevant Chinese safety and hygiene standards for pet food and does not contain any toxic or hazardous substances which are harmful to animal health
12. The finished product has been analyzed by random sampling of at least 5 samples taken during or after storage at the processing plant and complied with the following standards: on a basis of at least 5 samples for each lot processed, selected at random during or after storage at the processing plant, and meeting 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 1g

Hong Kong (no import requirements)

Read section "Request for certification" for the appropriate use of the in-house certificate HA2341.

India (certificate HA2870)

Note: when pet food is supplemented with probiotics, the annex to Certificate HA2870 must be provided to the CFIA veterinarian at the time of signing the export certificate.

Note: the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) issues a Sanitary Import Permit (SIP) based on the submission of required information into a designated portal. DAHD published an Office Memorandum L-110111/1/2022 – Trade (E-21390), clarifying the documents required for examination of the online application and subsequent issuance of SIP. Apart from processing methods and technical information, this submission includes the brand name of the pet food and list of all the ingredients used. Once approved, SIP is issued along with a separate annex. This annex, containing the list of all the brand names, is linked to SIP by SIP number and date of its approval.

The SIP and annex have to be provided as supporting documents. The export certificate is issued for the approved pet food brand names if all other requirements are met.

1. The exported product was manufactured with:
   • meat/meat products of healthy poultry
   • meat/meat products of healthy lamb, sheep, goat and pig origin
   • fish and fish products
2. The exported product originates from meat/meat products, obtained from healthy animals which have undergone ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections
3. The exported product does not contain any ingredient of specific risk materials from ruminant origin as defined by WOAH, except:
   • milk/milk products
   • protein-free tallow of ovine or caprine origin; and
   • ovine or caprine materials or ingredients that have been legally imported from countries free from transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) group of diseases

   The following information shall be provided:

   • description
   • country of Origin
   • certificate number
   • competent authority
   • date of issuance
4. The exported product has been subject to 1 of the following heat treatments:
   1. In case of dry pet food:
      • 90°C throughout its substance, or
      • each of its animal origin materials underwent heat treatment at 90°C for 1 second, or
      • 70°C for 30 minutes, or
      • 80°C for 9 minutes
   2. In case of canned and moist pet food:
      • have been processed at a temperature to attain F₀ value not less than 3.0 or
      • have been processed at a temperature to attain F_c value not less than 3.0
5. Before actual dispatch the exported product was examined by a random sampling of at least 5 samples from each processed batch taken during or after storage at the processing plant, and test results shows:
   1. In case of dry pet food:
      • facultative aerobic micro-organisms (Enterobacteriaceae) not more than 5x10³ Colony-forming unit (CFU) per gram or per milliliter of sample
      • absence of Salmonella in 25 gram or 25 ml of sample
   2. In case of canned and moist pet food:
      • sulphite reduced clostridium per gram or per milliliter of sample not more than 5x10³
6. Dehydrated products were adequately dried to prevent microbiological growth mentioned previously or their water activity (wa) is routinely checked to ensure that it is not higher than 0.93
7. The exported product was not produced with material originating from:
   1. animals kept for agricultural production, which died but were not slaughtered, including stillborn and unborn animals, and, without prejudice to instances of emergency slaughtering for reasons of welfare, and farm animals that have died in transit
   2. animals which were killed in the context of disease control measures either on the farm or in any other place designated by the competent authority
   3. animal waste, including blood originating from animals which showed, during veterinary inspection carried out at the time of slaughtering, clinical signs of disease communicable to man or other animals
   4. those parts of animals slaughtered in the normal way which were not presented for post mortem inspection, with the exception of hides, skins, hooves, feathers, wool, horn, blood and similar products
   5. meat, poultry meat, fish and foodstuffs of animal origin which were spoiled
   6. the dog and cat food products has been produced in sanitary conditions and contains no harmful substances
   7. fish or offal from fish which was excluded from human consumption because of clinical signs of an infectious disease
   8. was not produced from using meat of animals which are prohibited by any other law in the territory of Union of India for international trade
   9. processed animal protein derived from high-risk material
8. The exported food does not contain meat of animals which are prohibited by any Indian law for international trade, like beef, beef tallow, beef flavor and any kind of bovine tissue in any form of bovine origin
9. The exported product has undergone all precautions to avoid recontamination with pathogenic agents after treatment
10. The exported product was packed in new packaging material
11. Product containers are properly sealed

Indonesia (certificate HA2722)

Note: the company must be registered and approved by the Ministry of Agriculture. Contact your local CFIA district office to obtain the appropriate documentation.

1. The pet food product has been manufactured in a facility that is approved and monitored by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
2. The pet food product does not contain ruminant material, except milk and derivatives originating from non BSE-Free countries
3. Dry, semi-moist and dehydrated pet food products were sufficiently processed to assure the destruction of harmful pathogens. The pet food has been heat treated using the following method:
   • 70°C for at least 30 minutes
   • 75°C for at least 5 minutes
   • 80°C for at least 1 minute
4. In the case of canned products in hermetically sealed containers, the pet food product has been manufactured according to standard canning processing procedures and has been subjected to at least 116°C for a period of not less than 15 minutes
5. In the case of tallow used as an ingredient, the level of insoluble impurities is less than 0.15% in weight
6. The pet food product has undergone all precaution to avoid contamination with Salmonella and other pathogenic organisms
7. The pet food product was packed and sealed in new packaging material at the manufacturing facility and labelled as a pet food product with the list of ingredients and the nutritional information
8. The pet food product can be sold without restriction in Canada

Japan

Based on previous experience and confirmation from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Animal Quarantine Service (AQS), no animal health certification is required for fully processed cooked pet food (finished, packaged, ready for retail sale, shelf-stable) produced through extrusion or hermetically sealed to be imported to Japan.

Fully processed cooked means that materials must be:

• cooked and dry "crunchy" (kibble type products produced through an extrusion process) or
• semi-moist products produced through an extrusion process or
• hermetically sealed products (packaged using a retort process)

If materials do not meet the previously mentioned criteria, like pet food not fully heat-treated, with high moisture content, not in a retail/consumer package, it is always recommended that Canadian exporters ask their Japanese importers to consult with MAFF AQS prior to their first export to Japan.

