INFORMATION FOR FOOD IMPORTERS

Guide to Importing Food Products Commercially

Fall 1998

revised December 2002

INDEX

Acknowledgements

Introduction ! Purpose! Scope

Section A Canadian Food Legislation

Section B Federal Government Agencies and Departments Responsible for Imported Food

! Canadian Food Inspection Agency! Canada Customs and Revenue Agency! Environment Canada! Fisheries and Oceans Canada! Foreign Affairs and International Trade! Health Canada! Measurement Canada! Provincial and Territorial Governments

Section C Importer Responsibilities

! Registering an Import Business! Books and Records! Novel Foods - Biotechnology

Section D General Requirements for Foods

! Health and Safety! Good Importing Practices! Labelling! Net Quantity! Transportation! Food Allergens! Addition of Vitamin and Mineral Nutrients to Food! Novel Foods - Biotechnology! Foods Containing Food Additives! Food IrradiationSection E Summary of Import Requirements for Food Commodities

! Alcoholic Beverages! Dairy Products! Eggs and Processed Eggs! Fish and Fish Products! Food Additives! Food Colour! Foods for Special Dietary Use, Including Weight Loss! Fresh Fruits and Vegetables! Fruit and Vegetable Products - Processed! Grains! Honey! Infant Formula (Human Milk Substitutes)! Low Acid Foods in Hermetically Sealed Containers (Canned Foods)! Margarine ! Maple Products! Meat and Poultry! Novel Foods! Sports Nutrition Products! Wildlife

Section F Import Procedures and Documents

Section G Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs)

Appendix I Federal Legislation

! Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act (AMPs)! Canada Agricultural Products Act and Associated Regulations (CAP Act)! Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act! Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act! Customs Act! Export and Import Permits Act! Fish Inspection Act! Fisheries Act! Food and Drugs Act! Health of Animals Act! Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act! Meat Inspection Act! Plant Protection Act! Weights and Measures Act! Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and

Interprovincial Trade Act

Appendix II Electronic Access to Government Information

! Government of Canada! Canadian Food Inspection Agency! Other Federal Government Departments and Agencies! Provincial and Territorial Departments! Federal Legislation

Appendix III Telephone Numbers and Contact Information

Government Departments and Agencies1 Canadian Food Inspection Agency

! Import Service Centres! Food Safety Inquiries! Single Access Food Labelling Service Offices! Fish, Seafood and Production Division! National Import Operations Division

2 Canada Business Service Centres3 Canada Customs and Revenue Agency

! Customs Automated Information System ! Information on the Administration of Tariff Rate Quotas! Excise Duties and Taxes! Information for Businesses

4 Canadian Grain Commission5 Canadian Wheat Board6 Environment Canada - Wildlife Import Offices7 Fisheries and Oceans Canada8 Foreign Affairs and International Trade

! Export and Import Controls Bureau! Info Centre and Faxlink

9 Health Canada! Office of Food Biotechnology! Food Research Division! Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate! Natural Health Products Directorate! Therapeutic Products Directorate

10 Industry Canada! Competition Bureau! Measurement Canada

11 Information Canada ! Information! Canadian Government Publishing

12 Provincial and Territorial Information13 Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF)

14 Le ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (MAPAQ) -Quebec

15 Provincial and Territorial Liquor Control

Non-Government16 Canadian Society of Custom Brokers17 Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters Inc.18 Electronic Commerce Council of Canada19 Food Safety Network

Appendix IV Product Codes

! Universal Product Code (UPC)! Harmonized System Codes - HS Codes

Acknowledgements

This Guide is a joint effort of several federal departments andagencies, to bring together in one document the key federal regulatoryrequirements involved in the importation of foods into Canada. Thewriting of this Guide was facilitated by the Consumer Protection andFood Policy Coordination Division of the Canadian Food InspectionAgency. Special thanks to: the Canada Business Service Centres,Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, Environment Canada,Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Department of Foreign Affairs andInternational Trade, Health Canada, Industry Canada, InformationCanada, and Measurement Canada.

Note to User

This Guide contains only general information. There is no guarantee,warranty, assurance or anything similar that this Guide contains allinformation and requirements for the import of food products or thatthe information contained in this Guide and on the Canadian FoodInspection Agency Website is correct, accurate and complete. TheGuide may be accessed through our Website at:

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/

The user assumes all risks and responsibilities for the use of and anyreliance on the information in the Guide and the Canadian FoodInspection Agency Website. The Canadian Food Inspection Agencyshall not be liable for any loss or damages resulting from or inconnection with the use of or reliance on the information.

Disclaimer

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Government of Canadaaccept no liability for and do not warrant the accuracy or content ofinformation contained in any other site to which this Guide refers. TheCanadian Food Inspection Agency is not affiliated with any commercialsites to which reference may be made. The views and opinionsexpressed in non-Agency sites to which reference may be made do notreflect the views, opinions or policies of the Canadian Food InspectionAgency. Information on non-federal government sites may not beavailable in both official languages.

Introduction

Purpose

The purpose of this Guide is to present an overview of the federal regulatory and policyrequirements for the commercial importation of food into Canada. It is designed forimporters, consultants and those considering embarking on an import venture.

Scope

Legislative Framework

A number of federal acts and regulations govern the importation of food. Section Agives an overview of the applicable legislative framework, with Appendix I providingmore detailed information regarding the specific acts and regulations. However, thisGuide is not intended to replace any federal regulations. It is recommended thatimporters consult the actual legislation where appropriate: Internet addresses for theseacts and regulations are listed in Appendix II.

Federal and Provincial Agencies and Departments

The regulation of the importation of food into Canada is the shared responsibility ofseveral federal agencies and departments. The primary federal bodies involved are theCanadian Food Inspection Agency and the Department of Foreign Affairs andInternational Trade. Section B provides a brief description of the mandates and workingarrangements of these and other federal departments involved in food regulation.Appendix II lists their Internet Websites.

In some provinces, importers may also have to meet specific provincial requirements forcertain products. For information on provincial government services and programs,consult the reference telephone numbers listed under Provincial and TerritorialInformation in Appendix III.

For information regarding federal and provincial business related programs, servicesand regulations, the Canada Business Service Centres are a convenient place tostart. These Centres have been set up through the collaborative efforts of federal,provincial and private sector partners and integrate information from the client'sperspective. Currently, there is a Canada Business Service Centre in every provinceand territory providing service by telephone, fax, mail, e-mail, on the Web, and inperson. See Appendix III for contact information.

Requirements for Imported Foods

Section C outlines the overall responsibility of the importer to ensure that productsimported into Canada comply with all Canadian requirements. It also providesinformation on how to register an import business and identifies some of the books andrecords that an importer should maintain.

Section D briefly summarizes some general requirements that all food products mustmeet. It outlines, for example, the legislative basis of one of the foremost concerns ofthe Canadian import policy, the health and safety of the food supply. The section alsodeals with Good Importing Practices, Canadian labelling requirements (including netquantity declaration), and health and safety concerns during the transport of food. Section E sets out requirements by commodity. It functions as a quick reference guidefor specific products.

Import Procedures and Tariff Rate Quotas

Section F briefly summarizes import procedures and Customs programs designed toprocess goods efficiently and shorten the transit time at the border.

Since certain agricultural goods are subject to import controls through tariff rate quotas,Section G explains the tariff rate quota system.

Universal Product Code (U.P.C.)

Although the Universal Product Code (U.P.C. or bar code) is not required oradministered by government, virtually all retailers require the merchandise they carry tobe labelled with a U.P.C. Appendix IV provides information on where to obtain a U.P.C.

Section A

Canadian Food Legislation

The Food and Drugs Act and Regulations is the primary legislation that applies to allfood sold in Canada, whether imported or domestic. This legislation sets out minimumhealth and safety requirements, as well as provisions preventing fraud or deception(labelling, composition, packaging, treatment, processing, sale and advertising).

Various statutes contain standards or specifications that complement or further definethe food standards set out in the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations. The ConsumerPackaging and Labelling Act and Regulations, for example, establish labelling and netquantity requirements for consumer packaged goods for sale in Canada. The CanadaAgricultural Products Act and associated Regulations, the Fish Inspection Act andRegulations and the Meat Inspection Act and Regulations also contain food standards.However, these statutes are primarily intended to ensure the marketability of foodproducts traded internationally and interprovincially, through a combination of safety,quality and grading standards.

