Third party representation in My CFIA

How to set up a third-party relationship (for example, a business completing applications on behalf of another business) in My CFIA.

On this page

• About third-party relationships
• Before you start as a third party
• How to establish a third-party relationship
• How to make an export service request as a third party
• How to pay for an export service request as a third party
• How to disable a third-party relationship
• Terms of Use: enabling a party-to-party relationship to request and pay for services in My CFIA

About third party relationships

A third-party relationship means that a business can complete the administrative steps of a service request on behalf of another business (that is, a represented party) in My CFIA. The represented party and third party can be any business with a valid My CFIA party profile.

Third parties have a restricted level of access to the represented party's profile and can only view limited information. They cannot:

• modify the represented party's profile information
• access inspection reports
• view any service requests submitted under the party profile of the represented party on their own behalf

The third party may pay for each service request themselves or direct the invoice to the represented party, depending on what the parties have determined works best for them.

A represented party can:

• view and modify the activity of the third party by signing into their own My CFIA dashboard
• review the list of service requests and associated outcomes
• monitor email notifications outlining the progress of each service request

Before you start as a third party

To enable the flexibility in payment options, you must set up a CFIA billing account.

If you do not have a valid CFIA account number and wish to apply for one:

1. complete an Application for Credit (CFIA/ACIA 0015) form
2. email the form to ARCentre@inspection.gc.ca

You must also select a CFIA On-Account Number as your preferred method of payment. Setting the billing number as the default payment option lessens the risk of payment disputes between parties and ensures export service requests can proceed without delays.

You will be prompted to assign payment to yourself (the third party) or the represented party for each export service request. We strongly encourage both parties in a third-party business arrangement to determine the terms and conditions of your commercial relationship, including payment preferences, before enabling a My CFIA party to party relationship.

How to establish a third-party relationship

To create the link between 2 parties in My CFIA, you will need to manage your party profile.

The represented party must invite the other party to act on their behalf. Third parties cannot seek out represented parties in My CFIA.

By accepting the invitation, the third-party representative and its employees will be able to use My CFIA online services to complete the following actions on behalf of the represented party:

• submit service requests
• edit and view outcomes of service requests they have submitted
• pay for service requests

For more information, see the full Terms of Use.

How to make an export service request as a third party

1. Log into your My CFIA account
2. Choose the party profile enabled to do work as a third party in your My CFIA dashboard
3. Press "Select"
4. Choose a represented party in your My CFIA dashboard
5. Press "Select"
6. The filtered My CFIA dashboard will show service requests, invoices and issued export certificates

You may add any number of party contacts to your My CFIA profile, so that employees of the same third-party business can collaborate to complete service requests. Only the party contacts associated to a specific party profile will be able to view and submit service requests on behalf of that party profile and the associated represented party profile.

How to pay for an export service request as the third party

Set up a CFIA billing account as your preferred billing option so export service requests can be processed without delays. Setting the billing number as the default payment option for the third party can also lessen the risk of payment disputes between parties.

When completing an online export service request, a new payment option will be presented to you. If you opt to pay for the service, an electronic invoice will be created naming your party as the payer. Or you may choose to assign payment to the represented party, who may then pay using their preferred method.

It is up to both parties to determine which payment option works best for their situation.

How to disable a third-party relationship

Either party may disable an active third-party relationship but this action is limited to principal contacts (that is, the Profile Manager, Profile Authority or Alternate Profile Manager) associated with either party.

To disable the My CFIA relationship between a third party and a represented party:

1. sign in to your My CFIA contact profile
2. navigate to "Manage Party"
3. select "Party to party relationships"
4. select edit and confirm the action

Note: disabling the connection in My CFIA severs the relationship between the 2 parties and triggers important consequences. At the time of severance, all export service requests, including ongoing and submitted service requests will be removed from the third party's dashboard and will be placed on hold for the represented party to action.

Terms of Use: enabling a party-to-party relationship to request and pay for services in My CFIA

Before offering or accepting an invitation to enable a Party-to-Party relationship in My CFIA, both parties must read and acknowledge the following Terms of Use.

1. I acknowledge that by clicking "confirm", I am inviting [third party representative] to use My CFIA online services on behalf of [represented party]. By accepting this invitation, [third party representative] and employees of [third party representative] will be able to use My CFIA online services to complete the following actions on behalf of [represented party]:
   • submit service requests
   • edit and view outcomes of service requests they have submitted
   • pay for service requests
2. I acknowledge that if regulatory requirements related to online service requests submitted on behalf of [represented party] are not met, enforcement actions may be initiated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) against the regulated party.
3. I acknowledge that, should I no longer wish for [third party] to use My CFIA services on behalf of [represented party] I can remove their access at any time.
4. At the time of submission, service requests on behalf of [represented party] may be invoiced to and paid for by the third party or the represented party. I acknowledge all outstanding invoices must be paid and that the ultimate responsibility for payment of CFIA fees resides with the represented party.