Read section on in house certificate (HA2341) under chapter Request for certification.

An animal health certificate is required for the following pet food products

• meat jerky and freeze-dried meat products (except of ovine/caprine origins as Canada has no access for processed products for these species)
• external tissues such as hides, hooves (except caprine origin)

Non extruded pet food derived from poultry (certificate HA3068)

1. This certificate can be used for pet food derived of poultry or poultry and fish

2. This certificate cannot be used for pet food derived of porcine

   In this case the importer needs to get in touch with AQS and request the import requirements.

3. Canada currently does not have access to export pet food derived from caprine and/or ovine of any origin
4. As a note, MAFF Animal Health Department (AHD) has requested the CFIA to advise the Canadian suppliers that, when a Japanese importer imports the pet food products from Canada, they should still consult with AQS to confirm whether or not their importing products are eligible for import under the agreed animal health (AH) conditions now in place

The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that:

1. the ingredients of poultry origin and the animals they originate from, were obtained from the following provinces: __________ and the raw material was handled only in approved processing plants in the following provinces: __________ and transported only through the following provinces: __________ to Japan unless the containers are sealed en route
2. the animals from which the ingredients of poultry were obtained, were kept and raised in premises on which there have been no outbreak of Newcastle disease and other reportable diseases of poulty listed by the competent authority of Canada, other than notifiable avian influenza (NAI), within 50 km and for at least 90 days before slaughter
3. the establishments where the exported products were processed is under the supervision of the CFIA and is approved for export to Japan. The establishments are subjected to regular inspection by the competent authority.
4. the pet food or its ingredients have been subjected to 1 of the following heat treatment:
   • 90°C for 1 minute
   • 80°C for 9 minutes or
   • 70°C for 30 minutes
5. the exported products derived from poultry for export to Japan are packaged in new and clean packaging and ready for retail sale for companion animal consumption
6. the exported products derived from poultry for export to Japan have been handled and stored in a safe and sanitary manner until the shipment to Japan

Korea (certificate HA2777)

Notes

Certification of pet food shipments in accordance with Canadian definitions of raw materials and ingredients may resume until further notice.

1. in case the exported pet food contains vitamins coated or not with gelatin, there are 2 options on how to complete the box "animal species" on the certificate:
   1. omit the ingredients of the vitamins (animal species), because vitamins are not subject to quarantine
      or
   2. specify: ovine (vitamin D3), porcine (vitamin D3)

2. All exported products must be packaged ready for retail showing a proper design, product name, barcode, etc.

   In other words the products must be packaged in regular packaging that are used for retail in Canada. Plain packages (for example, blank white bags) are not allowed. The repackaging in Korea for smaller portions is allowed only if the imported package is retail-ready.

1. The product referred to above may be freely sold in Canada as dog and cat food
2. The pet food does not contain any material or ingredient derived from ruminants (except for milk and milk products, protein free tallow with maximum level of insoluble impurities of 0.15% in weight and gelatin made from hides)
3. Raw materials of animal origin in the said product are of Canadian origin or have been legally imported into Canada from Australia, New Zealand or USA
4. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the raw materials used in the production of the pet food were derived from animals presented for examination at slaughter and evaluated favourably for inclusion in pet food, and were slaughtered under standards existing in Canada
5. The producing plant has been authorized and is supervised by the Canadian government
6. Dry, semi-moist, and dehydrated pet food products were sufficiently processed to assure the destruction of harmful pathogens as demonstrated by the fact that finished products (except hermetically sealed containers) were routinely tested and found negative for Salmonella
7. Packaging materials:
   1. canned products are packaged in hermetically sealed containers, pouches
   2. all products are packaged in new packaging material and packaged ready for retail
8. In the case of pet food derived from poultry or poultry products, the pet food has been heat treated at its core temperature equivalent to or greater than the following conditions to ensure the destruction of avian influenza and Newcastle viruses:
   • 70°C for at least 30 minutes
   • 75°C for at least 5 minutes
   • 80°C for at least 1 minute
   • 90°C throughout the substance
9. The above mentioned product has undergone all precautions to avoid recontamination with pathogenic agents after treatment

Malaysia (certificate HA2778)

Note: effective July 1, 2024, a CFIA veterinarian must review and sign the questionnaire for registration and approval of the establishment. Contact your local CFIA district office to obtain the appropriate documentation.

1. The pet food product has been manufactured in a facility that is approved and monitored by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
2. The pet food product does not contain ruminant material from non-BSE-Free countries, except milk and derivatives, gelatine and collagen made from hides and skins and protein free tallow with less than 0.15% in weight of insoluble impurities and its derivatives
3. The dry, semi-moist and dehydrated pet food products were sufficiently processed to assure the destruction of harmful pathogens. The pet food has been heat treated using the following method:
   • 70°C for at least 30 minutes
   • 75°C for at least 5 minutes
   • 80°C for at least 1 minute
   • 90°C throughout the substance
4. In the case of canned products in hermetically sealed containers, the pet food product has been manufactured according to standard canning processing procedures and has been subjected to a heat treatment of not less than 121°C for at least 3 minutes
5. The pet food product has undergone all precaution to avoid re-contamination with Salmonella and other pathogenic organisms
6. The pet food product was packed and sealed in new packaging material at the manufacturing facility and labelled as a pet food product with the list of ingredients and the nutritional information
7. The pet food product can be sold without restriction in Canada

Philippines (certificate HA2794)

1. The above mentioned product does not contain animal ingredients derived from ruminant excluding ruminant ingredients originated from Australia and/or New Zealand
2. In the case of dried or semi-moist products, the above mentioned product was produced in such a way that the ingredients of animal origin have been heat treatment of at least 90°C throughout their substance
3. In the case of sterilized products (hermetically-sealed containers), the above mentioned product has been heated to a minimum F₀ value of 3.0
4. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is used in the manufacturing of pet food products
5. The pet foods described above can be sold without restriction in Canada
6. The above mentioned product has undergone all precautions to avoid recontamination with pathogenic agents after treatment

Singapore (certificate HA2786)

1. The pet food does not contain animal origin material derived from bovine (except for milk, milk products and tallow with a maximum of 0.15% of insoluble impurities)
2. The pet food producing plant has been authorized and is supervised by the Canadian government
3. Canned products are packaged in hermetically sealed containers – pouch
4. All products are packaged in new packaging material
5. In the case of dried or semi-moist products, the above mentioned product has undergone heat treatment at minimum of:
   • 70°C for at least 30 minutes
   • 75°C for at least 5 minutes
   • 80°C for at least 1 minute
   • 90°C throughout the substance
6. In the case of wet products (hermetically sealed container) the above mentioned product has been heated to a minimum F₀ value of 3.0
7. All precautions have been taken to avoid contamination with pathogenic agents after treatment

Taiwan

APHIA: the "QuarantineAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Agency" represents the competent authority in Taiwan.

