An overview of how the licensing, preventive controls, preventive control plan and traceability requirements under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) apply based on the food business activities you conduct by food commodity.
On this page
- Dairy products
- Eggs and processed egg products
- Fish
- Fresh fruit or vegetables
- Processed fruit or vegetable products
- Meat products and food animals
- Honey
- Maple products
- Alcoholic beverages
- Food additives
- Foods used as grain, oil, pulse, sugar or beverage
- Other foods
- Dates the requirements came into force
- Related information
Overview of key SFCR requirements: Dairy products
Find out if the licensing, preventive controls, preventive control plan (PCP) and traceability requirements under the SFCR apply to you based on the activities you conduct in relation to dairy products.
If you conduct more than one activity, make sure to review the requirements for each activity listed in column one that you do.
"Yes" means required.
"No" means not applicable or not required.
| Activity Table Note 1 | Licensing | Preventive controls | PCP | Traceability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label dairy products for interprovincial trade | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label dairy products for export | Yes | Yes | No Table Note 2 | Yes |
| You interprovincially trade dairy products | No | No | No | Yes |
| You export dairy products |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 3 |
No |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 3 |
Yes |
| You import dairy products | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| You sell dairy products to consumers at retail within your province or territory | No | No | No | Yes |
Overview of key SFCR requirements: Egg and processed egg products
Find out if the licensing, preventive controls, preventive control plan (PCP) and traceability requirements under the SFCR apply to you based on the activities you conduct in relation to eggs and processed egg products.
If you conduct more than one activity, make sure to review the requirements for each activity listed in column one that you do.
"Yes" means required.
"No" means not applicable or not required.
| Activity Table Note 1 | Licensing | Preventive controls | PCP | Traceability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label eggs or processed egg products for interprovincial trade | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label eggs or processed egg products for export | Yes | Yes | No Table Note 2 | Yes |
| You interprovincially trade eggs or processed egg products | No | No | No | Yes |
| You export eggs or processed egg products |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 3 |
No |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 3 |
Yes |
| You import eggs or processed egg products | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| You sell eggs or processed egg products to consumers at retail within your province or territory | No | No | No | Yes |
Overview of key SFCR requirements: Fish
Find out if the licensing, preventive controls, preventive control plan (PCP) and traceability requirements under the SFCR apply to you based on the activities you conduct in relation to fish.
If you conduct more than one activity, make sure to review the requirements for each activity listed in column one that you do.
"Yes" means required.
"No" means not applicable or not required.
| Activity Table Note 1 | Licensing | Preventive controls | PCP | Traceability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You handle fish on a conveyance that are for interprovincial trade | No | Yes | No | No Table Note 2 |
| You handle fish on a conveyance that are for export | No | Yes | No | No Table Note 3 |
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label fish for interprovincial trade | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label fish for export | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| You interprovincially trade fish | No | No | No | Yes |
| You export fish |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 4 |
No |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 4 |
Yes |
| You import fish | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| You sell fish to consumers at retail within your province or territory | No | No | No | Yes |
Overview of key SFCR requirements: Fresh fruits or vegetables
Find out if the licensing, preventive controls, preventive control plan (PCP) and traceability requirements under the SFCR apply to you based on the activities you conduct in relation to fresh fruits or vegetables.
If you conduct more than one activity, make sure to review the requirements for each activity listed in column one that you do.
"Yes" means required.
"No" means not applicable or not required.