Several federal statutes are designed to protect Canadian agriculture, fish stocks,forestry, industry and wildlife from the introduction of animal and plant diseases andpests: the Health of Animals Act and Regulations, the Plant Protection Act andRegulations, and the Fish Health Protection Regulations of the Fisheries Act. Thesestatutes restrict the importation of certain foods from specific areas of concern orrequire phytosanitary certificates, permits or other documentation.

To permit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to take effective enforcementaction against importers and domestic companies marketing products that do not meetCanadian regulatory standards, the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative MonetaryPenalties Act will allow regional CFIA officials to issue monetary penalties fornon-compliance with provisions of the seven agri-food Acts to which this legislationapplies.

Appendix I of this Guide provides brief descriptions of these and other federal statutesrelevant to the importation of food. The list, however, is not exhaustive. There may behealth and safety requirements in other federal or provincial acts.

KEY FEDERAL LEGISLATION

FOOD AND DRUGS ACTApplies to all food imported or sold in Canada

CONSUMER PACKAGING AND LABELLING ACTApplies to all prepackaged food products imported or sold in Canada

FishInspection

Act

Applies to fish andfish products

marketed throughimport, export and

interprovincial trade

Meat Inspection

Act

Applies to meatand meat productsmarketed throughimport, export and

interprovincialtrade

CanadaAgricultural

Products Act

Applies to most dairy,egg, fruit, vegetable,

maple and honeyproducts marketed

through import, exportand interprovincial

trade

Legislation Designed to Protect Canadian Agriculture, Fish, and Wildlife from Diseases and Pests

Health of Animals

Act

Live animals andfoods from animalsources may be

subject to AnimalHealth import

requirements andrestrictions.

PlantProtection

Act

Certain freshfruits and

vegetable aresubject to plant

protectionimport

requirements.

Fisheries Act(Fish HealthProtection

Regulations)

Import permitsmay be required

for certain culturedfish and eggs.

Agriculture and Agri-Food AdministrativeMonetary Penalties Act

Gives authority to officials of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency toimpose monetary penalties on companies marketing products in

contravention of Canadian regulatory standards

Section BFederal Government Agencies and Departments

Responsible for Imported Food

On April 1, 1997 the Government of Canada reorganized the federal system of foodinspection by consolidating all federally-mandated food inspection and quarantineservices into a single federal organization called the Canadian Food Inspection Agency(CFIA). Historically, food inspection at the federal level had been conducted by fourfederal agencies: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Health Canada, Fisheries andOceans Canada, and Industry Canada.

While federal responsibility for food inspection resides primarily with the Canadian FoodInspection Agency, other departments play a role in the regulation of the importation offood. The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, while not directlyinvolved in the inspection of goods, controls the importation of certain agriculturalproducts through the application of the Export and Import Permits Act and tariff ratequotas (TRQs).

Some departments and agencies involved in the inspection of food, Canada Customsand Revenue Agency for example, aid the Canadian Food Inspection Agency inenforcing Canadian food regulations, while others have wider mandates that includefood. An example of the latter is Environment Canada, which administers theConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora forall products, including food products when from species of animals and plants listedunder this convention.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency provides all federal inspection services relatedto food safety, economic fraud, trade-related requirements, animal and plant diseaseand pest programs. This consolidation of responsibilities into a single agency isdesigned to enhance food safety systems by integrating the delivery of inspection andquarantine services that had previously been provided by other departments.

All those involved in the production of food or in the import or export of food, liveanimals or plants are now able to deal with a single agency for inspection andquarantine services.

To meet its mandate, CFIA administers and/or enforces the following acts:

Food and Drugs Act* Canada Agricultural Products ActMeat Inspection Act

Fish Inspection Act Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act* Plant Protection Act Health of Animals Act Administrative Monetary Penalties Act Seeds Act Feeds Act Fertilizers Act Canadian Food Inspection Act Plant Breeders’ Rights Act

* as it relates to food

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency provides a Single Access Food LabellingService with offices located across the country. The Service acts as the single federalcontact point for food labelling information and provides a food label review service.

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency assists other government departments in theadministration and enforcement of their legislation as it applies to imported products.The Customs Act provides the legislative authority for Customs inspectors to detaingoods that may be in contravention of the Customs Act, or any other act or regulationgoverning the import or export of goods.

Customs inspectors:

! review import documentation, ensuring that all required permits, certificates andlicenses (including those for other government departments) are presentedbefore the goods are released; and

! perform examinations of food shipments to verify that the information/documentsbeing presented at the time of release are relevant to the goods.

Environment Canada

Canada is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Speciesof Wild Fauna and Flora. This Convention, commonly known as CITES, is aninternational agreement through which more than 157 countries exercise control overthe import, export and in-transit movement of various plant and animal species listed inthe Convention. Live species and their derivatives, parts and products are controlledthrough an international permit system, which varies depending on how endangeredeach species is.

In Canada, CITES is administered by the Canadian Wildlife Service of EnvironmentCanada. Assisting in the implementation of the CITES restrictions are the CanadianFood Inspection Agency, Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, and the Royal

Canadian Mounted Police.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

There are disease concerns with the importation of dead uneviscerated salmon andtrout from fish farms and with the importation of live salmonid eggs and fish imported foraquaculture or for government enhancement programs. Consequently, import permitsissued under the Fish Health Protection Regulations must accompany each shipment ofthese products entering Canada.

Importers must apply to the Local Fish Health Officer in the receiving province to obtainan import permit. For additional information and/or addresses of the Local Fish HealthOfficers, please contact the National Registry of Fish Diseases, Fisheries and OceansCanada. (See Appendix III.)

Foreign Affairs and International Trade

The Export and Import Controls Bureau of the Department of Foreign Affairs andInternational Trade is responsible for the issuance of permits for goods on the ImportControl List and Export Control List under the authority of the Export and Import PermitsAct. The following agricultural products are or will be subject to controls:

Agricultural Products Subject to Import ControlsChickenTurkeyBroiler Hatching Eggs and ChicksShell Eggs and Egg ProductsCheeseButterMargarineIce Cream, YogurtOther Dairy ProductsBarley and Barley ProductsWheat and Wheat ProductsBeef and Veal from Non-NAFTA* countries

* North American Free Trade Agreement

Agricultural Products Subject to Export ControlPeanut ButterSugar Containing ProductsSugar

Health Canada

Although Health Canada is no longer directly involved in the inspection of food, it has

responsibility for setting national health and safety policy with respect to food. Amongother activities, the Health Products and Food Branch of Health Canada:

! administers the food safety provisions of the Food and Drugs Act andRegulations

! develops regulations and guidelines for food safety; ! sets national standards for food safety and nutritional content of food; ! conducts health risk assessments and evaluations concerning physical, chemical

and microbial contaminants, natural toxicants, food additives, etc.; ! provides the Canadian Food Inspection Agency with guidance to determine the

health risk of a situation when no guidelines exist; ! conducts safety assessments on novel and genetically modified food; ! approves the use of food additives; ! approves the use of veterinary drugs on food producing animals and sets residue

tolerances; and! serves as national authority for food safety issues at the international level in the

development of international standards, guidelines, recommendations, etc. (e.g.WHO, FAO, CODEX).

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency of Health Canada sets maximum residuelimits for pesticides on foods for sale in Canada.

Measurement Canada

Measurement Canada, an agency of Industry Canada, enforces the Weights andMeasures Act, which establishes net quantity requirements for commodities sold on thebasis of measure. The Weights and Measures Act applies to foods destined forcommercial or industrial enterprises or institutions, products sold in bulk and clerk-served products at retail.

The legislation does not apply to commodities subject to net quantity requirements setout in other federal legislation. Consequently, it does not apply to goods packaged fordirect sale to the consumer as these are covered by the Consumer Packaging andLabelling Act, the food provisions of which are enforced by the Canadian FoodInspection Agency.

Provincial and Territorial Governments

Provincial and territorial governments have jurisdiction over public health issues, whichincludes food prepared, sold and manufactured within their borders. Provincial andmunicipal inspection programs have focussed on the food service industry (includingrestaurants and caterers), and the food retail industry (including grocery stores, butchershops and bakeries). Some provinces and territories have additional requirements forcertain commodities such as dairy products, margarine, bottled water, and maple syrup.

Section CImporter Responsibilities

In all cases, it is the responsibility of the importer to ensure that products meet allrequirements of Canadian legislation (federal, provincial and municipal).