Preamble: the CFIA inspects and approves facilities on behalf of APHIA by completing the verification list. Once the establishment is approved, the facility will be registered on a list of approved facilities. APHIA can choose to audit or not the Canadian pet food industry at any time.

Annex to certificate: APHIA requests a detailed description of the exported products. Use the annex designed for this purpose.

Access the list of establishments approved by APHIA (in Chinese only) to export pet food to Taiwan.

Taiwan
Pet chews (certificate HA2789)

1. In the case of pet chews derived from cloven-hoofed animals, the rawhide materials were derived from animals that originated in Canada or have been legally imported from the USA
2. In the case of pet chews derived from poultry, the rawhide materials were derived from animals that originated in Canada or have been legally imported from the USA
3. The manufacturing plant is approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for the production and packaging of pet chews
4. The rawhide has been dehaired, degreased, dried and is free of blood and dirt
5. The products are transported in new and clean containers

Taiwan
Pet food (certificate HA2790)

1. The product has been manufactured in a plant approved and supervised by the competent authority
2. Importation of rendered ruminant-derived proteins and tallow with more than 0.15% of insoluble impurities from countries that are not recognized to be of negligible risk of BSE is prohibited in Canada
3. The manufacturing plant does not process any bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk material (ruminant meat and bone meal (MBM), greaves, tonsils and distal ileum, brain, eyes, spinal cord, skull and vertebral column from cattle of all ages) from Canada or any other country with a reported case of BSE
4. The above mentioned product does not contain BSE risk materials as defined above and does not contain bovine viscera, mechanically separated meat (MSM) from the skull and vertebral column from cattle over 30 months

5. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that in the case of pet food containing bovine raw material of Canadian origin, the raw material was obtained from animals that have been slaughtered in approved abattoirs and were subjected to ante- and post-mortem inspection

   The animals were not subjected to a stunning process, prior to slaughter, with a device injection compressed air or gas into the cranial cavity, nor to a pithing process.

6. In the case of pet food containing bovine ingredients (except for gelatin, collagen, chondroitin, glucosamine, dicalcium phosphate and dairy products):
   • description of bovine ingredient: (insert ingredient)
   • country of origin: (insert country)
7. In the case of sterilized products (hermetically-sealed containers), the above mentioned product has been heated to a minimum F₀ value of 3.0
8. In the case of dry pet food, the product has been heat-treated during the manufacturing process and the core temperature reaches 1 of the following parameters to ensure the destruction or inactivation of relevant pathogens:
   • 70°C for 30 minutes or more or
   • 80°C for 9 minutes or more or
   • 90°C throughout the substance
   • 100°C for 1 minute or more

9. There has been no co-mingling of any ingredients with any BSE risk materials at any time

   Effective measures were taken to prevent the pet food from being contaminated by pathogens of other animal infectious diseases in raw materials and throughout manufacturing and packing process.

10. The above mentioned product was packed in new packaging material

Taiwan
Canned pet food (not containing bovine ingredients)

For canned pet food not containing bovine ingredients, no export certificate is required. An exporter's declaration stating that the pet food does not contain bovine ingredients is required unless the label clearly demonstrates that no bovine ingredients were used in the canned pet food.

Canned pet food products not containing bovine material are not regulated by APHIA. Therefore, Canadian plants producing this type of pet food are not subject to pre-approval by APHIA

Read section "Request for certification" for the appropriate use of the in-house certificate HA2341.

Canned pet food containing bovine ingredients must be exported using the certificate HA2790.

Taiwan
Pet food containing fish material and/or vitamin D as the only animal by-product

In the Taiwanese regulation, "Dog and cat food" refers to products containing animal ingredients derived from cloven-hoofed animals or poultry, intended for food or pet chew exclusively for dogs and cats. Therefore export certificates are not required for pet food products containing fish products and/or sheep wool grease vitamin D as the only material of animal origin.

There are 3 options when exporting this commodity to Taiwan:

1. if the packaging or label of the pet food clearly shows that it contains fish and/or vitamin D, as the only source of animal origin, then no declaration or certificate is necessary
   or
2. exporters provide a declaration signed by the company's senior manager stating that the exported pet food contains fish and/or vitamin D, as the only source of animal origin
   or
3. an in-house certificate can be issued stating that the exported pet food contains fish and/or vitamin D, as the only source of animal origin

Thailand (certificate HA2791)

Note: the CFIA has received confirmation from the Thai authorities that companies manufacturing pet food must register their products before they can export them to Thailand. The registration of these products requires among other things to provide a certificate of free sale mentioning the name of the products to be registered. To obtain this certificate of free sale, contact your local CFIA district office. You will have to provide a declaration mentioning the list of products to be registered.

