Canada
Negotiating · Strong coverage · Compiled 2026-07-05
27 screening rules
- Labeling: 12 rules — 10 blocking, 1 conditional, 1 advisory
- Additives: 5 rules — 5 blocking, 0 conditional, 0 advisory
- Contaminants & residue limits: 4 rules — 4 blocking, 0 conditional, 0 advisory
- Import & registration: 6 rules — 5 blocking, 1 conditional, 0 advisory
Market profile
- Main food law
- Safe Food for Canadians Act 2012
- Labeling regulation
- CFIA Labelling Tool; FDR CRC 870
- Additives and residue limits
- FDR CRC 870 (incl. additives)
- Import requirements
- SFCR SOR/2018-108
- National standards body
- None identified
- Latest USDA FAIRS report
- 2025
Import and export
Documents to import
- Commercial invoice — Issued by: Exporter/seller — Mandatory
- Packing list — Issued by: Exporter/seller — Mandatory
- Bill of lading / airway bill — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
- Customs declaration — Issued by: CBSA (CARM / Canadian Customs Invoice or commercial invoice, B3/CAD) — Mandatory
- Certificate of origin (incl. preferential forms) — Issued by: Exporting country chamber/authority — Conditional
- Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licence to import — Issued by: CFIA — Mandatory
- Preventive Control Plan (PCP) and traceability records — Issued by: Importer — Mandatory
Documents to export
- Commercial invoice — Issued by: Exporter/seller — Mandatory
- Packing list — Issued by: Exporter/seller — Mandatory
- Bill of lading / airway bill — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
- Customs declaration — Issued by: CBSA (CARM / Canadian Customs Invoice or commercial invoice, B3/CAD) — Mandatory
- Certificate of origin (non-preferential and FTA forms) — Issued by: Exporter self-cert / chambers — Conditional
- SFC licence to export (if export certificate needed) — Issued by: CFIA — Conditional
- Export health certificate (meat, dairy, fish, etc.) — Issued by: CFIA — Conditional
Government fees
- Safe Food for Canadians licence (Import) — 250 (2-year licence, CPI-indexed) CAD
- Fish import inspection fee (Import) — 0.00230 per kg CAD
- CFIA import inspection/sampling (most processed foods) (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- CBSA customs processing fee (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- VAT/GST on imported food (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- Dairy inspection before export (Export) — 106.80 CAD
- Export certificate issuance (dairy) (Export) — 21.36 CAD
Customs single window: CBSA CARM / Single Window IID; My CFIA
Customs duties are not included.
A fee without a confirmed amount is listed by name only.
Official sources
- Safe Food for Canadians Act (S.C. 2012, c. 24) (2012) Open the source
- Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SOR/2018-108) (2018) Open the source
- Food and Drugs Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. F-27) (1985) Open the source
- Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870) (2026) Open the source
- CFIA — Industry Labelling Tool (2026) Open the source
- CFIA — Importing food: a step-by-step guide (2026) Open the source
- USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — Canada (CA2025-0023) (2025) Open the source
- Health Canada — Lists of Permitted Food Additives (Marketing Authorizations) (2026) Open the source
Reference documents
- USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — Canada (2025) Open the source
- Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SOR/2018-108) (2018) Open the source
- Safe Food for Canadians Act (S.C. 2012 c.24) (2012) Open the source
- Food and Drugs Act (R.S.C. 1985 c. F-27) (1985) Open the source
- CFIA — Importing food step-by-step guide (current) Open the source
- CFIA — Industry Labelling Tool (current) Open the source
- Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C. c. 870) (current) Open the source
Guidance compiled from published sources — not legal clearance. Confirm the requirements with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.
Screening guidance based on published standards — not legal clearance. Requirements marked "needs verification" are directional hints; confirm with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.