D-11-04: Grain Screening Pellet Export Program

Effective date:  September 9, 2025 (1st revision)

Grain screening pellets exported to the United States (U.S.) for all end uses other than as fuel, must be produced in a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) approved facility. This directive describes the:

  • process for Canadian processing facilities to apply and be approved by the CFIA to manufacture grain screening pellets for export to the U.S., and
  • specific requirements that must be met in the production of grain screening pellets in Canada to meet the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) phytosanitary import requirements.

Latest revisions

This directive has been revised to reflect current CFIA formatting standards and update links to the USDA Agricultural Commodity Import Requirement portal. This directive has been renamed and revised to reflect changes in terminology to support the integration of the Grain Screening Pellet Program into the CFIA's digital platform.

This directive supersedes D-11-04 (Original)

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Introduction

In November of 2009, the USDA, Plant Protection and Quarantine established phytosanitary import requirements that prohibited the importation of grain screening pellets from Canada intended for use as livestock feed.

The restrictions were implemented over concerns that grain screening pellets had the potential to act as a pathway for the movement into the U.S. of viable regulated weed seeds included on the USDA's Federal Noxious Weed Seed List.

To address these concerns, the CFIA has developed a preventive control inspection program for Canadian grain screening pellets processing facilities, which is recognized by the USDA. The requirements for this program are based on the process used by the USDA to approve facilities located in the U.S. that currently import unprocessed grain screenings of non approved crop kinds from Canada.

To export grain screening pellets from Canada into the U.S., the processing must be registered and approved by the CFIA on the Grain Screening Pellet Export Program. Pellets being exported from Canada to the U.S. must:

  • be manufactured from Canadian and/or U.S. origin screenings
  • meet the requirements of section 2 of this directive, and
  • be accompanied by an export certificate issued by the approved facility that attests to the origin, treatment and crop kinds used to produce them

A program of this type will meet the import requirements of the USDA.

Scope

The information in this directive is intended for CFIA inspectors and facilities that manufacture or export grain screening pellets to the U.S.

Definitions, abbreviations and acronyms

Definitions for terms used in the present document can be found in the Plant Health Glossary of Terms.

1. General requirements

1.1 Legislative authority

1.2 Regulated pests

Viable seeds of all weeds listed under 7 CFR 361.6, including both federal noxious weeds and weeds with tolerances applicable to their introduction.

Consult Importation of Seed and Screenings Under the Federal Seed Act (U.S. Code of Federal Regulations) for more information.

1.3 Regulated commodities

Pellets for livestock feed produced from Canadian and/or U.S. origin grain screenings, and derived from approved crop kinds. The approved crop kinds are:

  • barley
  • broom corn
  • buckwheat
  • canary seed
  • canola
  • chickpeas
  • cowpeas
  • field beans
  • field corn
  • field peas
  • flax
  • lentils
  • millet
  • mustard
  • oats
  • proso millet
  • rye
  • sorghum
  • soybean
  • wheat

1.4 Exempt commodities

  • Pellets made from the residual matter remaining after the oil has been extracted from the grain.
  • Pellets consisting of a mixture of various grains that have been ground to a uniform powder-like consistency.
  • Pellets exported for use as fuel and accompanied by an end use statement to that effect.

1.5 Prohibited commodities

  • Pellets produced from crop kinds not listed in section 1.3  
  • Pellets imported into Canada from any country other than the U.S.
  • Pellets produced from material that originates from any country other than Canada and/or the U.S.

1.6 Regulated areas

All areas of Canada.

2. Program requirements

2.1 Application requirements

Processors who manufacture grain screening pellets for export to the U.S. must participate in this program. Facilities wishing to participate in the program, can apply by submitting a new service request through their My CFIA account.

My CFIA uses the term "preventive control inspection" in place of "audit" and "terms and conditions" in place of "requirements". 

2.2 CFIA Audit requirements

The CFIA will conduct:

  • an initial audit of the facility prior to approval to evaluate the systems in place used in the manufacturing of grain screening pellets for export to the U.S.
  • ongoing annual audits to verify compliance with this program

The CFIA retains the option to visit the facility at any time to verify compliance or to take official samples of the grain screening pellets and submit these to a CFIA laboratory for testing.

If requested, the CFIA may conduct joint audit(s) of any approved facilities with USDA inspection staff.

2.3 Facility requirements

2.3.1 General requirements

Grain screening pellets facilities must:

  • cooperate with CFIA during audits and allow access to records as required to verify compliance with this program.
  • maintain all records for two years.

2.3.2 Input requirements

Grain screening pellets facilities must demonstrate that the grain screenings used in the manufacture of grain screening pellets for export are produced from eligible crops (section 1.3).