1. The above mentioned product does not contain proteins derived from ruminant animals, with the exception of milk and milk by-products
2. In the case of dried or semi-moist products, the above mentioned product was produced in such a way that the ingredients of animal origin have been subject to a heat treatment of at least 90°C throughout their substance
3. The end product was examined by random sampling of at least 5 samples from each processed batch during storage or prior to dispatch and found to comply 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 1g
4. In the case of sterilized products (hermetically-sealed containers), the above mentioned product has been heated to a minimum F₀ value of 3.0
5. The pet food described above can be sold without restriction in Canada
6. The above mentioned product has undergone all precautions to avoid recontamination with pathogenic agents after treatment
7. The above mentioned product was packed in new packaging material

Vietnam (certificate HA2916)

1. The exported product has been manufactured in a facility that is under the supervision of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency

2. the exported product does not contain ruminant material

   or

   the ruminant material originates from the following countries: __________

3. Dry, semi-moist and dehydrated pet food products were sufficiently processed to assure the destruction of harmful pathogens. The pet food has been heat treated using the following method (check appropriate selection)

   • a) 70°C for at least 30 minutes
   • b) 75°C for at least 5 minutes
   • c) 80°C for at least 1 minute
   • d) 90°C throughout the substance

   or

   The ingredients and the animals they originate from, were obtained from the following countries or zones: __________

4. In the case of canned products in hermetically sealed containers, the pet food product has been heat treated to reach a minimum value of F₀ equal or greater than 3.0
5. The pet food product has undergone all precaution to avoid contamination with Salmonella and other pathogenic organisms
6. The pet food product was packed and sealed in new packaging material at the manufacturing facility and labelled as a pet food product with the list of ingredients and the nutritional information
7. The pet food product can be sold without restriction in Canada

Middle East

Israel

Preamble: for a facility to be eligible for export to Israel, an appendix must be completed on an annual basis. The CFIA completes this appendix following an inspection. Contact your local CFIA district office.

Pet food (certificate HA2782)^Footnote 2

1. The above-described pet food:
   • was manufactured in Canada
     and/or
   • was manufactured and packaged in the USA
     and
   • meets the requirements for importation into Israel and may be freely sold for companion animal feeding in the country of origin and in Canada
2. The above-described pet food was produced in an establishment which is under the supervision of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
   and/or
   was legally imported from the USA
3. In the case of canned pet food or retorted pouches, the product has been:
   1. Heat treated in hermetically sealed containers to a minimum F₀ value of 3.0; and
   2. Manufactured and packaged complying with good manufacturing practice, sufficient to render it commercially sterile and free from pathogenic microorganisms
4. In the case of dry pet food and semi-moist pet food:
   1. The processed pet food or the ingredients of animal origin have been subjected to a heat treatment of at least 90°C throughout their substances, or any alternative processing method authorized by the competent authority
   2. The product has been manufactured and packaged following good manufacturing practice, sufficient to render it microbiologically stable
   3. The product was analyzed by a random sampling of at least 5 samples from each processed batch taken during or after storage at the processing plant and complies 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 1g
5. The finished product does not contain and is not contaminated with commodities that should not be traded as defined in the B.S.E chapter of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Ruminant meat and/or meat and bone meal (MBM) legally imported into Canada from WOAH negligible risk countries are permitted as ingredients in companion animal feed
6. The finished product was stored in enclosed storage and has undergone all precautions to prevent contamination with pathogenic agents after treatment

Pet chews (certificate HA3175)

1. The above-described pet chews:
   1. was manufactured in Canada
      and/or
   2. was manufactured and packaged in the USA
      and
   3. meets the requirements for importation into Israel and may be freely sold for companion animal feeding in the country of origin and in Canada
2. The above-described pet chews was produced in an establishment which is under the supervision of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
   and/or
   was legally imported from the USA
3. The raw material used in the production of exported pet chews is of Canadian origin or have been legally imported into Canada. (Name of Country__________)
4. The pet chews have been subject:
   1. in the case of pet chews made from hides and skins of ungulates or fish, to heat treatment sufficient to render them free from pathogenic microorganisms, including Salmonella
      and/or
   2. in the case of pet chews made from animal by-products other than hides and skin of ungulates, to a heat treatment of at least 90ºC throughout their substances or any alternative processing method authorized by the competent authority.
5. The product was analyzed by a random sampling of at least 5 samples from each processed batch taken during or after storage at the processing plant and complies 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 1g
6. The finished product does not contain and is not contaminated with commodities that should not be traded as defined in the BSE chapter of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Ruminant meat and/or meat and bone meal (MBM) legally imported into Canada from WOAH negligible risk countries are permitted as ingredients in companion animal feed
7. The finished product was stored in enclosed storage and has undergone all precautions to prevent contamination with pathogenic agents after treatment

Jordan (certificate HA2752)

1. The pet food product has been manufactured in a facility that is approved for export and monitored by the official competent authority
2. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the raw material of animal origin was derived from healthy animals which were presented to ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection in slaughterhouses and did not show any clinical sign of diseases communicable by the product to humans and animals
3. The pet food product does not contain ruminant material originating from non-negligible BSE risk countries as per the WOAH classification, except for milk and derivatives, tallow with insoluble impurities less than 0.15% in weight and gelatine made with hides and skins
4. The pet food has been sufficiently processed to assure the destruction of harmful pathogens as demonstrated by the fact that finished products are routinely tested and found to comply with the following standards:
   • Salmonella: absence in 25g; n=5, c=0, m=0, M=0 B.
   • Enterobacteriaceae: absence in 1g; n=5, c=2, m=10, M=300
5. In the case of canned pet food:
   1. the product has been heat treated in hermetically sealed containers to a minimum F₀ value of 3.0; and
   2. the product was manufactured and packaged complying with good manufacturing practice
6. In the case of dry pet food
   The processed pet food has been subjected to 1 of the following heat treatment:
   • of at least 90°C throughout their substances, or
   • 70°C for at least 30 minutes, or
   • 75°C for at least 5 minutes
7. The above mentioned product was packed in new packaging material labelled "Not For Human Consumption"
8. The finished product was stored and transported in a manner to prevent contamination with pathogenic agents after treatment

Saudi Arabia (certificate HA2785)

1. The product contains no ingredients from bovine, ovine, caprine or any other animal species susceptible to bovine spongiform encephalopathy from Canada or any other BSE-infested region or country

   Products from ovine origin come from Australia and/or New Zealand.