Registering an Import Business

The Government of Canada has introduced a more efficient numbering system forbusinesses. With this new system, one number, the business number (BN), hasreplaced the many numbers that were needed to deal with the federal government. Allcommercial importers must have a business number for any import/export account withCanada Customs and Revenue Agency.

The business number has 15 digits: nine numbers to identify the business, plus twoletters and four numbers to identify the program and each account. The systemincludes major types of Canada Customs and Revenue Agency programs that manybusinesses may be registered for, including GST, payroll deductions, corporate incometax and import/export (identified by RM). For example, an import/export account willlook like this 12345 6789 RM0002.

In order to obtain an import/export account, traders should obtain a copy of Form RC1,Request for a Business Number (BN), which is available from any Canada Customsand Revenue Agency office. The Canada Customs and Revenue Agency will issue anaccount free of charge, as soon as the form is completed and submitted.

For most shipments entering Canada, importers will have to show an import/exportaccount on customs documents.

More information regarding the business number is available in the Canada Customsand Revenue Agency publication The Business Number and Your Revenue CanadaAccounts. If a business is registered in Quebec, the publication The Business Numberand Your Revenue Canada Accounts in Quebec should be consulted. Both publicationsare available from Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. (For contact information,see Appendix III.)

Books and Records

Health and Safety Records

In accordance with Good Importing Practices (see Section D of this Guide), importersshould keep records of the distribution of their products, so that goods may be

efficiently and effectively recalled from the market place when a food poses a healthrisk to the population or when a serious contravention of the regulations has occurred.Records of consumer complaints and action taken should also be maintained, and allrecords should be kept for two years.

Financial Records

Importers are required to keep books and records to substantiate what goods havebeen imported, the quantities, the prices paid, and the country of origin. Records mustbe kept in Canada, in paper or electronic format, for six years after the importation ofgoods. To keep records outside of Canada, written permission from Canada Customsand Revenue Agency is required.

Even if a customs broker carries out customs activities on behalf of the importer, therecords should be kept on the importer's premises. The importer is responsible for allrecords on reporting, releasing, accounting for, and paying for goods, as well as lateradjustments. For more details, see Canada Customs and Revenue Agency’sMemorandum D17-21, Maintenance of Records and Books in Canada by Importers.(For contact information, see Appendix III.)

Novel Foods - Biotechnology

Importers of novel foods, including foods derived from biotechnology, are required tonotify Health Canada of their intention to import a novel food (Division 28 of the Foodand Drug Regulations). This pre-market notification permits Health Canada to conducta safety evaluation of the product.

In addition, there may be phytosanitary import requirements for fruit, vegetables andgrains derived from plants with novel traits including transgenic plants. Importers ofthese products should contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency prior toimportation to verify if import permits are required.

See Section E - Novel Foods for more information.

Section DGeneral Requirements for Foods

Health and Safety

To ensure a safe and nutritious food supply, all foods sold in Canada, whether domesticor imported, must meet the health and safety requirements of the Food and Drugs Actand Regulations. Enforcement is provided for in criminal law.

Section 4 of the Food and Drugs Act prohibits the sale of an article of food that:

! has in or upon it any poisonous or harmful substance; ! is unfit for human consumption; ! consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, disgusting, rotten, decomposed or

diseased animal or vegetable substance; ! is adulterated; or! was manufactured, prepared, preserved, packaged, or stored under unsanitary

conditions.

Good Importing Practices

Good Importing Practices are proper food handling procedures that facilitate theidentification and control of problems that may be encountered at all stages ofimportation, from the planning stages through to the final distribution in Canada.Adherence to Good Importing Practices should ensure compliance with the health andsafety requirements of Canadian legislation. Proposed amendments to the Food andDrug Regulations will make this voluntary code of practice into a regulatoryrequirement.

A booklet entitled “Good Importing Practices – Code of Practice for Use By CanadianFood Importers” may be obtained from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency ImportService Centres. (For contact information, see Appendix III.)

Labelling

All foods packaged for consumer use and imported into Canada must comply with basicfood labelling requirements specified by the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations andthe Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulations.

Labelling requirements include the common name of the food, a list of ingredients andcomponents, the name and address of the responsible party, a net quantity declarationin metric and a Best Before date when required. Nutritional labelling is voluntary unlessnutritional claims are made. The format and information provided must comply with the

Guidelines on Nutritional Labelling developed by Health Canada and also with the Foodand Drug Regulations. Agricultural and fish products for which standards exist underthe Meat Inspection Act, Canadian Agricultural Products Act and associatedRegulations, and the Fish Inspection Act may have additional labelling requirements(e.g. grade or country of origin).

All mandatory labelling information and nutritional labelling, other than the name andaddress of responsible party, is required to be declared in both French and English.

It should be noted that Canadian labelling requirements may differ significantlyfrom those of the United States and other countries. As an example, the UnitedStates’ Nutrition Labelling Information (Nutrition Facts) is not currently permitted onproducts imported into Canada.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has Single Access Food Labelling Serviceoffices across the country serving the business community. These offices, located inmajor urban centres, provide labelling information for all food except fish. Forinformation regarding the labelling of fish, please contact the Fish, Seafood andProduction Division of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. (See Appendix III.)

The Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising is a comprehensive reference documentproviding current federal food labelling and advertising policies and regulatoryrequirements. The Guide is now available on the Canadian Food Inspection Agencywebsite: http://www.cfia-acia.agr.ca/english/bureau/labeti/guide/guidee.shtml.

Net Quantity

In Canada, net quantity declarations on consumer packaged products must beexpressed in metric units of weight (grams or kilograms), volume (millilitres, litres) orcount (when applicable). The manner of declaring net quantity and the method ofdetermining the accuracy of net quantity declarations for consumer packaged products,as well as commercial, industrial or institutional products, are based on the averagesystem. The average system is prescribed in the Consumer Packaging and LabellingAct and Regulations, in the case of consumer packaged products, and the Weights andMeasures Act and Regulations, in the case of commercial, industrial or institutionalproducts.

The average system is based on three criteria:

! the average net content of all packages in a lot must not be less than thedeclared net quantity;

! only a specified number of samples in a lot are allowed to contain less than thedeclared net quantity by more than the prescribed tolerance (as set out in theConsumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations); and

! no more than one sample in a lot may contain less than the declared net quantityby more than twice the prescribed tolerance.

Sampling procedures for the average system are designed to be closely representativeof the lot of merchandise being tested.

The Weights and Measures Act and Regulations prescribe the manner of net quantitydeclarations for food products sold in bulk and clerk-served foods sold at retail.

Additional information on the application and interpretation of these regulatoryrequirements can be obtained from a Canadian Food Inspection Agency Import ServiceCentre or Measurement Canada. (For contact information, see Appendix III.)

Transportation

Food products require more careful handling than other commodities. Food should notbe shipped with dangerous or hazardous goods (chemicals, auto parts, etc.). Foodshipments that have been contaminated by incompatible goods in the container/truckmay be refused entry into Canada. Temperature sensitive goods, such as frozen foodor fresh fruits, require a climate controlled shipping environment.

Requirements for safe transportation of goods should be part of the agreementbetween traders and carriers.

Food Allergens

A variety of foods can cause adverse reactions in hypersensitive individuals. Thesereactions can vary from minor to life-threatening. Most adverse food reactions arecaused by the following foods or their derivatives: peanuts

tree nuts (e.g., almonds, Brazils, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans,pinenuts, pistachios, walnuts) sesame seedsmilk eggs fish crustaceans (e.g., crab, crayfish, lobster, shrimp)shellfish (e.g., clams, mussels, oysters, scallops) soy wheat sulphites.

If these foods and their by-products or derivatives are not labelled or are incorrectlylabelled, or if inadvertent carry-over occurs during manufacture, the results can beserious and sometimes fatal.

Importers are encouraged to identify these ingredients on food labels when they appearas ingredients or components. It is also recommended that the plant source of all formsof hydrolysed plant proteins, starches, and lecithin be identified (e.g., hydrolysed soy

protein, modified wheat starch, soy lecithin).

Experience has shown that undeclared ingredients may occur as a result of:

! carry-over of product through incomplete cleaning of food contact surfaces andutensils, sometimes because of poor equipment design;

! inappropriate use of rework materials containing ingredients causing adversereactions;

! ingredient changes, substitutions or additions not reflected on the label; ! product in wrong packages because of mix-up of packaging material; ! printing error or omission from list of ingredients; ! unknown ingredients in raw materials; ! use of incorrect common names to describe products/ingredients (e.g.,

mandelonas for reformed peanuts); ! labelling exemptions.

