Eligible/Ineligible product
Eligible
- All fish and seafood products
Pre-export approvals by the competent authority of the importing country
Import permit
- The importer must obtain an import permit from the appropriate Mexican authority prior to arrival of products at the border. See "Documentation Requirements" below. A turn around time of 2 to 5 days is required to obtain the permit.
Product specifications
- Food in lead-soldered cans is not permitted.
- Fresh-chilled and frozen product:
- Parasites: 2 parasites/kg of sample unit of finfish
- Foreign matter: none
- Salted fish must either:
- have a moisture content of 40% or less (maximum 40% humidity); or
- have a salt (NaCl) content of 20% or more (minimum of 20% NaCl) based on the wet weight of the product.
- Salted fish which does not meet this standard may be further tested for microbiological contaminants and if found to be unsatisfactory, could be rejected.
- When applicable, the product was submitted to a heat treatment carried out at a minimum cooking temperature and time of 70 degrees centigrade for 5 minutes or at equivalent time/temperature combinations that have been shown to inactivate viral agents.
Maximum levels for chemical contaminants
- All fish and seafood products:
- Ammoniacal Nitrogen: 30 mg/100 g
- Fresh-chilled and frozen product and canned crustaceans:
- Cadmium (Cd): 0.5 ppm
- Lead (Pb): 1.0 ppm
- Tin (Sn): canned goods: 100.0 ppm
Maximum levels for radionuclides (not for canned goods)
- Cesium 134 & Cesium 137: 370 Bq/kg
- Iodine 131: 70 Bq/kg
Documentation requirements
Prior to export:
The exporter must provide the importer with a copy of the following documents:
- North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Certificate issued by Canada Border Services Agency
- Master Certificate of Fish Health and Hygiene for Mexico (CFIA/ACIA 5206) issued by CFIA prior to the first export of a fish product.
- Master certificates and statements are issued so that the importer can obtain a permit which covers a set time period and is not obliged to obtain one for each shipment.
- For all fish and seafood:
Master Certificate of Fish Health and Hygiene for Mexico (CFIA/ACIA 5206)
The following statements/information must be included on the certificate:
"This certificate covers all shipments of fish products described above, for the period ending [date]"
At time of export:
The following certificate(s) must accompany the shipment along with a copy of the import permit:
For all fish and seafood:
Certificate of Fish Health and Hygiene for Mexico (CFIA/ACIA 5206)
The following statements/information must be included on the certificate:
"This Certificate is issued pursuant to Master Certificate #
[Dated]".For live crustaceans:
Certificate of Fish Health and Hygiene for Mexico (CFIA/ACIA 5206)
The following statements/information must be included on the certificate:
"This Certificate is issued pursuant to Master Certificate #
[Dated]"Aquatic Animal Health and Sanitary Certificate (AQAH-1062)
For non-live crustaceans and their products:
Certificate of Fish Health and Hygiene for Mexico (CFIA/ACIA 5206)
The following statements/information must be included on the certificate:
"This Certificate is issued pursuant to Master Certificate #
[Dated]"Product description area must include:
- the scientific and common name of the species,; and,
- the latitude and longitude of the zone where the crustaceans were harvested.
- The latitude and longitude should be expressed as a range. If the product is harvested in other areas (e.g., China) and was only processed in Canada, the original harvesting area must be noted.
- Examples of latitude and longitude ranges for products harvested in Canada are as follows:
Latitude: > 40° N, < 80° N
Longitude: Pacific: Longitude: < 140° W, > 120° W
Atlantic: Longitude: > 70° W, < 34° W
Other information
For requirements related to "Product of Canada" designation, please refer to Country of Origin Declaration - Imported Product Exported From Canada