2.3.3 Processing requirements

Grain screening pellets facilities must:

  • maintain a current written protocol describing the grain screening pellets manufacturing process employed by the facility and ensure it meets the specific temperature and milling requirements.
  • demonstrate that grain screenings used in the manufacturing of the pellets are put through a hammer mill with a maximum screen size of 2.38 millimetres (6/64 of an inch).
  • demonstrate that during the manufacturing of grain screening pellets the heat used in the pelleting process was maintained at a minimum temperature of 85 degrees Celsius (185 degrees Fahrenheit).

2.3.4 Biosecurity requirements

Grain screening pellets facilities must empty bins and conveyances (in trucks or railcars) prior to loading to avoid contamination of grain screening pellets for export with other products.

2.3.5 Export requirements

Grain screening pellets facilities must:

  • maintain records attesting to the crop type(s) and their origin(s) used in the production of grain screening pellets for export to the U.S.
  • issue an export certificate (Appendix 3) for each shipment specifying the:
    • facility name
    • CFIA facility registration number
    • crop type(s) and origin(s) of the grain screenings
    • bin number(s) the grain screening pellets were shipped from
  • include the shipment identification number (for example: Bill of Lading Number) on each export certificate
  • maintain copies of export certificates for two years from the date of issuance

2.4 Product testing requirements

Samples of grain screening pellets will be:

  • collected by a CFIA inspector during the initial audit and subsequent annual audits
  • submitted for analysis to a CFIA laboratory, and
  • tested to verify all seeds, including the U.S. Federal Noxious Weed Seeds listed under 7 CFR 361.6, have been devitalized

2.5 Results of audit

Once a facility has been audited and samples have been tested according to the requirements of Section 2.4, the facility will receive a confirmation of registration through their My CFIA account. The facilities name, address will be shared with the USDA.

3. Responsibilities

3.1 CFIA responsibilities

The CFIA is responsible for:

  • evaluating and approving the facility
  • facility audits
  • sampling and submission of grain screening pellets samples for lab testing to a CFIA laboratory
  • issuing the confirmation of registration, and;
  • informing the USDA as grain screening pellets processing facilities are approved or removed from this program

3.2 Approved facility responsibilities

The facility is responsible for ensuring that all requirements listed in section 2.3 are met.

4. Non-compliance

The CFIA may suspend or revoke a facility's registration in the program for non-compliance with the requirements specified in this directive.

5. References

5.1 Fees

The CFIA is charging fees in accordance with the Fees Notice. Anyone requiring other information regarding fees may contact any local CFIA office or consult our Fees Notice.

Appendix 1: Terms and conditions

Through this agreement I will comply with the all requirements laid out in CFIA directive D-11-04: Grain Screening Pellet Export Program.

I, [name], the owner/ operator in possession, care or control of the above-named facility have read, understood and agree to comply with all terms, conditions, obligations and requirements stated in CFIA directive D-11-04: Grain Screening Pellet Export Program.

This agreement certifies that the grain screening pellets manufactured by the above facility for export to the United States were produced according to the requirements specified in D-11-04: Grain Screening Pellet Export Program.

The CFIA may make changes to these terms and conditions to reflect updated phytosanitary import requirements by the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA).

Appendix 2: Audit checklist

  • Name of facility:
  • Location:
  • Date:
  • Name of CFIA inspector:
Program requirement Yes No Comments
Can the facility provide records attesting to the origin of grain screenings used to produce GSP?
Does the facility maintain records listing the eligible crop types used to produce GSP for export to the U.S.?
Does the facility have a system in place for milling the screenings and other material used in the manufacture of GSP?
Within the milling process, the maximum screen size used is 2.38mm (6.64 of an inch).
Have all bins and conveyances (trucks or railcars) used to store GSPs been emptied and cleaned of other products?
Can the facility provide a copy/example of an export certificate that must be issued with each shipment?
Program requirement Heating method and / or temperature
Describe the heating method used at the facility (dry heat, steam, etc.).
Indicate the temperature of the heat source (steam) used in the pelleting process during the manufacturing of the grain screening pellets. Celsius:
Fahrenheit:

Appendix 3: Example of an export certificate issued by the approved facility

The following information, fields and attestation must appear on the certificate.

  • Mandatory title for use on all certificates: Export Certificate Under CFIA Directive D-11-04
  • Shipment identification number:
  • Facility name:
  • Facility address:
  • CFIA facility approval number (CFIA - grain screening pellets):
  • Bin number(s):
  • This certificate attests that the grain screening pellets in this consignment are not intended to be used for planting, and:
    1. meet the processing requirements as outlined in the compliance agreement between the above facility and the CFIA as per Directive D-11-04.
    2. have been produced from grain screenings of either U.S. or Canadian origin.
    3. have been produced from one or more of the following Canadian or U.S. grown crop kinds: [crop kinds]
  • Name:
  • Signature:
  • Date:
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