On this page
- Overview
- Standards of identity and grades
- Labelling requirements
- Import requirements for specific dairy products
- Tariff rate quota and import permits
- Resources
Overview
Importers are responsible for ensuring that they import milk and dairy products that meet all applicable food safety and consumer protection requirements outlined in the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) and the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR).
The Health of Animals Act restricts the importation of milk products from countries where the presence of animal diseases pose a threat to Canadian agriculture and health. Depending on the country of origin, there are certain requirements that must be met in order to import milk products that carry the risk of introducing foot-and-mouth disease into Canada. In most cases you will be required to obtain a zoosanitary export certificate that describes the product and country of origin of the animals from which the milk is obtained. Detailed information on these requirements can be found on the Animal Health Terrestrial Animal Products and By-products: Import Policy Framework page.
Standards of identity and grades
- Canadian Standards of Identity Volume 1, Dairy Products
- Canadian Grade Compendium Volume 4, Dairy Products
- Dairy Products Grade Designations for Imported Food (items 1-2 in the table)
Labelling requirements
- Labelling requirements for dairy products
- Units of Measurement for the Net Quantity Declaration of Certain Foods
Import requirements for specific dairy products
Tariff rate quota and import permits
Dairy products are one of the many agricultural commodities that are subject to controls under Canada's Export and Imports Permit Act (EIPA). Accordingly, an import permit is required for shipments of dairy products to enter Canada. Import permits for shipments of dairy products destined to the Canadian market are issued to allocation holders under Canada's tariff rate quota (TRQ) for dairy products, which is administered by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). Meaning that under the EIPA, a quota holder can import a specific quantity of dairy products at a lower rate of duty while imports not covered by a quota are subject to higher rates of duty. Further information regarding the importation of dairy products can be found on found on the GAC webpage for Dairy products.