| Activity Table Note 1 | Licensing | Preventive Controls | PCP | Traceability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You grow or harvest fresh fruits or vegetables for interprovincial trade | No | Yes |
Yes, if your gross annual food sales are greater than $100,000 Table Note 2 No, if your gross annual food sales are $100,000 or less Table Note 2 |
Yes |
| You grow or harvest fresh fruits or vegetables for export | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| You package and label fresh fruits or vegetables in the field for interprovincial trade |
Yes, if they will not be subsequently manufactured, processed, treated, preserved or graded by a licence holder in another province No, if they will be subsequently manufactured, processed, treated, preserved or graded by a licence holder in another province |
Yes |
Yes, if your gross annual food sales are greater than $100,000 Table Note 2 No, if your gross annual food sales are $100,000 or less Table Note 2 |
Yes |
| You package and label fresh fruits or vegetables in the field for export | Yes | Yes | No Table Note 3 | Yes |
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label fresh fruits or vegetables for interprovincial trade | Yes | Yes |
Yes, if your gross annual food sales are greater than $100,000 Table Note 2 No, if your gross annual food sales are $100,000 or less Table Note 2 |
Yes |
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label fresh fruits or vegetables for export | Yes | Yes | No Table Note 3 | Yes |
| You interprovincially trade fresh fruits or vegetables | No | No | No | Yes |
| You export fresh fruits or vegetables |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 4 |
No |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 4 |
Yes |
| You import fresh fruits or vegetables | Yes | Yes |
Yes, if your gross annual food sales are greater than $100,000 Table Note 2 No, if your gross annual food sales are $100,000 or less Table Note 2 |
Yes |
| You sell fresh fruits or vegetables to consumers at retail within your province or territory | No | No | No | Yes |
Overview of key requirements: Processed fruit or vegetable products
Find out if the licensing, preventive controls, preventive control plan (PCP) and traceability requirements under the SFCR apply to you based on the activities you conduct in relation to processed fruit or vegetable products.
If you conduct more than one activity, make sure to review the requirements for each activity listed in column one that you do.
"Yes" means required.
"No" means not applicable or not required.
| Activity Table Note 1 | Licensing | Preventive controls | PCP | Traceability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label processed fruit or vegetable products for interprovincial trade | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label processed fruit or vegetable products for export | Yes | Yes | No Table Note 2 | Yes |
| You interprovincially trade processed fruit or vegetable products | No | No | No | Yes |
| You export processed fruit or vegetable products |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 3 |
No |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 3 |
Yes |
| You import processed fruit or vegetable products | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| You sell processed fruit or vegetable products to consumers at retail within your province or territory | No | No | No | Yes |
Overview of key SFCR requirements: Meat products and food animals
Find out if the licensing, preventive controls, preventive control plan (PCP) and traceability requirements under the SFCR apply to you based on the activities you conduct in relation to meat products and food animals.
If you conduct more than one activity, make sure to review the requirements for each activity listed in column one that you do.
"Yes" means required.
"No" means not applicable or not required.
| Activity Table Note 1 | Licensing | Preventive controls | PCP | Traceability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You slaughter food animals for interprovincial trade | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| You slaughter food animals for export | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, package or label meat products for interprovincial trade | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, package or label meat products for export | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| You grade livestock or poultry carcasses Table Note 2 | No | No | No | No |
| You interprovincially trade meat products | No | No | No | Yes |
| You export meat products |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 3 |
No |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 3 |
Yes |
| You import meat products | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| You store and handle edible meat products in their imported condition for inspection by the CFIA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| You sell meat products to consumers at retail within your province or territory | No | No | No | Yes |
Overview of key SFCR requirements: Honey
Find out if the licensing, preventive controls, preventive control plan (PCP) and traceability requirements under the SFCR apply to you based on the activities you conduct in relation to honey.
If you conduct more than one activity, make sure to review the requirements for each activity listed in column one that you do.
"Yes" means required.
"No" means not applicable or not required.
| Activity Table Note 1 | Licensing | Preventive controls | PCP | Traceability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label honey for interprovincial trade | Yes | Yes |
Yes, if your gross annual food sales are greater than $100,000 Table Note 2 No, if your gross annual food sales are $100,000 or less Table Note 2 |
Yes |
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label honey for export | Yes | Yes | No Table Note 3 | Yes |
| You interprovincially trade honey | No | No | No | Yes |
| You export honey |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 4 |
No |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 4 |
Yes |
| You import honey | Yes | Yes |
Yes, if your gross annual food sales are greater than $100,000 Table Note 2 No, if your gross annual food sales are $100,000 or less Table Note 2 |
Yes |
| You sell honey to consumers at retail within your province or territory | No | No | No | Yes |
Overview of key SFCR requirements: Maple products
Find out if the licensing, preventive controls, preventive control plan (PCP) and traceability requirements under the SFCR apply to you based on the activities you conduct in relation to maple products.
If you conduct more than one activity, make sure to review the requirements for each activity listed in column one that you do.
"Yes" means required.
