Six-month extension for approved facilities to continue to export animal products

2020-04-17

During the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is prioritizing its critical inspections. In an effort to safeguard employee health while ensuring program and service delivery, the CFIA has reached a temporary agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) around export and import of animal products between the two countries. It takes effect immediately and runs until September 30, 2020.

Under the agreement, the CFIA and the USDA have granted a six-month extension to allow approved facilities to continue to export certain animal products, by-products and pet foods. As a result, some pending annual inspections are postponed until after the temporary agreement expires. The extension is for no-change renewals only. New facilities, new permits and amendments to permits will continue to require a new or revised inspection.

It is expected that this agreement will help to maintain the bilateral trade flow of animal products during the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Six-month extension agreement

Exporting animal products, by-products and pet food to the U.S. from Canada

CFIA Facility Inspection Checklist

For animal products, by-products and pet food facilities in Canada that require a CFIA Facility Inspection Checklist (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy [BSE] Questionnaire) to export to the U.S., the checklist will be valid for up to six months after it is signed by a CFIA veterinary inspector.

New facilities, new permits and amendments to permits will need a new or revised checklist.

CFIA-issued export certificates

Export certificates for animal products, by-products and pet food will continue to be endorsed by the CFIA for up to six months past the inspection validity expiration date. This extension applies only to renewals with no changes.

Veterinary Services Special Authorization Letters

Facilities that produce thermally processed pet food and require Veterinary Services (VS) Special Authorization Letters to export their products to the U.S. must directly request the extension of these authorization letters by emailing their current letter(s) to NCIE.Inspection.Docs@usda.gov.

Importing animal products and pet food to Canada from the U.S.

USDA APHIS facility inspection

For animal products, by-products and pet food facilities in the U.S. that require a USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) facility inspection for a CFIA import permit to be issued, the agreement grants a six-month extension on the date the permit is valid without re-inspection.

USDA-issued export certificates

Export certificates will continue to be endorsed by the USDA for up to six months past the inspection validity expiration date.

This extension applies only to renewals with no changes. New facilities, new permits and amendments to permits will require a new or revised inspection.