2. The above mentioned product does not contain blood and or ingredients of pork origin
3. There has been no co-mingling of any ingredients with any ruminant-origin items, except dairy products, from any BSE country at any time
4. In the case of dried or semi-moist products, the above mentioned product was produced in such a way that the ingredients of animal origin have been subject to a heat treatment of at least 90°C throughout their substance
5. The end product was examined by random sampling of at least 5 samples from each processed batch during storage or prior to dispatch and found to comply 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 1g
6. In the case of sterilized products (hermetically-sealed containers), the above mentioned product has been heated to a minimum F₀ value of 3.0
7. The pet food described above can be sold without restriction in Canada
8. The pet food described above has undergone all precautions to avoid recontamination with pathogenic agents after treatment
9. The above mentioned product was packed in new packaging material

The United Arab Emirates (certificate HA2793)

1. The products referred to above may be freely sold in Canada as dog or cat food
2. In case of pet food containing animal origin material derived from bovine, beef and beef products (with the exception of milk, milk products and tallow with a maximum of 0.15% (by weight) of insoluble impurities) and/or processed animal proteins, the material used were derived from cattle originating from the following countries: __________
3. Raw materials of ruminant origin, other than bovine origin, excluding processed animal proteins, in the said product are of Canadian origin or have been legally imported into Canada. Processed animal proteins of ruminant origin, other than bovine origin, have been legally imported into Canada from Australia and/or New Zealand
4. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that that the raw materials used in the production of the pet food were derived from animals presented for ante mortem and post mortem examination at slaughter and evaluated favorably for inclusion in pet food, and were slaughtered under standards existing in Canada. For imported raw material, they were legally imported and meeting Canadian import requirements
5. The producing plant has been authorized and is supervised by the Canadian government
6. Dry, semi-moist, and dehydrated pet food products were sufficiently processed to assure the destruction of harmful pathogens as demonstrated by the fact that finished products (except for hermetically sealed containers) were routinely tested and found negative for Salmonella.
7. In the case of wet products (hermetically sealed container) the product has been heated to reach a minimum F₀ value of 3.0
8. The pet food has been processed to ensure the inactivation of the pathogens of concerns as per WOAH Terrestrial Code (Avian Influenza virus or Foot and Mouth Disease Virus or African Swine Fever virus) by using 1 of the following heat treatment :
   • 70°C for at least 30 minutes
   • 75°C for at least 5 minutes
   • 80°C for at least 1 minute
   • 90°C throughout the substance
9. Precautions have been taken to avoid recontamination of the product with pathogenic agents after heat treatment

Oceania

Australia (Use certificate HA2341)

• An import permit is required and issued by Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) biosecurity for almost all pet food products which contain animal, plant or microbial derived ingredients
• A copy of valid import permit with the exporter declaration must be submitted to CFIA certifying veterinarian
• The exporter's declaration should include the following:
  • DAFF import permit number
  • the exporter's reference number and/or batch number
  • description of the product (as per the import permit description for example pet food, pet treat etc.)
  • animal origin ingredient (as per the import permit description for example Porcine, avian, fish etc.)
  • include specific conditions as mentioned on the DAFF import permit (use the same wording as per the import permit conditions)
  • read section on in house certificate (HA2341) under chapter Request for certification

  When finished pet food contains imported ingredients for which Australia require specific conditions, additional certification may be required to ensure that Australian requirements are met.

French Polynesia (certificate HA2779)

1. The product is of Canadian origin or has been legally imported into Canada from the USA
2. The product was prepared and stored at a facility supervised and controlled by the competent authority

3. It contains no ingredients from bovine, ovine, caprine or any other animal species susceptible to bovine spongiform encephalopathy from any BSE-infected region or country

   Products from ovine origin come from Australia and/or New Zealand.

4. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the products were prepared exclusively using the following animal by products:
   • parts of slaughtered animals that are fit for human consumption under current Canadian law (Meat Inspection Act 1990), but are not intended for human consumption for commercial reasons
   • parts of slaughtered animals that have been declared unfit for human consumption, but are free of any sign of disease that may be transmitted to humans or animals, and are derived from carcasses that were fit for human consumption under current Canadian law
5. The product was manufactured with ingredients of animal origin that are from a country designated by the WOAH as free of diseases of concern to the species or the products have been subjected to a heat treatment(s) sufficient to inactivate the diseases of concern
6. It has been analyzed by random sampling of at least 5 samples taken during or after storage at the processing plant and complied with the following standards: on a basis of at least 5 samples for each lot processed, selected at random during or after storage at the processing plant, and meeting 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 1g
7. It has undergone all precautions to avoid recontamination with pathogenic agents after treatment
8. It has been packed in new packaging labelled "Not For Human Consumption"

New Zealand

You can find the import requirements for the various products at: Import health standard for shelf-stable pet foods containing animal products.

Shelf-stable pet food containing bovine material (Certificate HA2784)

The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the exported products do not contain any of the following specified risk materials (SRMs):

1. the tonsils and distal ileum from bovine animals of all ages
2. the skull, brain, eyes, spinal cord and vertebral column from bovine animals older than 30 months

For other products not containing bovine material

When applicable, read section "Request for certification" for the appropriate use of the in-house certificate HA2341.

An exporter's declaration must be included with the shipment.

Europe

Azerbaijan (certificate HA3058)

1. The exported product has been manufactured and stored in a facility that is under official supervision
2. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the exported product was made from raw material which was obtained from animals that have been slaughtered and did not show any clinical signs of infectious diseases after having undergone ante and post-mortem inspections
3. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the ruminant meat and bone meal used in the exported product has been legally imported into Canada from countries recognized as negligible risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in accordance with current WOAH criteria
4. The certified product was produced and handled in a manner to ensure that the product does not contain and is not contaminated with material ineligible for export to the importing country, including Specified Risk Material (SRM) as defined in Canada
5. In the case of dry pet food/treats, the exported product has been heat-treated during the manufacturing process and the core temperature has reached 1 of the following parameters to ensure the destruction or inactivation of relevant pathogens:
   • 70°C for at least 30 minutes
   • 75°C for at least 5 minutes
   • 80°C for at least 1 minute
   • 90°C throughout the substance
   • has undergone other treatments approved by the competent authority
6. In the case of canned pet food, the product was processed to reach commercial sterility (F₀ equal to or greater than (≥) 3.0)
7. The above mentioned product has undergone all precautions to avoid recontamination with pathogenic agents after treatment
8. The above-mentioned product was packed in new packaging material
9. The exported product described above can be sold without restriction in Canada

European Union (EU)

Notes

In cases where a shipment is rejected at the port of entry due to errors in the export certificate, a replacement certificate may only be issued in TRACES if the errors are limited to administrative mistakes in part I of the certificate. However, if part II of the certificate – comprising the attestation and certification sections filled by the CFIA- contains errors, the issuance of a replacement certificate will not be permitted by EU authorities. The options for addressing the affected shipment will be communicated to the exporter by EU officials and may include, but not limited to, the destruction of the shipment or its return to Canada.