"No" means not applicable or not required.
| Activity Table Note 1 | Licensing | Preventive controls | PCP | Traceability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label maple products for interprovincial trade | Yes | Yes |
Yes, if your gross annual food sales are greater than $100,000 Table Note 2 No, if your gross annual food sales are $100,000 or less Table Note 2 |
Yes |
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label maple products for export | Yes | Yes | No Table Note 3 | Yes |
| You interprovincially trade maple products | No | No | No | Yes |
| You export maple products |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 4 |
No |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 4 |
Yes |
| You import maple products | Yes | Yes |
Yes, if your gross annual food sales are greater than $100,000 Table Note 2 No, if your gross annual food sales are $100,000 or less Table Note 2 |
Yes |
| You sell maple products to consumers at retail within your province or territory | No | No | No | Yes |
Overview of key SFCR requirements: Alcoholic beverages
Find out if the licensing, preventive controls, preventive control plan (PCP) and traceability requirements under the SFCR apply to you based on the activities you conduct in relation to alcoholic beverages.
If you conduct more than one activity, make sure to review the requirements for each activity listed in column one that you do.
"Yes" means required.
"No" means not applicable or not required.
| Activity Table Note 1 | Licensing | Preventive Controls | PCP | Traceability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, package or label alcoholic beverages for interprovincial trade | No | No | No | No |
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, package or label alcoholic beverages for export | No | No | No | No |
| You interprovincially trade alcoholic beverages | No | No | No | Yes |
| You export alcoholic beverages |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 2 |
No |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 2 |
Yes |
| You import alcoholic beverages | No | No | No | Yes |
| You sell alcoholic beverages to consumers at retail within your province or territory | No | No | No | Yes |
Overview of key SFCR requirements: Food additives
Find out if the licensing, preventive controls, preventive control plan (PCP) and traceability requirements of the SFCR apply to you based on the activities you conduct in relation to food additives.
If you conduct more than one activity, make sure to review the requirements for each activity listed in column one that you do.
"Yes" means required.
"No" means not applicable or not required.
| Activity Table Note 1 | Licensing | Preventive Controls | PCP | Traceability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, package or label food additives for interprovincial trade | No | No | No | No |
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, package or label food additives for export | No | No | No | No |
| You interprovincially trade food additives | No | No | No | Yes |
| You export food additives |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 2 |
No |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 2 |
Yes |
| You import food additives | No | No | No | Yes |
| You sell food additives to consumers at retail | No | No | No | Yes |
Overview of key SFCR requirements: Foods used as grain, oil, pulse, sugar or beverage
Foods used as grain, oil, pulse, sugar or beverage are listed in Schedule 1 of the SFCR.
Find out if the licensing, preventive controls, preventive control plan (PCP) and traceability requirements of the SFCR apply to you based on the activities you conduct in relation to these foods.
If you conduct more than one activity, make sure to review the requirements for each activity listed in column one that you do.
"Yes" means required.
"No" means not applicable or not required.
| Activity Table Note 1 | Licensing | Preventive Controls | PCP | Traceability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You manufacture, process, treat or preserve the food for interprovincial trade | Yes | Yes |
Yes, if your gross annual food sales are greater than $100,000 Table Note 2 No, if your gross annual food sales are $100,000 or less Table Note 2 |
Yes |
| You package or label the food in consumer prepackages for interprovincial trade | Yes | Yes |
Yes, if your gross annual food sales are greater than $100,000 Table Note 2 No, if your gross annual food sales are $100,000 or less Table Note 2 |
Yes |
| You package or label the food in prepackages other than consumer prepackages for interprovincial trade |
Yes, if the food does not meet the conditions for the exception described in SFCR 7(2)(a)(i)(B) Table Note 3 No, if the food meets the conditions for the exception described in SFCR 7(2)(a)(i)(B) Table Note 3 |
Yes, if you have a licence to conduct the activity No, if you do not have a licence to conduct the activity |
Yes, if you have a licence to conduct the activity and your gross annual food sales are greater than $100,000 Table Note 2 No, if you have a licence to conduct the activity and your gross annual food sales are $100,000 or less Table Note 2 No, if you do not have a licence to conduct the activity |
Yes, if you have a licence to conduct the activity No, if you do not have a licence to conduct the activity |
| You manufacture, process, treat or preserve the food for export | Yes | Yes | No Table Note 5 | Yes |
