Regulatory requirements and licence conditions for importing pistachio products

December 2, 2025

This condition replaces Regulatory requirements and licence conditions for imported pistachios and pistachio products from Iran (September 2025) which was archived on December 2, 2025.

On this page

• Introduction
• Regulatory requirements
• SFC licence conditions
• Legislative authority

Introduction

Between July and December 2025, numerous pistachio products originating from the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran) were recalled in Canada due to Salmonella contamination.

An outbreak investigation is ongoing, led by the Public Health Agency of Canada, with multiple laboratory-confirmed cases of Salmonella infections reported. Numerous food recall notifications have been issued, all linked to pistachios originating from Iran and products made with Iranian pistachios.

As of December 2, 2025, CFIA will refuse entry of Iranian pistachios and pistachio products until further notice.

To mitigate the risk of Salmonella in pistachios, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is introducing new Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licence conditions for importing pistachios and pistachio products. These include:

• Proof of origin: If the consignment/shipment is from outside Iran, Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licence holders must obtain a proof of origin from the exporter or the competent authority in the exporting country demonstrating the products originate from a country other than Iran. The proof of origin must be included in the import declaration. If the proof of origin is not provided, the importer will be requested to re-submit the import declaration with proof of origin. If the proof of origin cannot be provided, the shipment will be refused entry into Canada.

Regulatory requirements

Pursuant to section 13(1)(e) of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR), importers are required to describe the food that they import, which includes using the appropriate HS-code for each import declaration.

The licence conditions apply to the following specific HS-OGD (harmonized commodity description and coding system – other government departments) extensions related to pistachios and pistachio products:

• 08.02.51-all OGD extensions Pistachios - In shell
• 08.02.52-all OGD extensions Pistachios - Shelled
• 11.06.30-7119-all OGD extensions Flour, meal and powder: Pistachio
• 20.07.99-721711 and 200799-721723 Pistachio: Paste, butter or spread
• 20.08.19-7203-all OGD extensions Preparations of pistachio

The above HS-OGD extensions related to pistachios and pistachio products from Iran are refused entry as of December 2, 2025. Failure to provide accurate import information (as per section 13 of the SFCR) may result in the incoming food(s) being seized and detained, destroyed and/or ordered removed from Canada. In addition, SFC licence holders who do not provide the required import information may be subject to other enforcement measures including having their SFC licence suspended or cancelled. For additional information on importing foods into Canada, refer to Food imports.

In addition, a person who imports food that is contaminated with Salmonella is in contravention of the Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) and the SFCR, including section 4 and subsections 10(3) of the SFCA and paragraph 8(1)(a) of the SFCR.

Pursuant to section 47 of the SFCR and in response to this hazard (presence of Salmonella in pistachios and pistachio products from Iran), licence holders are responsible for analyzing the risk to human health associated with these foods and for having control measures to prevent, eliminate or reduce that hazard. In accordance with sections 86, 88 and 89(1)(c) of the SFCR, licence holders must include, but are not limited to including, the detailed procedures to prevent or eliminate or reduce that hazard in their preventive control plan (PCP).

SFC licence conditions

To mitigate the risk of Salmonella in pistachio and pistachio products, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is implementing SFC licence conditions for importers who import these products into Canada.

Pursuant to subsection 20(3) of the SFCA and effective December 2, 2025 and until further notice, SFC licence holders who import pistachios and pistachio products listed under "Regulatory requirements" must:

• provide a proof of origin from the exporter or the competent authority in the exporting country declaring the country of origin of the pistachios and pistachio products, if the consignment/shipment is from outside Iran

According to subsection 20(4) of the SFCA, a licence holder must comply with all the conditions to which their licence is subject.

Proof of origin

For each shipment of imported pistachios and pistachio products, the SFC licence holder must provide a proof of origin issued by the exporter or the competent authority in the exporting country, confirming the origin of the pistachios. This documentation must be included in the import declaration.

If the proof of origin is not provided, the importer will be requested to re-submit the import declaration with proof of origin. If the proof of origin cannot be provided, the shipment will be refused entry into Canada.

The proof of origin:

• must be from the exporter on official company letterhead
• must include the signature of the exporter
• must include the date the letter was signed by the exporter
• must include the state and country where the pistachios were grown and harvested

or

• must be from the competent authority (CA) in the exporting country on official letterhead of the CA
• must include the signature of a CA official
• must include the date the letter was signed by the official
• must include the state and country where the pistachios were grown and harvested

Legislative authority

The SFC licence conditions are added pursuant to the following legislative authority.

Subsection 20(3) of the SFCA states: "The Minister may make a registration or licence subject to any additional conditions that the Minister considers appropriate."

The import requirements are based on the SFCA, the SFCR and the Food and Drugs Act (FDA), including the following legislative authority.

Section 8 of the SFCR, section 4 of the SFCA and section 4 of FDA.

Subsection 8(1) of the SFCR states:

Section 4 of the SFCA states: "It is prohibited for a person to import a food commodity the selling of which is prohibited under section 4 of the Food and Drugs Act."

Subsection 4(1) of the FDA states:

Failure to comply with the licence conditions and import requirements may result in enforcement action taken by the CFIA.