Ingredients imported from the European Union for use in the manufacturing of pet food and products destined for animal consumption or technical use, and which will be subsequently exported to the EU (for example vitamin D3, gelatin, etc.) do not require additional certification for the issuance of the export certificate. The CFIA deems these ingredients to meet EU regulations and import requirements. Therefore, to obtain an export certificate, the exporter must provide the CFIA with proof that the ingredients were legally imported from the EU into Canada.

In the commission implementing regulation (EU) 2022/1375 of August 5, 2022, the EU denied the authorisation to use the ethoxyquin as an additive given that it has not been established that ethoxyquin does not have an adverse effect on animal health, human health or the environment, when used as a feed additive in the functional group 'antioxidants'.

Export certification of pet food to the European Union, using Trade Control and Expert System New Technology (Traces-NT) EU system.

Effective January 15, 2022, exporters of commercial pet food/treats/chews destined for the European Union (EU) will be required to use the TRACES NT to get their Export certificates.

TRACES NT

TRACES NT is an online portal to request export certificates. As the certificates are all electronic, exporters have access to the most up to date version of the certificate they require.

Using the TRACES NT system for export certificates provides a secure, convenient, streamlined process for doing business with the European Union (EU). The EU requires that all commodities entering the EU be accompanied by clearance documents prepared in TRACES NT. These documents can be easily prepared using a feature called "cloning", a process that is supported when the certificate was also generated in TRACES NT.

The entire package of documents is available in TRACES NT and serves as a pre-notification of the arrival of a consignment and therefore control authorities at EU border or at destination can plan their controls and secure inspection times at the border points. Once an EU login account and user access profile in TRACES NT have been created, linkages to existing EU eligibility lists can be made, that will streamline the certificate issuance process.

Advantages

Creating an EU TRACES NT login account and user access profile today, will ensure that all clearance documents contain accurate business information. This is important in order to avoid problems at the borders. For example minor differences in business name on documents could identify you as a different company or create a duplicate account.

What you need to know

1. EU TRACES login page
   1. Ensure that the information inputted is accurate as this will be the official account and this information will be listed on further documentation (clearance documents) and to avoid the creation of duplicate accounts
      Note: deletion of duplicate accounts can only be completed by contacting the EU TRACES Helpdesk at SANTE-TRACES@ec.europa.eu or +32 2 297 63 50
2. TRACES NT login page
3. Send a request to validate the account by contacting the CFIA (the Central Competent Authority) – cfia.tracesntadministrator-tracestnadministrateur.acia@inspection.gc.ca

   1. You will receive an e-mail notification once your account has been validated

      Validation is required before you can start to use TRACES NT

Then and now

View a summary of the change in process by using TRACES NT.

Questions

For technical questions, regarding the TRACES NT system contact the TRACES NT helpdesk: SANTE-TRACES@ec.europa.eu or +32 2 297 63 50

*For example: if there is inaccurate information in your profile, which you are unable to change, or if there are duplicate profiles in the TRACES NT system, contact the EU TRACES NT Help Desk as described previously.

For questions relating to the export process, export inspections, certificate issuance, contact your local CFIA office.

Note: the facility has to be approved for export to EU and be listed on TRACES. To do so, the EU check list has to be filled out during the annual inspection. Contact your local CFIA district office for more information.

For EU, the instructions on the issuance of certificates can be found in annex XV of EU Regulation 142-2011. Among other things, each page of the certificate must be signed and stamped.

Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES): list of approved establishments

For further information on the implementation and use of the TRACES NT system, please refer to the page: Exporting food and animal products to the European Union - inspection.canada.ca

• For canned pet food: chapter 3A
• For processed pet food other than canned foods: chapter 3B
• For dogchews: chapter 3C
• For raw pet food for direct sale or for animal by-products to be fed to fur animals: chapter 3D

1. They were prepared and stored in a certified plant controlled by the competent authority under article 24 of Regulation (EC) no 1069/2009
2. They were prepared using only the animal by-products listed on the appropriate certificate: chapter 3A, 3B, 3C or 3D
3. They underwent a thermal treatment as required in the certificate mentioned in point II
4. Analyses
   • box for certificate chapter 3A:
     they were analyzed, using samples from at least 5 containers sampled at random from each processed batch, using laboratory diagnostic methods aimed at making sure that the shipment has undergone the appropriate thermal treatment as stipulated in point II.3 of the certificate
   • box for certificates chapter 3B, 3C or 3D:
     they were analyzed, using samples from at least 5 samples from each processed batch, sampled at random during or after being stored in the processing plant and satisfying the following standards
     • Salmonella: absence in 25 g: n = 5, c = 0, m = 0, M = 0,
     • Enterobacteriaceae: n = 5, c = 2, m = 10, M = 300 in 1 g.
5. All precautions were taken to prevent contamination by pathogenic agents after processing
6. They were packaged in the manner stipulated in the certificate mentioned in point II
7. The pet food described previously
   • either is derived from other ruminants than bovine, ovine or caprine animals
   • or is derived from bovine, ovine or caprine animals and does not contain and is not derived from
     • either bovine, ovine and caprine materials other than those derived from animals born, continuously reared and slaughtered in a country or region classified as posing a negligible BSE risk in accordance with Decision 2007/453/EC
     • or
       1. specified risk material as defined in point 1 of annex V to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council
       2. mechanically separated meat obtained from bones of bovine, ovine or caprine animals, except from those animals that were born, continuously reared and slaughtered in a country or region classified as posing a negligible BSE risk in accordance with Commission Decision 2007/453/EC, in which there has been no indigenous BSE case
       3. animal by-product or derived product obtained from bovine, ovine or caprine animals which have been killed, after stunning, by laceration of the central nervous tissue by means of an elongated rod-shaped instrument introduced into the cranial cavity, or by means of gas injected into the cranial cavity, except for those animals that were born, continuously reared and slaughtered in a country or region classified as posing a negligible BSE risk in accordance with Decision 2007/453/EC

Note: on December 10, 2021, the CFIA was informed that the EU will no longer allow the usage of Titanium Dioxide in feed and food additives (Regulation (EC) no 2090/2021 (PDF)).