Despite all possible precautions, the presence of allergens cannot always be avoided.Consequently, a policy on precautionary labelling has been developed, which allowsindustry to voluntarily label products that may inadvertently contain substances capableof causing severe adverse reactions (e.g., "May contain peanuts").

Addition of Vitamin and Mineral Nutrients to Food

The addition of vitamins, minerals and amino acids to food is regulated by the Food andDrugs Act and Regulations. Section D.03.002 of the Food and Drug Regulationsspecifies which foods may be enriched and with which nutrients. (There are limitedexceptions to this regulation.)

Canadian requirements for the addition of nutrients to food may differ significantly fromthe United States and other countries.

Vitamins and/or mineral supplements are regulated as drugs in Canada. For furtherinformation on these products, contact the Therapeutic Products Directorate of HealthCanada.

Novel Foods - Biotechnology

Canada has a stringent process for evaluating the safety of novel foods, including foodsderived through genetic modification (biotechnology). New novel food regulationsunder the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations (Division 28) require that manufacturersand importers of novel foods notify Health Canada of their intention to market a newproduct in Canada. This pre-market notification allows Health Canada to conduct athorough safety assessment of the product.

In addition, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency conducts assessments of plantswith novel traits, including transgenic plants, and/or products derived from them such as

fruit, tubers and grains to evaluate their risk to the agricultural and forestry environment. Consequently, special import requirements of these products exist. Importers shouldcontact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency prior to importation to verify if importpermits are required.

See Section E - Novel Foods for more information.

Foods Containing Food Additives

The use of food additives is strictly controlled by the Food and Drugs Act andRegulations. The food additive tables in Division 16 of the Regulations prescribe whichadditives may be used in foods sold in Canada, to which foods they may be added, forwhat purposes, and at what levels.

Canadian requirements and the list of acceptable food additives may differ from thoseof the United States and other countries. Products containing non-permitted foodadditives may be refused entry into Canada.

Food Irradiation

Irradiation of food is regulated by the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations. Only thefollowing foods are currently allowed to be irradiated in Canada: potatoes, onions,wheat, flour, whole wheat flour, whole or ground spices and dehydrated seasoningpreparations.

Special labelling requirements apply to irradiated foods and foods containing irradiatedingredients. Irradiated foods not in compliance with the Food and Drugs Act andRegulations are not permitted for sale in Canada.

Section ESummary of Import Requirements for Food Commodities

Due to the complexity of the legislative requirements, importers are encouragedto contact a Canadian Food Inspection Agency Import Service Centre to obtaincomplete and current import information. (See Appendix III for telephonenumbers and contact information.)

This section contains a summary of commodities that are subject to specific importrequirements for commercial shipments or have specific compositional requirements.

As outlined in Section A, all foods sold in Canada are subject to the Food and DrugsAct and Regulations, which contain health and safety requirements, labellingrequirements and provisions preventing deception and fraud. However, manyagricultural and fish products are also subject to other legislation. Consequently, theneed for licensing, permits and certificates varies depending upon the type of foodbeing imported and, in some cases, on the country or area from which the food isimported.

In certain circumstances the importer is required to be licensed with the Canadian FoodInspection Agency. This applies, for example, to importers of fish products. In othercases, each shipment of a specific commodity must be accompanied by an officialcertificate from the authorities of the exporting country and/or an approval or permitfrom the appropriate Canadian federal department. For some products, such as dairyproducts, the importer is required to provide an Import Declaration to the effect that theproduct is sound and fit for human consumption.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's Automated Import Reference System (AIRS)contains detailed information on the federal import requirements for all foods and isavailable on compact disc. It is also available on the Agency’s Internet site at: http://airs-sari.inspection.gc.ca/airs-sari.asp. (See Section F for more information.)

It should be noted that in some provinces there are additional requirements for certainfoods, such as dairy products, margarine, bottled water, and maple syrup.

A Note on TRQs

Certain agricultural goods are subject to Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs) and some requirean import permit issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.TRQs and the presence or absence of import permits may drastically affect therate of tariff charged for a commodity. Please note that firms importing restrictedgoods without a specific import permit will automatically be charged the high tariff rateby Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. At this point, specific import permits will not

normally be issued. (For more information regarding TRQs and Import Permits, seeSection G.)

Alcoholic Beverages

The Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act, a federal statute, gives the provinces andterritories full control over the importation of intoxicating liquor into their jurisdictions.(Note: there are certain exceptions, such as bulk importations by licensed distillers andbrewers for blending purposes.) Consequently, importers should consult the appropriateprovincial or territorial liquor authority before considering the importation orinterprovincial trade of intoxicating liquor. (See Appendix III for contact information.)

Standards of identity and labelling requirements for alcoholic beverages exist in theFood and Drugs Act and Regulations, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act andRegulations and the Excise Act and Regulations. Standardized container sizerequirements for wine exist in the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations.

In addition to the basic food labelling provisions, alcoholic beverages are subject tofurther requirements, such as the declaration of alcohol content by volume. The Guideto Food Labelling and Advertising provides a thorough overview of the labellingrequirements for alcoholic beverages. (See Section D: Labelling.)

Dairy Products

Butter, cheddar cheese, dry milk products and variety cheeses are regulated by theDairy Products Regulations under the Canada Agricultural Products Act. Imported dairyproducts must comply with these regulations, which cover quality, labelling, packagingand grading, as well as health and safety. In addition, the Health of Animals Act restrictsthe importation of certain dairy products from countries where the presence of animaldiseases poses a threat to Canadian agriculture and health. Most dairy products alsorequire an import permit issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and InternationalTrade. (Please see Section G for further information.)

An Import Declaration, completed in duplicate, must accompany each dairy productshipment, indicating that the products were manufactured from sound raw materialsand prepared under sanitary conditions, and that the products were sound and fit forhuman consumption at the time of shipment.

At present, there is no federal requirement for importers of dairy products to belicensed. Product inspection may take place at the product's entry point or at itsdestination point, at the discretion of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Eggs and Processed Eggs

Both shell and processed chicken eggs must meet the requirements set out in the EggRegulations and Processed Egg Regulations, respectively, of the Canadian Agricultural

Products Act. Shell eggs are destined for either the table market or breaking stock.Processed eggs are frozen egg, frozen egg mix, liquid egg, liquid egg mix, dried egg,dried egg mix and egg product, including all products consisting of 50 percent or moreof egg.

These products may only be imported from a country with an inspection program andgrade standards equivalent to Canada’s. Shipments will be inspected upon entry intoCanada and must be accompanied by inspection documentation issued by officials ofthe exporting country, certifying that the products conform to Canadian standards.

Both shell eggs and processed eggs require an import permit issued by the Departmentof Foreign Affairs and International Trade. (Please see Section G for furtherinformation.) In addition, the Health of Animals Act restricts the importation of eggs andprocessed eggs from countries where the presence of animal diseases pose a threat toCanadian agriculture and health.

Eggs from different species of birds, balut eggs, and preserved duck eggs, are notsubject to the Egg Regulations. However, eggs and egg shells from birds and reptileslisted under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)require export permits from the country of origin and, in some cases, import permitsissued by Environment Canada under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection andRegulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA). (See Section B:Environment Canada; Section E: Wildlife; and Section F: Import Procedures andDocuments.)

Fish and Fish Products

Fish and fish products are subject to the Fish Inspection Act and Regulations, whichcontain requirements for wholesomeness, labelling, packaging, grading, and health andsafety.

Importers of fish and fish products must have an Import License issued by theCanadian Food Inspection Agency and must notify the closest Canadian FoodInspection Agency fish inspection office in writing each time they import fish.Restrictions apply to the importation of live or raw bivalve molluscan shellfish such asmussels, clams and oysters. Import permits may be required for certain types ofcultured fish. (See Section B: Fisheries and Oceans Canada.) Certain provinces mayhave additional requirements for the importation of live fish.

All sturgeons are regulated by the Convention on International Trade in EndangeredSpecies (CITES). This means that all sturgeon, including their meat and caviar, requirea CITES export permit from the exporting country. Some species also require a CITESimport permit issued by Environment Canada. (See Section B: Environment Canada,Section E: Wildlife and Section F: Import Procedures and Documents.)