| You package or label the food in consumer prepackages for export | Yes | Yes | No Table Note 5 | Yes |
| You package or label the food in prepackages other than consumer prepackages for export |
Yes, if the food does not meet the conditions for the exception described in SFCR 7(2)(a)(i)(B) Table Note 3 No, if the food meets the conditions for the exception described in SFCR 7(2)(a)(i)(B) Table Note 3 |
Yes, if you have a licence to conduct the activity No, if you do not have a licence to conduct the activity |
No Table Note 5 |
Yes, if you have a licence to conduct the activity No, if you do not have a licence to conduct the activity |
| You interprovincially trade the food | No | No | No | Yes |
| You export the food |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 6 |
No |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 6 |
Yes |
| You import the food |
Yes, if the food does not meet the conditions for the exception described in SFCR 11(2)(c) Table Note 4 No, if the food meets the conditions for the exception described in SFCR 11(2)(c) Table Note 4 |
Yes, if you have a licence to conduct the activity No, if you do not have a licence to conduct the activity |
Yes, if you have a licence to conduct the activity and your gross annual food sales are greater than $100,000 Table Note 2 No, if you have a licence to conduct the activity and your gross annual food sales are $100,000 or less Table Note 2 No, if you do not have a licence to conduct the activity |
Yes |
| You sell the food to consumers at retail within your province or territory | No | No | No | Yes |
Overview of key SFCR requirements: Other foods
For the purpose of this section, "other foods" refers to any food other than:
- dairy products
- eggs
- processed egg products
- fish
- fresh fruits or vegetables
- processed fruit or vegetable products
- honey
- maple products
- meat products
- alcoholic beverages
- food additives
- foods used as grain, oil, pulse, sugar and beverages (listed in Schedule 1 of the SFCR)
Find out if the licensing, preventive controls, preventive control plan (PCP) and traceability requirements of the SFCR apply to you based on the activities you conduct in relation to the food.
If you conduct more than one activity, make sure to review the requirements for each activity listed in column one that you do.
"Yes" means required.
"No" means not applicable or not required.
| Activity Table Note 1 | Licensing | Preventive Controls | PCP | Traceability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label the food for interprovincial trade | Yes | Yes |
Yes, if your gross annual food sales are greater than $100,000 Table Note 2 No, if your gross annual food sales are $100,000 or less Table Note 2 |
Yes |
| You manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label the food for export | Yes | Yes | No Table Note 3 | Yes |
| You interprovincially trade the food | No | No | No | Yes |
| You export the food |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 4 |
No |
No, if you do not need an export certificate Yes, if you need an export certificate Table Note 4 |
Yes |
| You import the food | Yes | Yes |
Yes, if your gross annual food sales are greater than $100,000 Table Note 2 No, if your gross annual food sales are $100,000 or less Table Note 2 |
Yes |
| You sell the food to consumers at retail within your province or territory | No | No | No | Yes |
Dates the requirements came into force
Find out when the SFCR requirements came into force by food commodity.
| Food commodity | Licensing | Preventive controls | Preventive control plan | Traceability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy products | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 |
| Eggs and processed egg products | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 |
| Fish | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 |
| Fresh fruits or vegetables | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 Table Note 1 |
| Processed fruit or vegetable products | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 |
| Honey | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 |
| Maple products | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 |
| Meat products and food animals | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 | January 15, 2019 |
| Alcoholic beverages | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | July 15, 2020 |
| Food additives | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | July 15, 2020 |
| Foods used as grain, oil, pulse, sugar or beverage (listed in Schedule 1 of the SFCR) | July 15, 2020 |
July 15, 2020, if your gross annual sales are greater than $100,000 and you have more than 4 employees July 16, 2021, if your gross annual sales are equal to or less than $100,000 or you have 4 employees or less |
July 15, 2020, if your gross annual sales are greater than $100,000 and you have more than 4 employees July 16, 2021, if your gross annual sales are equal to or less than $100,000 or you have 4 employees or less |
July 15, 2020 |
| Other foods Table Note 2 | July 15, 2020 |
July 15, 2020, if your gross annual sales are greater than $100,000 and you have more than 4 employees July 16, 2021, if your gross annual sales are equal to or less than $100,000 or you have 4 employees or less |
July 15, 2020, if your gross annual sales are greater than $100,000 and you have more than 4 employees July 16, 2021, if your gross annual sales are equal to or less than $100,000 or you have 4 employees or less |
July 15, 2020 |