European definition of SRM (point 1 of annex V to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council): the following tissues shall be designated as specified risk material if they come from animals whose origin is in a Member State or third country or of 1 of their region with a controlled or undetermined BSE risk

1. as regards bovine animals
   1. i. the skull excluding the mandible and including the brain and eyes, and the spinal cord of animals aged over 12 months
   2. ii. the vertebral column excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the spinous and transverse processes of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae and the median sacral crest and wings of the sacrum, but including the dorsal root ganglia, of animals aged over 30 months; and
   3. iii. the tonsils, the last 4 metres of the small intestine, the caecum and the mesentery of animals of all ages
2. as regards ovine and caprine animals: the skull, including the brain and eyes, and the spinal cord of animals aged over 12 months or which have a permanent incisor erupted through the gum, or aged over 12 months as estimated by a method approved by the competent authority of the Member State of slaughter

Agreement of CFIA with third countries for additional certification

Note: the CFIA has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA (USA) and the Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentación (SAGARPA) (Mexico) to issue additional certification to Canadian import requirements for export of animal origin materials (by-products, meals, fish meal and fish oil) from those countries to Canada for the manufacture of pet food (in Canada) which will be exported to third countries (EU, Russia and Ukraine).

EU

Current agreements for imported ingredients

• 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
• 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

For any other imported ingredient not covered by these agreements, contact the CFIA district veterinarian to find out how to proceed.

Georgia

Note: pet food containing more than 0.8% of genetically modified organisms (GMO) must be labelled as a product that contains GMO material.

On November 18, 2021, the CFIA received notification that Georgia has adopted the regulations (EU 1069-2009 and EU 142-2001) related to the animal by-products. New certificates must be used as of Oct 1st, 2021. Pet food facilities need to be inspected and approved for export to EU. Georgia has shared the following definitions.

Wild animal

any animal not kept by humans

Pet animal

any animal belonging to species normally nourished and kept but not consumed, by humans for purposes other than farming.

Aquatic animals

fish belonging to the superclass Agnatha and to the classes Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes; mollusk belonging to the type of Phylum Mollusca; crustacean belonging to the subtype of Subphylum Crustacea;.

• Certificate HA3001 – for canned pet food
• Certificate HA3166 – for processed pet food other than canned pet food (dry pet food)

The import requirements are the same as those of the European Union mentioned above previously.

Great Britain, Channel Islands and Isle of Man

Notes

In cases where a shipment is rejected at the port of entry due to errors in the export certificate, a replacement certificate may only be issued if the errors are limited to administrative mistakes in part I of the certificate. However, if part II of the certificate – comprising the attestation and certification sections filled by the CFIA – contains errors, the issuance of a replacement certificate will not be permitted by Great Britain authorities. The options for addressing the affected shipment will be communicated to the exporter by Great Britain officials and may include, but not limited to, the destruction of the shipment or its return to Canada.

Since April 1, 2021, the following certificates must be used for all exports to Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

• Certificate HA3098 – for flavouring innards for use in the manufacture of pet food
• Certificate HA3099 – for animal by-products for the manufacture of pet food
• Certificate HA3100 – for processed pet food other than canned pet food (dry pet food)
• Certificate HA3101 – for canned pet food
• Certificate HA3102 – for pet chews
• Certificate HA3103 – for raw pet food

The import requirements are the same as those of the European Union mentioned previously.

References to Great Britain in this certificate include Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

References to European Union legislation within this certificate are references to direct EU legislation which has been retained in Great Britain (retained EU law as defined in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018).

List of establishments in non-EU countries approved to export animal products to Great Britain

Moldova

The following certificates must be used for all exports to Moldova.

• Certificate HA3237 – for processed pet food other than canned pet food (dry pet food)
• Certificate HA3236 – for canned pet food

The import requirements are the same as those of the European Union mentioned previously.

Russia (certificate HA2823)

Note: a provisional procedure is in place since December 6, 2017 for the export certification for live animals, animal products and by-products (including pet food) to Russia. Contact your local CFIA Animal Health district office for more information.

1. The above mentioned products of animal origin were manufactured in the establishments, which fulfill the necessary veterinary health requirements, authorized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for supplying product for export and are under the supervision of the Canadian Veterinary Service
2. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the pet foods are manufactured from raw materials derived from animals (including birds) originating from the premises and administrative territories, officially free from contagious diseases of the animals (including birds), namely:
   • African swine fever, African horse sickness, pest in camel and rinderpest – during 3 years in the country
   • Foot-and-mouth disease, sheep pox, and goat pox and contagious bovine pleuropneumonia – during 12 months in the administrative unit
3. Processed animal proteins used in the manufacture of the pet foods have been derived from material which has been processed in an authorized inedible rendering plant and has been heated throughout its substance to a temperature 133°C not less than 20 minutes at a pressure of 3 bars or processed according to an officially approved alternative heat treatment system achieving equivalent bacteriological security and random samples comply with the following standards:
   • Clostridium perfringens: absence in 1 g
   • Salmonella: absence in 25 g, n=5, c=0,m=0, M=0
   • Enterobacteriaceae: n=5, c=2,m=10, M=300 in 1g
4. The pet foods are not manufactured by using beef, beef by-products, other raw materials derived from bovine as well as meat-bone meal which originate from Great Britain and from administrative territories of other countries which were not free from bovine spongiform encephalopathy
5. Processed animal proteins and/or other components of the pet foods were subjected to heat treatment with the temperature not less than 90°C internal temperature during the manufacture of the pet foods
6. Random samples of the finished product were found to comply with the following standards:
   • Salmonella: 0 in 25g
   • total plate count: 500,000 in 1g
7. The end product was packed in new material and satisfies the necessary sanitary requirements
8. Means of transport are treated and prepared in accordance either the rules approved in the exporting country

Note: processed animal proteins (meals) do not need to be tested for Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella spp or Enterobacteriaceae as indicated on the export certificate if they are heat treated in a way that destroy all pathogens of concern provided that the finished product is tested for those pathogens and the results are negatives. For Clostridium perfringens, a result of less than (<) 10 CFU/gram is considered an absence for export of pet food to Russia.

