This topic keeps coming up in various discussions, so hopefully the following post will clear up any confusion as to what the current laws are regarding importing fish food into Canada.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recently updated its policy (AHPD-DSAE-IE-2001-9-7) for Animal Health Import Requirements for Pet Food. The policy provides information and direction to Canadian importers and foreign exporters of pet foods, supplements, treats and chews on the import requirements, eligibility and conditions of these products entering Canada.
Generally speaking, commercially prepared pet food and pet treats containing non-bovinae ingredients from the United States will require an Import Permit as issued by CFIA, only after the successful completion of a risk assessment questionnaire. In addition an Importer Statement of Compliance and Canada Customs Invoice or a commercial invoice which must link to the shipment and clearly describe the product(s) being imported, indicating the country of origin and end use.
Pet food and pet treats which contain bovinae ingredients from the United States also require the Import Permit and Customs Invoice information as above but also require a Zoosanitary Export Certificate and an Original export Health Certificate, endorsed by a full-time, salaried veterinarian of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). It is important that importers of these products are fully aware of the specific requirements as contained within this Policy to avoid any possible delays or refusals at the border.
The step by step process for non-bovinae pet food products can be found here:
http://www.cscb.ca/listinfo/Import_non_bovinae_PF_USA.pdf
And for those which contain bovinae ingredients (such as blood meal, bone meal, etc)
http://www.cscb.ca/listinfo/Import_bovinae_PF_USA.pdf
A direct link to this info posted on the CFIA website;
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/pol/ie-2001-9e.shtml
Each & every product/brand requires a separate permit, one permit does not allow you to import numerous brands of pet food. Each & every permit requires a facility questionnaire to be filled out & signed by the actual *manufacturer*. Ingredients, processing methods & temperatures, etc are required.
Vendors such as Ken, John at Jehmco, or some guy on Aquabid are not *manufacturers*, and cannot provide these documents themselves, even if a Canadian wanted to jump through the hoops linked to above to apply for a permit. These documents would need to come directly from the actual manufacturers of each make/brand of fish food.
Each & every shipment must have the proper paperwork & CFIA permit attached, or you pay your $$$$ and you take your chances. Yes, some shipments might slip through the cracks, so the question becomes how lucky are you feeling today? The bottom line is that sans a CFIA permit, it's now illegal to import fish food in any quantity.
The following is a direct quote from one of the head CFIA agents in Ottawa.
"No pet food whatsoever will be allowed into Canada without the proper paperwork & permit. ****Not even a single container or bag for personal use.**** Anything that is caught at the border will be confiscated & destroyed."
Please don't shoot the messenger.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recently updated its policy (AHPD-DSAE-IE-2001-9-7) for Animal Health Import Requirements for Pet Food. The policy provides information and direction to Canadian importers and foreign exporters of pet foods, supplements, treats and chews on the import requirements, eligibility and conditions of these products entering Canada.
Generally speaking, commercially prepared pet food and pet treats containing non-bovinae ingredients from the United States will require an Import Permit as issued by CFIA, only after the successful completion of a risk assessment questionnaire. In addition an Importer Statement of Compliance and Canada Customs Invoice or a commercial invoice which must link to the shipment and clearly describe the product(s) being imported, indicating the country of origin and end use.
Pet food and pet treats which contain bovinae ingredients from the United States also require the Import Permit and Customs Invoice information as above but also require a Zoosanitary Export Certificate and an Original export Health Certificate, endorsed by a full-time, salaried veterinarian of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). It is important that importers of these products are fully aware of the specific requirements as contained within this Policy to avoid any possible delays or refusals at the border.
The step by step process for non-bovinae pet food products can be found here:
http://www.cscb.ca/listinfo/Import_non_bovinae_PF_USA.pdf
And for those which contain bovinae ingredients (such as blood meal, bone meal, etc)
http://www.cscb.ca/listinfo/Import_bovinae_PF_USA.pdf
A direct link to this info posted on the CFIA website;
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/pol/ie-2001-9e.shtml
Each & every product/brand requires a separate permit, one permit does not allow you to import numerous brands of pet food. Each & every permit requires a facility questionnaire to be filled out & signed by the actual *manufacturer*. Ingredients, processing methods & temperatures, etc are required.
Vendors such as Ken, John at Jehmco, or some guy on Aquabid are not *manufacturers*, and cannot provide these documents themselves, even if a Canadian wanted to jump through the hoops linked to above to apply for a permit. These documents would need to come directly from the actual manufacturers of each make/brand of fish food.
Each & every shipment must have the proper paperwork & CFIA permit attached, or you pay your $$$$ and you take your chances. Yes, some shipments might slip through the cracks, so the question becomes how lucky are you feeling today? The bottom line is that sans a CFIA permit, it's now illegal to import fish food in any quantity.
The following is a direct quote from one of the head CFIA agents in Ottawa.
"No pet food whatsoever will be allowed into Canada without the proper paperwork & permit. ****Not even a single container or bag for personal use.**** Anything that is caught at the border will be confiscated & destroyed."
Please don't shoot the messenger.
