Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) (Customs Glossary)
| This article is part of the Customs Glossary Guide |
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is the Government of Canada agency responsible for food safety, animal health, and plant health programs. In cross-border trade, CFIA requirements often apply to food, plants, animals, animal products, plant products, wood packaging, and other regulated commodities entering Canada.
CBSA performs border processing and release functions, but CFIA is the program authority for many admissibility, inspection, licensing, permit, and certificate requirements. When a shipment is CFIA-regulated, the importer and customs broker must make sure the required CFIA data and documents are available before release.
CFIA in Canadian Imports
CFIA import requirements are intended to protect people, animals, plants, agriculture, and the environment. Depending on the commodity, origin, end use, and destination, CFIA may require:
- Import permits
- Foreign government certificates, such as veterinary or phytosanitary certificates
- Safe Food for Canadians licences
- Commodity-specific declarations
- Inspection at the border or another approved location
- Treatment, refusal, removal, or other action when goods are inadmissible
Carriers should not assume that a shipment is admissible just because the paperwork is present. The broker or importer should verify CFIA requirements before the driver reaches the border, especially for food, meat, plants, seeds, animals, animal products, and wood packaging.
Common Compliance Tools
- AIRS
- The Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) is a CFIA reference tool for finding import requirements for CFIA-regulated commodities. AIRS searches use information such as commodity, origin, destination, and end use. CFIA notes that AIRS is a reference tool and is updated frequently, so requirements should be checked close to the time of import.
- My CFIA
- My CFIA is the online account system used to request, manage, and track CFIA services such as permits, licences, and permissions. Food importers and other regulated businesses may use My CFIA to manage Safe Food for Canadians licences and other CFIA services.
- Safe Food for Canadians Licence
- Under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, certain food businesses need a licence for activities such as importing food. Importers should confirm whether their activity and commodity require a licence and make sure the licence is valid before the shipment is declared.
- Single Window Initiative and IID
- The CBSA Single Window Initiative allows customs brokers and other trade-chain partners to submit data for participating government departments and agencies through the Integrated Import Declaration (IID), also known as Service Option 911. CFIA data, including licence, permit, certificate, and AIRS-related information when required, may be declared through IID.
- National Import Service Centre
- The CFIA National Import Service Centre supports import processing for many CFIA-regulated commodities, including document review and import admissibility decisions when required.
Common Import Situations
- Food Products
- Imported food may require a Safe Food for Canadians licence, preventive-control information, traceability records, and commodity-specific documentation. Requirements vary by food type and activity.
- Meat and Animal Products
- Meat, animal products, and live animals can require foreign inspection certificates, permits, eligibility checks, or inspection at a CFIA-approved establishment or location.
- Plants, Seeds, and Plant Products
- Plants, seeds, soil, wood products, and other plant material may require phytosanitary certificates, import permits, treatment, or restrictions intended to prevent plant pests and diseases.
- Wood Packaging and Dunnage
- Wood packaging material used in international trade is subject to plant-health controls, including ISPM 15 treatment and marking requirements where applicable. Non-compliant wood packaging can cause delays, refusal, or orders to remove or treat the material.
- Samples and Research Materials
- Samples, laboratory materials, and research goods can still be regulated. Importers should verify CFIA requirements even when goods have no commercial sale value.
Carrier and Broker Notes
The carrier's ACI eManifest transmission does not replace CFIA import data. The eManifest identifies the cargo and conveyance for CBSA, while the broker or importer is responsible for release data and CFIA program requirements.
Carriers can reduce border delays by asking shippers and brokers to confirm:
- Whether the goods are regulated by CFIA
- Whether AIRS was checked for the exact commodity, origin, destination, and end use
- Whether required permits, certificates, licences, or declarations are included
- Whether the broker has submitted the required IID or release information
- Whether the shipment must report for inspection after border arrival