Agreement of CFIA with third countries for additional certification

Note: the CFIA has reached an agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture USDA (USA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA (USA) and the SAGARPA (Mexico) to issue additional certification to Canadian import requirements for export of animal origin materials (by-products, meals, fish meal and fish oil) from those countries to Canada for the manufacture of pet food (in Canada) which will be exported to third countries (EU, Russia and Ukraine).

Russia

Current agreement for imported ingredients

Inedible Animal By-Products Exported from the U.S. to Canada for the Manufacture of Pet Food (in Canada) for Export to the Russian Federation

For any other imported ingredient not covered by these agreements, contact the CFIA district veterinarian to find out how to proceed.

Switzerland

Same conditions as EU.

Türkiye

Note: there is zero tolerance to GMO and its traces.

The requirements are the same as those for the European Union mentioned above.

List of approved GMO events

• Certificate HA2753 – for canned pet food
• Certificate HA2754 – for processed pet food other than canned pet food (dry pet food)
• Certificate HA2755 – for pet chews
• Certificate HA3081 – for animal by-product for pet food manufacturing

Ukraine

Notes

On January 19, 2024, a new legislation for the registration of feed additives will get into force. All ingredients must be registered either in Ukraine or in the EU. The producers are responsible to ensure that the registration is done before the exportation to avoid issues at the border.

The facility must be approved and registered for export to Ukraine (Register of countries and facilities from which import (sending) of products into the customs territory of Ukraine) or in the EU (TRACES NT). All supplying, processing and storing establishments must meet Ukrainian requirements that are aligned to the EU regulations. However, exporters don't need to be listed in TRACES-NT. To achieve this, the generic checklist must be completed during the annual inspection. For more information, contact your local CFIA district office.

Dry pet food (HA2827)

1. They were prepared and stored in a certified plant approved by the competent authority
2. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates, invoices and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the raw material comes from animals that originate from countries that are either negligible or controlled risk for BSE in accordance with requirements of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code
3. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (health certificates) certifying that the ovine and caprine raw material originates from countries that are free of scrapie
4. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates, invoices and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the raw material comes from animals that have passed an ante-mortem inspection and did not show clinical signs of anthrax and brucellosis
5. They were prepared using only the animal by-products listed at the item III of the certificate
6. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates, invoices and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the processed pet food does not contain or is not derived from:

   1. specified risk material or mechanically separated meat from the bones of bovine, caprine and ovine animals

      The animals from which processed pet food is derived were not slaughtered/killed by means of gas injected into the cranial cavity after stunning or laceration of central nervous tissue after stunning by means of elongated rod-shaped instrument introduced into the cranial cavity;
      or

   2. materials other than the materials from bovine, ovine or caprine animals, which were born, reared and slaughtered in a country or region with a classified negligible BSE risk in accordance with the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code
7. The dry pet food:
   1. was subjected to a heat treatment of at least 90°C throughout the whole substance or to a drying or fermentation process authorized by the competent authority of the country of origin, or (in case of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates other than species pathogenic to humans or animals) be subjected to a treatment which is authorized by the competent authority of the country of origin and ensures that pet food does not pose hazard to human or animal health
      or
   2. was produced exclusively from ingredients listed in item IV of the certificate
8. The processed pet food does not contain any milk or milk product of ovine or caprine origin except from a country recognized as scrapie free
9. After processing, the end product has been stored in a manner ensuring that no contamination or infection of the product with pathogenic agents of diseases communicable to humans or animals will take place

10. Processed pet food has been packed in new packaging

    In case processed pet food is dispatched in ready-for-sale packages, it is clearly indicated that their content is solely intended to feed pets. Such packages bear a label with "not for human consumption" indication.

Canned pet food (HA2986)

1. They were prepared and stored in a certified plant approved by the competent authority
2. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates, invoices and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the raw material comes from animals that originate from countries that are either negligible or controlled risk for BSE in accordance with requirements of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code
3. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the ovine and caprine raw material originates from countries that are free of scrapie
4. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates, invoices and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the raw material comes from animals that have passed an ante-mortem inspection and did not show clinical signs of anthrax and brucellosis
5. They were prepared using only the animal by-products listed at the item IV of the certificate
6. The facility has in its possession the supporting documents (traceability certificates, invoices and health certificates for imported ingredients) certifying that the processed pet food does not contain or is not derived from:

   1. specified risk material or mechanically separated meat from the bones of bovine, caprine and ovine animals

      The animals from which processed pet food is derived were not slaughtered/killed by means of gas injected into the cranial cavity after stunning or laceration of central nervous tissue after stunning by means of elongated rod-shaped instrument introduced into the cranial cavity
      or

   2. materials other than the materials from bovine, ovine or caprine animals, which were born, reared and slaughtered in a country or region with a classified negligible BSE risk in accordance with the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code
7. The canned pet food was subjected to heat treatment to a minimum of F₀ value of 3 in hermetically sealed containers
8. The processed pet food does not contain any milk or milk product of ovine or caprine origin except originating from a country recognized as scrapie free
9. After processing, the end product has been stored in a manner ensuring that no contamination or infection of the product with pathogenic agents of diseases communicable to humans or animals will take place

Agreement of CFIA with third countries for additional certification

Note: the CFIA has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA (USA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA (USA) and the SAGARPA (Mexico) to issue additional certification to Canadian import requirements for export of animal origin materials (by-products, meals, fish meal and fish oil) from those countries to Canada for the manufacture of pet food (in Canada) which will be exported to third countries (EU, Russia and Ukraine).

Ukraine

Current agreement for imported ingredients

Inedible Animal By-Products Exported from the US to Canada for the Manufacture of Pet Food (in Canada) for Export to Ukraine

For any other imported ingredient not covered by these agreements, contact the CFIA district veterinarian to find out how to proceed.