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Operational procedure: Processing applications for the import (return) of edible meat products that were exported from Canada

On this page

  1. 1.Purpose
  2. 2. Authorities
  3. 3. Reference documents
  4. 4. Definitions
  5. 5. Acronyms
  6. 6. Operational procedure
    1. 6.1 CFIA food inspectorate review of meat product return request
    2. 6.2 National Animal Health Technical Specialist Team (NAHTST) review of Animal Health (AH) import permit application
    3. 6.3 CFIA food inspectorate's next steps
    4. 6.4 CFIA point of entry inspectorate
    5. 6.5 CFIA inspection establishment inspectorate

1. Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspection staff on the procedure for processing requests for the import (return) of Canadian edible meat products (hereafter referred to as meat products) that were exported from Canada.

This document applies to meat products that have remained under official government control and that have not been processed and/or repackaged while outside Canada. Meat products must be in their original state and original container as exported from Canada.

This document is intended to be used in conjunction with other guidance documents as referenced in section 3.

Note: If the shipment was refused entry by a Foreign Competent Authority (FCA) or is returning because of a foreign animal disease outbreak, then other requirements, permissions, and/or procedures may apply in addition to the general requirements outlined in this document.

2. Authorities

The inspection powers, control actions and enforcement actions authorized by the above legislation are identified and explained in the Operational guideline – Food regulatory response guidelines.

3. Reference documents

4. Definitions

Unless specified below, definitions are located in either the:

5. Acronyms

Acronyms are spelled out the first time they are used in this document and are consolidated in the Food business line acronyms list.

6. Operational procedure

The reasons for the meat product return may include, but are not limited to: customer refusal, market changes, voluntary return, animal disease outbreaks, or refusal by the FCA.

SFCR 22(1)(b) requires meat products returning to Canada to be authorized by an inspector before import.

The meat product return request is to be submitted to the CFIA Area inspectorate responsible for issuing the Official Meat Inspection Certificate (OMIC) at the time of export. A food operational specialist will review the request to meet the requirement of SFCR 22(1)(b).

Meat products returning from countries other than the USA also require an animal health import permit issued by the National Centre for Permissions (NCP) (formerly known as the Centre of Administration (CoA)) before the shipment returns to Canada. Shipments returning to Canada without a valid animal health import permit will be refused entry at the first point of entry in Canada.

6.1 CFIA food inspectorate review of meat product return request

A CFIA operational specialist in the area office of the inspectorate responsible for issuing the OMIC at the time of export will:

Table 1 – Disposition of application

Application status

Action taken for meat products returning from countries other than the US, the operational specialist will

Action taken for meat products returning from the US, the operational specialist will

Incomplete or inaccurate

Request additional information or a correction to the application via phone/email

Request additional information or a correction to the application via phone/email

Refused

Review all documents provided by the applicant and complete the CFIA authorization section of the Application / authorization form for returning legally exported edible Canadian meat products to Canada from countries other than United States – Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Provide a copy, via email, of the refused CFIA application, with the reason(s) and details for the refusal

Outline the reason(s), via email, why the meat product cannot be returned

Complete and accurate (acceptable) and includes all required documents

Review all documents provided by the applicant and complete the CFIA authorization section of the Application / authorization form for returning legally exported edible Canadian meat products to Canada from countries other than United States – Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Provide a copy, via email, of the duly endorsed application to the applicant and to the CFIA Area generic email address where the re-inspection of the meat product return will take place and

Inform the applicant of their obligation to apply for an animal health import permit (CFIA/ACIA 5859) and to submit all supporting documents (Application/authorization for returning legally Exported edible Canadian meat products to Canada from countries other than the US, OMIC, FCA letters, etc…) through the online My CFIA portal (preferred method).

Review all documents provided by the applicant and complete part 2 of Annex J: Application to return Canadian products exported to the United States. If product is returning to Canada under specific conditions, the specialist will provide further direction in the "Other conditions" box on the Annex J. If product is returning because the lot was sampled by FSIS for laboratory analysis, the specialist will write "to be stored or processed under the operator's control until satisfactory test results received. CFIA staff to conduct CVS task 3.1.21".

Assign an approval number to the return and write this number in the top right corner of the Annex J: Application to return Canadian products exported to the United States

  • approval number: Area (ATL/QC/ONT/WEST) – YYYY – sequence #
  • for example, ATL – 2022 – 001

Provide a copy, via email, of the duly endorsed Annex J: Application to return Canadian products exported to the United States to the

  • applicant;
  • National Import Service Centre (NISC); and
  • inspector or veterinarian at the establishment where the returned meat product will be inspected

Inform the applicant of their obligation to forward the CFIA authorization and any other applicable documents to their customs broker for presentation to the NISC to obtain a release recommendation before the arrival of the shipment in Canada

Notes

An animal health import permit is not required for meat products returning from the USA. When reviewing applications for these returns, go directly to section 6.5 CFIA inspection establishment inspectorate.

6.2 National Animal Health Technical Specialist Team (NAHTST) review of Animal Health (AH) import permit application

Meat products returning from countries other than the USA require an animal health import permit issued by the NCP. Working with the NCP, the NAHTST and/or Animal Health Import Export Division (AIED) will review the application for the animal health import permit to set import conditions.

When additional information is required to make a decision regarding a shipment of meat product returning, AIED may refer the file to the Food Import Export Division (FIED), who will contact the Foreign Central Competent Authority on CFIA's behalf, if required.

If the application for the animal health import permit is refused:

If the application for the animal health import permit is approved:

6.3 CFIA food inspectorate's next steps

Upon receiving confirmation from the NCP that the AH import permit has been issued to the applicant, the CFIA operational specialist responsible for authorizing the return informs the following of the shipment's return:

6.4 CFIA point of entry inspectorate

Once an animal health permit has been issued, the meat product shipment can return to Canada.

The AIC will provide CBSA with information related to the authorized meat product return, such as the name of the vessel, the container number, the seal number and the estimated date of arrival to help them verify the seal on the conveyance. CBSA will verify that the conveyance seal is not broken and that the seal number matches the number provided on the OMIC or the one provided in the application package (if a competent authority changed the seal).

If the seal is intact and corresponds to the documentation, the shipment can proceed for CFIA inspection at the designated inspection establishment.

If the seal is broken, then the inspector will follow the procedures in the Verification of seal numbers when foreign seal on shipment is broken while in transit.

6.5 CFIA inspection establishment inspectorate

For meat products refused by the USDA, the inspector at the establishment where the product is to be inspected will verify the following:

The inspector will inform the Area Operational Specialist (AOS) that the shipment has returned to Canada and proceed with the product inspection. The AOS will advise FSIS of the return according to the established communication protocol.

When meat products exported to the USA are returned pending laboratory results, refer to the Operational Procedure: Return (import) of exported meat products from the United States, pending the results of US laboratory analysis.

For the inspection of meat products returned from the USA or countries other than the USA for any reason, refer to Operational guidance – Organoleptic inspection of meat products. Once the inspection is completed, record the inspection results on the form CFIA/ACIA 2367 – Exported Shipments of Canadian Meat Products Returned to Canada. Provide a copy to the operator and the AOS.

For meat returns linked to Port of Entry Violations (POE), refer to Operational procedure: Port of entry violation of meat products reported by foreign competent authorities, as additional guidance may apply. If the inspection is taking place at an establishment other than the originating establishment, the inspector will:

For general inquiries related to this Operational Guidance Document, please follow established communication channels, including submitting an electronic Request for Action Form (e-RAF) (accessible only on the Government of Canada network).

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