Effective January 15, 2022, exporters for food and animal commodities destined for the European Union (EU) where certification is required under the EU Animal Health Law are required to use export certificates accessed through the Trade Control and Expert System New Technology (TRACES NT).
Exceptions include the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) form Certificate of Free Sale (CFIA/ACIA 5786) and the Animal Health Certificate for Entry into the Union of Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets: In-Transit and Commercial Movements (Model 'Canis-Felis-Ferrets'), HA 3169.
For information on the requirements and certification of in-transit and commercial movements of dogs, cats and ferrets to the EU, consult Export of dogs, cats, and ferrets to the European Union and Northern Ireland: In-transit commercial movements.
The objective of the export program is to ensure that only healthy animals and animal products and by-products which meet the import health requirements of an importing country are exported from Canada. Live animals must be fit for the entirety of the journey and be transported in a humane manner. Livestock and poultry transport in Canada has additional information for those loading, unloading or transporting animals.
A list of valid export certificates for animals and birds can be found on the following links. If you are planning an export, please contact the Animal health offices in your area to get a copy of the export conditions and verify that the export certificate is still valid, that it applies to your export, and that there are no disease outbreaks or other events that have suspended exports. Please note that export conditions from some of the certificates to the USA are provided for information purposes only.
Export of live cattle and bison to the United States (US)
Exporters of live cattle and bison to the US can apply for export certificates electronically through My CFIA. To access export certificates, industry members should:
- sign up for My CFIA
- create and validate a profile
- become familiar with the system
My CFIA is a secure and convenient online entry point to CFIA services. By requesting and obtaining your export certificate online, you can save time and avoid the need to drive, email or apply in-person at a local CFIA office. Submit your service request, pay for and receive your export certificate through this portal, which you can use to track, manage, copy and reuse your application requests.
Exporters will need to enroll and invite their Alternative Service Provider (ASP) of choice to be a Party ASP before submitting a request for export inspection and certification of your shipment. Accredited veterinarians are ASPs. They will not be able to complete any service requests without first being invited by you, the exporter.
Electronically signed or issued CFIA certificates can be authenticated using the online viewer, see Authenticate a Canadian export certificate.
Live animals
Animal health certificates
- Pets (Dogs, cats and ferrets)
- Birds
- Bovine
- Camelidae
- Caprine / Ovine
- Cervids
- Embryos
- Horses
- Other
- Porcine
- Semen
Policies
Animal products
Animal health certificates
Policies
Notices
- 2024-06-17 – Notice to industry: Suspension of export to the United States using export certificate HA1891 (farmed cervids)
- 2023-08-23 – Notice to industry: Verification of farmed cervids for export to the United States using export certificate HA1891
- 2022-09-27 – Notice to industry: Service fee cap extended for certain animal health export certificates
- 2021-07-29 – Exporting food and animal products to the European Union
- 2020-09-15 – Notice to industry: Service fee cap extended for certain animal health export certificates
- 2020-02-05 – Notice to the industry: New ABP approval number
- 2019-10-10 – Notice to industry: Service fee cap extended for certain animal health export certificates
- 2018-08-16 – Notice to industry: Changes to requirements for export to the US of animal consumption material other than shelf-stable thermally processed pet food, treats and chews