Food Additives

In the absence of specifications under the Food and Drug Regulations, food additivesmust conform to specifications in the Food Chemicals Codex, Fourth Edition, 1996 (asrequired by Section B.01.045 of the Food and Drug Regulations).

The labels on food additive preparations must include either:

! a quantitative statement of the amount of each additive present, or ! directions for use which, if followed, will produce a food that does not contain

additives in excess of the maximum levels as prescribed in Division 16 of theFood and Drug Regulations.

Food Colour

Synthetic food colours are unique because they are the only additives that must becertified by the Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada before being used infoods. Regulations concerning food colours are listed in Division 6, and Table III ofDivision 16 of the Food and Drug Regulations.

Before a colour destined for use in food may enter the country or be distributed for use,it must be certified. Health Products and Food Branch officials both administer andaudit a certification program for manufacturers of food colour.

Manufacturers who participate in this program can obtain "self-certification status".

Only manufacturers with "self-certification status" may apply to certify a food colour. A100-gram sample of the dye, a certificate of analysis and analytical data must beforwarded to the Health Products and Food Branch in Ottawa. If the request forcertification is approved, a certificate number (CN) is issued by the Food ResearchDivision, and the Canadian importer is supplied with a letter indicating that the specificlot of dye (identified by lot number and quantity) has been assigned a specific CN. Thisnumber covers only the colour and shipment identified in the letter.

A copy of the letter must be presented by the importer to Canada Customs andRevenue Agency before the dye is released from Customs. At present, certificatesissued by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are also acceptable inCanada.

Procedures for Food Colour Lakes are somewhat similar, except that they must bemanufactured from a certified colour. Identification Numbers (IN) are issued instead ofCN numbers.

Further information on the certification program can be obtained from the HealthProducts and Food Branch, Health Canada, (see Appendix III for contact information).

Foods for Special Dietary Use, including Weight Loss

The composition and labelling of foods for special dietary use are regulated underDivision 24 of the Food and Drug Regulations and include: formulated liquid diets, mealreplacements, carbohydrate-reduced foods, sodium reduced foods, low calorie foods,etc.

It is important to note that the only food products that may be promoted for use in aweight reduction diet are meal replacements, foods for very low calorie diets,prepackaged meals that meet the requirements of Division 24 of the Regulations andfoods sold in weight loss clinics to clients for use in their programs. No other foods maybe promoted for weight loss.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Fresh fruits and vegetables, including nuts and edible fungi, are regulated by the FreshFruit and Vegetable Regulations under the Canada Agricultural Products Act. Theseregulations cover quality, labelling, packaging, grading, and health and safetyrequirements.

Commercial importers of fresh fruits and vegetables must have a Produce Licenseissued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency or be a member of the DisputeResolution Corporation (DRC). Each shipment of fresh produce must be accompaniedby a Confirmation of Sale form in triplicate, which is the importer’s evidence that there isa firm purchase agreement. This form is reviewed by a Customs officer at the products’point of entry, and relayed to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

To ensure compliance with Canadian standards for safety, quality, labelling, packagingand grading, all shipments of fresh produce are subject to examination upon entry intoCanada by an inspector of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Special requirements also exist for the importation of products shipped in bulk.

To prevent the introduction and spread of plant diseases and pests, fresh fruits andvegetables are subject to the Plant Protection Act and Regulations. Consequently, theCanadian Food Inspection Agency requires import permits and/or phytosanitarycertificates for certain fresh fruits and vegetables from specific countries or states.

For detailed information regarding Canadian import requirements for fresh fruit andvegetables, refer to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/fresh/cdnreqe.shtml

Information on Canadian plant protection requirements may be found at: http://airs-sari.inspection.gc.ca

Fresh fruit and vegetables derived from a plant with a novel trait (i.e., derived frombiotechnology) are considered novel foods (see section on novel foods).

Fruit and Vegetable Products – Processed

Processed fruit and vegetable products include canned and frozen fruits andvegetables as well as some other fruit and vegetable products (vegetable soup,prepared mustard, spaghetti in tomato sauce, etc.).

Imported product must comply with the Processed Products Regulations under theCanada Agricultural Products Act. These regulations cover quality, labelling, packaging(including standardized sizes), grading, and health and safety requirements.

Each shipment must be accompanied by an Import Declaration form in duplicate, whichindicates that the products meet the requirements of the Processed ProductsRegulations and were processed under sanitary conditions, and that they were sound,wholesome and fit for human consumption at time of shipment. At present, there is nofederal requirement for importers of processed fruits and vegetables to be licensed.

All shipments are subject to inspection by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency attheir destination point.

The section, “Low Acid Foods in Hermetically Sealed Containers”, contains furtherinformation.

Grains

Tariff Rate Quotas for wheat, barley and their products were instituted on August 1,1995. Consequently, an import permit issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs andInternational Trade is required to import these products. (Please see Section G forfurther information.)

For detailed information regarding Canadian phytosanitary import requirements, refer tothe Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website at:

http://www.cfia-acia.agr.ca/english/plaveg/grains/grainse.shtml

Please note that grains derived from a plant with a novel trait (i.e., derived frombiotechnology) are considered novel foods (see section on novel foods).

The Canadian Grain Commission and the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency mayalso have requirements regarding the importation of grains into Canada and should becontacted prior to importation.

Honey

Honey and honey products are regulated by the Honey Regulations under the CanadaAgricultural Products Act. Imported products must comply with these regulations, whichcover quality, labelling, packaging, grading, and health and safety requirements.

Each shipment of honey and honey products must be accompanied by an ImportDeclaration, Request for Release Approval and Customs Transaction Document. Thisdocumentation must be presented to one of three CFIA Import Service Centres forclearance before shipments are allowed entry into Canada by Canadian Customsofficers. The importer or the importer’s authorized agent must declare that the honeymeets the requirements of the Honey Regulations. This means that the honey wasprepared under sanitary conditions, and is wholesome and fit for human consumption.All shipments of honey are subject to inspection at their destination point, by theCanadian FoodInspection Agency.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency restricts the importation of honey from countrieswhere the presence of animal diseases poses a threat to Canadian agriculture andhealth.

Infant Formula (Human Milk Substitutes)

The composition and labelling of foods for infants are regulated under Division 25 of theFood and Drug Regulations. In the case of new infant formulas and those which haveundergone a major change, manufacturers and importers are required to notify HealthCanada of their intention to market the products. The information to be submitted in this"pre-market notification" is outlined in Division 25 of the Regulations. It permits HealthCanada to conduct a thorough safety assessment for the proposed product.

Low Acid Foods in Hermetically Sealed Containers (Canned Foods)

Low acid foods in hermetically sealed containers (LAFHSC) are foods that generallyhave a pH greater than 4.6, a water activity greater than 0.85 and are packaged incontainers that preclude the entrance of microorganisms and air. Traditionally, theseproducts have been limited to canned vegetables, mushrooms, meat, fish and poultry. However, with the recent progress in food technology and packaging techniques(including the tetra-pak container concept), and with the influx of new foods to theCanadian market, the variety of low acid foods in hermetically sealed containers isincreasing very rapidly.

These foods, if improperly processed or packaged in damaged, leaky containers, canprovide a perfect medium for the growth of bacteria which may cause illness (includingbotulism, a potentially deadly form of food poisoning). Division 27 of the Food and DrugRegulations contains requirements specific to these products to prevent and control anypublic health threat.

Food labels or containers must bear a legible and permanent code or lot number thatidentifies the establishment and the date (day, month and year) the food wasprocessed. The importer must be able to provide the exact meaning of this code or lotnumber to an inspector upon request.

Knowledge of the production and quality control procedures implemented at the

manufacturing plant is important, in order to ensure that the imported food is safe anddoes not pose a health hazard.

Margarine

Effective January 1, 1995, margarine was placed on the Import Control List establishedunder the Export and Import Permits Act. Therefore, an import permit issued by theDepartment of Foreign Affairs and International Trade is required to import margarine.(Please see Section G for further information.)

The Food and Drug Regulations outline standards of identity and composition for bothmargarine and calorie-reduced margarine. Certain provinces may also have restrictionson the addition of colour to margarine.

Maple Products

Maple products include maple syrup, maple sugar, soft maple sugar, maple butter andmaple taffy, that are obtained exclusively from maple sap.

Imported maple products must meet the requirements of the Maple ProductsRegulations under the Canada Agricultural Products Act. These regulations coverquality, labelling, packaging (including standardized sizes), grading, and health andsafety requirements. At present, there is no federal requirement for importers of maplesyrup and maple products to be licensed.

All shipments are subject to inspection at their destination point by the Canadian FoodInspection Agency.

Meat and Poultry

Importation of meat and poultry meat products into Canada is regulated by the MeatInspection Act and Regulations and the Health of Animals Act and Regulations,administered by the CFIA, and the Export and Import Permits Act, administered by theDepartment of Foreign Affairs and International trade.

Before the products are imported, the exporting country must be evaluated by theCanadian Food Inspection Agency and found to have a national meat inspectionsystem, including a residue monitoring program, equivalent to that of Canada. As well,foreign establishments must be approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agencybefore being eligible to export to Canada.

To prevent the introduction of animal diseases, all importations of meat products aresubject to the Health of Animals Act and Regulations. Some foreign countries arerestricted in the type of product they can export to Canada.

Before they are imported, all prepared meat and poultry products require a label/recipe

registration issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. This requirement alsoapplies to all raw meat and poultry sold in consumer packages.

Each commercial shipment of meat must be certified by the foreign national veterinarycompetent authorities. The certificates, along with other information for all importedmeat and poultry meat product shipments, must be presented to one of three CFIAImport Service Centres for clearance before the shipments are allowed entry intoCanada by Canadian Customs officers. All shipments from countries other than USA,must be then presented in one of the Canadian establishments registered under theMeat Inspection Regulations, 1990 for inspection of imported meat products, forinspection by a CFIA inspector. In the case of meat imports from the USA, one in everyten shipments of similar products from the same US processing establishment must bedelivered to one of the Canadian establishments registered under the Meat InspectionRegulations, 1990 for inspection of meat products imported from the USA, forinspection by a CFIA inspector.

Shipments of poultry (fresh or prepared) and fresh, chilled and frozen beef fromnon-NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) countries usually require animport permit issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.(Please see Section G for further information.)

Novel Foods

Recent developments in food science and biotechnology have resulted in theintroduction of novel foods into the Canadian marketplace, as well as foods developedusing novel processes.

Novel foods include:

a. a substance, including a microorganism, that does not have a history ofsafe use as a food;

b. a food that has been manufactured, prepared, preserved, or packaged bya process thati) has not been previously applied to that food, and

ii) caused the food to undergo a major change; andc. a food that is derived from a plant, animal or microorganism that has been

genetically modified such thati) the plant, animal or microorganism exhibits characteristics that

were not previously observed in that plant, animal ormicroorganism,

ii) the plant, animal or microorganism no longer exhibitscharacteristics that were previously observed in that plant, animalor microorganism,

iii) one or more characteristics of the plant, animal or microorganismno longer fall within the anticipated range for that plant, animal ormicroorganism.

The Novel Food Regulations under the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations (Division28) establish a clear and stringent process for evaluating the safety of novel foods. Manufacturers and importers of novel foods are required to notify Health Canada oftheir intention to market a new product in Canada, before sale or advertisement forsale. This pre-market notification permits Health Canada to conduct a thorough safetyassessment of the proposed product.

Safety assessment of a novel food includes the following considerations: evaluation ofthe process used to develop the food product; comparison of its characteristics to thoseof traditional food counterparts; its nutritional quality; the potential for new toxicants oranti-nutrients; and the potential allergenicity of any proteins that have been introducedinto the food by genetic modification techniques. In this way, Health Canada providesassurance that the novel food is safe.

For information on novel foods, contact the Novel Foods Section of the Office of FoodBiotechnology, Health Canada, at (613) 941-5535. Information is also available on theHealth Canada web site at:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/food-aliment/mh-dm/ofb-bba/nfi-ani/e_novel_foods_and_ingredient.html

The responsibility for the labelling of novel foods is shared between Health Canada andthe Canadian Food Inspection Agency. For information on the labelling of novel foods,see the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s web site, Office of Biotechnology, at:

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/ppc/biotech/tech/labetie.shtml

Importers are also required to notify the Canadian Food Inspection Agency of theirintention to import fruits, vegetables, tubers and grains derived from plants with noveltraits, including transgenic plants. Assessments of the proposed products will beconducted to evaluate the risk to the agricultural and forestry environment.

For detailed information regarding Canadian plant protection import requirements, referto the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) web site at:

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/d-96-13e.shtml

Sports Nutrition Products

Canada has very specific compositional and labelling requirements for foods, andstrictly controls the addition of vitamins, minerals and amino acids to foods. (SeeSection D: Addition of Vitamin and Mineral Nutrients to Food.) Many sports nutritionproducts produced outside the country do not comply with the compositional andlabelling requirements contained in the Food and Drug Regulations. They may containnon-permitted ingredients, and/or make unacceptable label claims. Some products,because of their composition or because they bear drug claims, are considered drugsand require a Drug Identification Number (DIN) from the Therapeutic ProductsDirectorate, Health Canada, before they can be sold in Canada.

Wildlife

Importers of certain exotic and rare foods should be aware that Environment Canadaadministers the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of WildFauna and Flora, commonly known as CITES. This Convention controls theinternational movement of designated wildlife through an international permit system.(See Section B: Environment Canada, and Section F: Convention on InternationalTrade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.) In Canada, all CITES importpermits are issued by the CITES Management Authority of the Canadian WildlifeService, Environment Canada, Ottawa: (819 ) 997-1840.

All CITES-regulated wild animals and plants, whether alive or dead, are controlled,including their parts or derivatives, and specimens bred in captivity orartificially-propagated.

All endangered wild animals and plants listed in Appendix I of the Convention mustreceive prior import authorization from the CITES Management Authority in Canada, aswell as prior export authorization from the CITES Management Authority for the countryof export. Commercial trade in these species is not normally permitted.

Generally, all other CITES-controlled animals and plants listed in Appendices II and IIIof the Convention can be commercially traded as long as prior export authorization hasbeen obtained from the CITES Management Authority of the country of export. If theimport is accompanied by a valid foreign CITES export permit, no Canadian CITESimport permit is required.

There are also controls on the importation of certain species designated as harmful toour ecosystems under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation ofInternational and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA).

All live animals listed under CITES must be transported in accordance with theInternational Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animal Regulations and CITESGuidelines for Transport.

Section FImport Procedures and Documents

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency Requirements

In order to obtain the release of a commercial shipment at the Customs office, thefollowing documents are required:

! two copies of the cargo control document. This document may be amanifest, waybill or some other approved document obtained from thecarrier or freight forwarder.

! two copies of an invoice to support the value of the goods. This invoiceprovides information concerning the shipment including: details regardingthe importer and exporter, a description of the goods, the value of thegoods, the country of origin and destination of the goods, and thecurrency of settlement. A Canada Customs’ invoice or a commercialinvoice containing all the required information is necessary for goods witha value of $1,600 or greater. An additional copy of the invoice is requiredin cases where the importer or broker intends to transmit the finalaccounting data through CADEX (Customs Automated Data Exchange).

! two copies of a fully completed B3 form, for all shipments for commercialuse in Canada, regardless of value. The B3 document is used for dutyand tax purposes. A third copy of this form is required by StatisticsCanada for shipments valued over $1,600.

! all permits, certificates, licenses or other documentation required byCanada Customs and Revenue Agency or other government departmentsfor the release of food shipments. Generally, original documents arenecessary.

Special programs exist to speed the transit time through Customs. The Pre-ArrivalReview System (PARS) allows Customs to process release information before thegoods arrive, thus accelerating release or referral of goods when they do arrive. TheFrequent Import Release System (FIRST) processes repetitive importations of low riskshipments with a significant savings in time.

Release on Minimum Documentation Option is another program offered by CanadaCustoms and Revenue Agency, to importers or brokers who post security with CanadaCustoms and Revenue Agency for release of goods prior to payment of duties.Importers or brokers requesting this option provide specified minimal documentationrather than the complete information otherwise required. When goods are released onminimum documentation, the importer or broker must present or transmit confirmingaccounting data within five full business days from the date the goods are released.

Further information regarding Customs’ release systems and procedures, duties, tariff

classifications and taxes may be obtained from local Canada Customs and RevenueAgency offices or from the Customs Automated Information System, which can beaccessed toll free in Canada at (800) 461-9999.

Also available from Canada Customs and Revenue Agency is the publication, Guide toImporting Commercial Goods. (See Appendix III for contact information.)

Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Automated Import System(CFIA-AIS, AIRS, ITS)

AIS (Automated Import System)

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's new Automated Import System (CFIA-AIS) isa computerized system for the management of all imported products regulated by theAgency. This program is designed to speed up the importation of CFIA goods at theborder, which often have additional specific import requirements. It also allowsinspectors to focus on high risk commodities.

The CFIA-AIS interfaces electronically with the Canada Customs and Revenue Agencyand links the two agencies into an electronic, single-window of service.

The program is comprised of various modules that work together as an informationprovision system and a tracking system.

AIRS (Automated Import Reference System)

The Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) is a comprehensive reference systemthat provides detailed information on import requirements for all Canadian FoodInspection Agency commodities. This reference tool is available on compact disc, andon the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s web site at :

http://airs-sari.inspection.gc.ca/airs-sari.asp .

ITS (Import Tracking System)

The Import Tracking System (ITS) enables Canadian Food Inspection Agencypersonnel to trace shipments from the point of arrival to their final destination. It allowsfor effective scheduling of inland inspections and monitoring of import activities.

For more information, see the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s web site athttp://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/decisions/19980501e.shtml or contact theNational Imports Operation Division at (613) 225-2342.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of WildFauna and Flora (CITES)

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna andFlora (CITES) monitors the international trade of endangered species through aninternational permit system. (See Section B: Environment Canada, and Section E:Wildlife.)

A CITES permit (import or export) must be an original document. Photocopies (exceptin the case of artificially-propagated plants and circus animals) and fax copies ofpermits are not accepted as alternatives to original documents. Permits must beobtained prior to shipment; those issued after an exportation or importation hasoccurred cannot be accepted as valid documents.

Foreign CITES export permits must be presented to Customs at the time of import, forCustoms validation. Customs will retain the validated copy and forward it to theCanadian CITES Management Authority in Ottawa.

All live wildlife must be exported or imported according to International Air TransportAssociation (IATA) Live Animals Regulations and CITES Guidelines for Transport.

Further information on import requirements of CITES listed wildlife may be found onEnvironment Canada’s Website at http://www.cites.ec.gc.ca

Section GTariff Rate Quotas (TRQ)

In compliance with its World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments, Canada hasreplaced such measures as import prohibitions and quantitative restrictions on certainagricultural products with Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs). Under the TRQ system, importswhich are within quotas are subject to low or free rates of duty, until the quota limit hasbeen reached. Once quota limits have been reached, over-quota imports are subject tosignificantly higher Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) rates of duty. These higher tariffsenable Canada to maintain its system of orderly marketing (supply management) forcertain agricultural products.

First-Come, First-Served (FCFS) TRQs

FCFS TRQs apply to wheat, barley and their products, cut roses from Israel, dry onionsand fresh strawberries from Chile, as well as to certain agricultural products fromMexico (such as roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, tomatoes, onions or shallots,cucumbers and gherkins, broccoli and cauliflower, strawberries for processing, otherstrawberries, and preserved tomatoes).

These TRQ goods are not subject to prior quota allocations, or to specific importpermits. In the cases of wheat, barley and their products, as well as cut roses fromIsrael, quota control is based on a general import permit (GIP). In some cases, such asthe importation of onions and strawberries originating in Chile and certain agriculturalproducts originating in Mexico, no GIP exists, but the FCFS quota system works in thesame manner.

Non FCFS

Non first-come, first-served TRQs apply to broiler hatching chicks and eggs, chicken,turkey, non-NAFTA beef and veal, cheese, butter, milk and cream, buttermilk, yogurt,dairy blends, ice goods and margarine.

The goods may be imported under a specific permit issued by the Department ofForeign Affairs and International Trade, which is based on prior allocations to importers.

Allocating TRQs

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Export and Import ControlsBureau) is responsible for allocating quotas for TRQ goods and for issuing the permitsto import the agricultural TRQ goods included on the Import Control List (ICL), underthe authority of the Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA). For more information onquota allocation and how to obtain a permit for agricultural TRQ goods, please contact

the Export and Import Controls Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and InternationalTrade, at the address listed in Appendix III.

The following documents are available from the Department of Foreign Affairs andInternational Trade. (See Appendix III for contact information):

! copies of general import permits (GIPs), ! the Export and Import Permits Act, ! the Import Control List, and ! notices to importers providing details on the administration of all TRQs.

Administering TRQs

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (Customs and Trade Administration) isresponsible for the administration of FCFS TRQ goods, which includes monitoring theirimportation and counting all imports of within-quota TRQ goods. Canada Customs andRevenue Agency also makes this information available to the public, including theamount of quota used and the amount still available. For more information on theadministration of TRQs, please contact the Customs and Trade Administration Branch,Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, at the address shown in Appendix III. Thedepartment publishes a numbered series of memoranda (D10-18-1, D10-18-5,D10-18-6, D10-18-7, D10-18-8 and D10-18-9), more fully explaining various TRQissues, and outlining any changes or new agreements in detail.

Appendix IFederal Legislation

The following are brief descriptions of legislation that may apply to importactivities, listed in alphabetical order. Other legislation may apply. For furtherinformation, contact the appropriate federal or provincial authorities.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act(AMPs)

The Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act (AMPs)establishes a system of administrative monetary penalties for the enforcement of thefollowing acts: the Canada Agricultural Products Act, the Feeds Act, the Fertilizers Act,the Health of Animals Act, the Meat Inspection Act, the Plant Protection Act, and theSeeds Act.

Canada Agricultural Products Act and associated Regulations (CAPAct)

The Canada Agricultural Products Act (CAP Act) and associated Regulations aredesigned to set national standards and grades for agricultural products and to regulatethe marketing of agricultural products in import, export, and interprovincial trade.

They provide for the licensing of dealers in agricultural products; the inspection,grading, labelling, and packaging (including standardized sizes) of regulated products;the registration of establishments; standards governing the construction, maintenanceand operation of establishments; and mechanisms to settle disputes over transactionsbetween dealers of fresh fruits and vegetables.

The following regulations fall under the CAP Act:

! Dairy Products Regulations ! Egg Regulations ! Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Regulations! Honey Regulations ! Licensing and Arbitration Regulations ! Maple Products Regulations ! Processed Egg Regulations ! Processed Products Regulations ! Livestock and Poultry Carcass Grading Regulations

Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act (CFIAA)

This Act established the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Its purpose is to:

a) Enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of food inspection and relatedservices for food and animal and plant health through consolidation;

b) Contribute to consumer protection and facilitate a more uniform andconsistent approach to safety and quality standards and risk-based inspectionsystems;

c) Deliver its services in a cost effective manner;

d) Promote trade and commerce;

e) Pursue a greater degree of collaboration and consultation between federaldepartments and with other orders of government.

The CFIAA sets out the responsibilities, accountability regime, organization, human andfinancial resources regime, powers and reporting framework of the Agency.

Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act

The Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act is a federal statute which promotes faircompetition in the marketplace by discouraging deceptive business practices andencouraging the provision of accurate and meaningful information on the labels ofprepackaged food products.

The Regulations prescribe requirements for bilingual labelling, metric net quantitydeclarations and for the size and location of mandatory labelling information. TheRegulations also prescribe standardized sizes for some consumer products includingthe following foods: glucose syrup and refined sugar syrup, peanut butter, and wine.

The Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations also establish the average systemas the criterion for determining compliance with net quantity declarations.

Customs Act

The Customs Act provides the legislative authority for Customs inspectors to detaingoods that may be in contravention of the Customs Act or any other act or regulationthat prohibits, controls or regulates the importation or exportation of goods.

Export and Import Permits Act

The authority to control the importation and exportation of commodities andtechnologies is derived from this Act.

The Export and Import Permits Act provides for the establishment of a series of listsknown as the Import Control List (ICL), the Export Control List (ECL) and the AreaControl List (ACL). For each one of these lists, the Act sets out criteria that govern theinclusion of goods or countries on the respective lists. By issuing import and exportpermits, government controls the flow of goods named on these lists, and to specificdestinations.

The Export and Import Permits Act provides the Minister of Foreign Affairs with theauthority to allocate quotas to firms. Once quotas are allocated, import permits will beissued to quota holders up to their quota level as long as the terms and conditions ofthe permit are met. The Minister has the authority to issue permits in excess of thequota-shares, called supplementary import permits. Such permits may be altered,amended, suspended or cancelled by the Minister at his sole discretion.

Products under import control include:

! textiles and clothing, ! agricultural products, ! steel products, and ! weapons and munitions.

Fish Inspection Act

The Fish Inspection Act and Regulations establish composition, quality, labelling andpackaging requirements for fish and fish products traded internationally andinterprovincially. Regulations also set standards of construction, operation andmaintenance for processing establishments.

Fisheries Act

The Fish Health Regulations under the Fisheries Act are designed to prevent thespread of infectious fish diseases, both by inspecting production sources of fish stocks,and by controlling the movements of infected fish stocks. They apply to live and deadcultured fish and eggs (including any fertilized or unfertilized sex products) of culturedand wild fish. These regulations apply to certain types of fish from the familySalmonidae.

Food and Drugs Act

The Food and Drugs Act is a consumer protection statute dealing with food, drugs,cosmetics and medical devices. It establishes minimum health and safety requirements,

as well as provisions preventing fraud and deception for all food sold in Canada. "Sell"as defined in the Food and Drugs Act means to offer for sale, expose for sale, and havein possession for sale and distribution, whether or not the distribution is made forconsideration. Regulations contain food labelling requirements and standards ofidentity, composition, strength, potency, purity, quality or other properties for severalclasses of foods.

Health of Animals Act

The purpose of the Health of Animals Act and Regulations is to prevent the introductionof animal diseases into Canada and to protect the agricultural sectors and theeconomy.

The Health of Animals Act and Regulations regulate international trade in live animals,animal products and by-products, animal feeds, veterinary biologics and biotechnologyproducts. They provide for the approval and registration of private quarantine premisesand establishments involved in the importation of animals, animal products andveterinary biologics. They also set standards of construction, operation andmaintenance for these facilities and establishments.

Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act

The Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act is a federal statute concerning thetransportation and release of intoxicating liquors in respect of their interprovincial andinternational movements. With few exceptions, this legislation restricts the importationand transportation of beverage alcohol to provincial liquor authorities.

Meat Inspection Act

The Meat Inspection Act and Regulations regulate international and interprovincialtrade in meat and meat products. They provide for the registration of establishmentsinvolved in the slaughter, processing or packaging of products traded internationally orinterprovincially. Regulations also set standards of construction, operation andmaintenance for registered establishments.

Plant Protection Act

The Plant Protection Act and Regulations provide the legislative authority to prevent theimportation, exportation and spread of pests injurious to plants. The purpose of the Actis to protect plant life and the agricultural and forestry sectors. Plants and plantproducts, including certain fresh fruits and vegetables, are subject to plant protectionimport requirements. The requirements vary according to the degree of risk the productposes. Some goods are prohibited entry into Canada; others require an import permitissued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and/or a Phytosanitary Certificateissued by exporting country.

Weights and Measures Act

The Weights and Measures Act establishes net quantity requirements for commoditiessold on the basis of measure and sets out the criteria for determining commoditycompliance to those requirements.

The Weights and Measures Act does not apply to products subject to net quantityrequirements set out in other federal legislation, and therefore does not apply to foodpackaged for direct sale to the consumer. (These foods are covered under theConsumer Packaging and Labelling Act.) The Weights and Measures Act, however,does apply to foods in shipping containers destined for commercial or industrialenterprises or institutions, products sold in bulk, and clerk-served foods at retail.

The Weights and Measures Act establishes design, performance, installation, and userequirements with regard to measuring devices being used in trade.

Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International andInterprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) (Implementing Act for theConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES))

The Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International andInterprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) is the implementing legislation for theConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES) in Canada. It regulates the international movement of CITES-listed speciesand their derivatives through a permit system. It allows the prosecution in Canada ofimporters who violate wildlife conservation legislation in foreign countries, and permitsCanada to restrict the importation of wildlife designated as harmful to Canadianecosystems.

Appendix IIElectronic Access to Government Information

http://www.canada.gc.ca/

The Government of Canada Primary Internet Site (Canada Site) is the Internetelectronic access point through which Internet users around the world can obtaininformation about Canada, its government and services. Information includes: agovernment overview, federal organizations and programs, federal publications andforms, and several directories.

Government Electronic Directory (GEDS)

http://direct.srv.gc.ca/cgi-bin/direct500/BE

The Government Electronic Directory Services (GEDS) provides an integrateddirectory listing of all federal public servants.

Government of Canada Internet Addresses Directory

http://www.canada.gc.ca/directories/internet_e.html

This directory provides a list of government organizations and their relatedInternet addresses.

Canadian Government Publishing

http://publications.gc.ca

Canadian Food inspection Agency

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s website contains a variety of informationabout the Agency, its activities, programs, services, and publications, including:

! import information, novel foods, food safety, food recalls, labelling, including theGuide to Food Labelling and Advertising; and links to other federal departments,

Government of Canada

provinces and some of its trading partners.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canadahttp://www.agr.ca/

Canada Business Service Centres http://www.cbsc.org/

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/

Custom Offices and Telephone Numbers:http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/contact/rco-e.html

Canadian Grain Commissionhttp://www.grainscanada.gc.ca/

Canadian Wheat Boardhttp://www.cwb.ca/

Environment Canadahttp://www.ec.gc.ca/

! Canadian Wildlife Servicehttp://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/

! For information regarding the administration, compliance and enforcementprocess for the Wild Animal And Plant Protection and Regulation OfInternational And Interprovincial Trade Act and Regulations see thefollowing Internet address.http://www.cites.ec.gc.ca/

! For information on the Convention on International Trade in EndangeredSpecies of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) see:http://www.cites.ec.gc.ca/

Fisheries and Oceans Canada http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/index.htm

Other Federal Government Departments and Agencies

Foreign Affairs and International Tradehttp://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/

! Export and Import Controls Bureau:http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/~eicb/epd_home.htm

! Information on how to Import goods into Canada, and how to set up animport business:http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/~eicb/impcan-e.htm

Health Canadahttp://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/

! Food Program, Health Products and Food Branch http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/food-aliment/

! Natural Health Products Directoratehttp://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/nhpd-dpsn/index_e.html

! Therapeutic Products Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpb-dgps/therapeut/

Industry Canadahttp://www.ic.gc.ca/

! Strategis: Canada’s Business and Consumer Site http://www.strategis.ic.gc.ca/

! Competition Bureauhttp://competition.ic.gc.ca/

! Electronic Commerce in Canadahttp://e-com.ic.gc.ca/

! Measurement Canadahttp://mc.ic.gc.ca/

Justice Canadahttp://www.canada.justice.gc.ca/

Newfoundland and Labradorhttp://www.gov.nf.ca/

Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture http://www.gov.nf.ca/fishaq/Department of Forest Resources & Agrifoods http://www.gov.nf.ca/fra/Department of Health and Community Services http://www.gov.nf.ca/health/

Nova Scotiahttp://www.gov.ns.ca/

Department of Agriculture and Fisherieshttp://gov.ns.ca/nsaf/home.htm Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relationshttp://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/ Department of Health http://www.gov.ns.ca/health/

Prince Edward Islandhttp://www.gov.pe.ca/

Agriculture and Forestry http://www.gov.pe.ca/af/index.php3 Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment http://www.gov.pe.ca/fae/index.php3Health and Social Services http://www.gov.pe.ca/hss/index.php3

New Brunswickhttp://www.gnb.ca/

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture http://www.gnb.ca/0027/Index-e.aspDepartment of Health and Wellnesshttp://www.gnb.ca/0051/index-e.asp

Quebechttp://www.gouv.qc.ca/Index_en.html

Agriculture, Pêcheries et Alimentation http://www.agr.gouv.qc.ca/ Santé et des Services sociaux http://www.msss.gouv.qc.ca/index.htm

Provincial and Territorial Departments

Ontariohttp://www.gov.on.ca/

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Foodhttp://www.gov.on.ca/OMAF/ Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Business Serviceshttp://www.cbs.gov.on.ca/

Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Carehttp://www.gov.on.ca/health/

Manitobahttp://www.gov.mb.ca/index.shtml

Manitoba Agriculture and Foodhttp://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/ Manitoba Consumer and Corporate Affairs http://www.gov.mb.ca/cca/Manitoba Health http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/

Saskatchewanhttp://www.gov.sk.ca/

Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalizationhttp://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/Saskatchewan Health http://www.health.gov.sk.ca

Albertahttp://www.gov.ab.ca/

Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/ Alberta Health and Wellnesshttp://www.health.gov.ab.ca/

British Columbiahttp://www.gov.bc.ca/

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries http://www.gov.bc.ca/agf/ Ministry of Health Serviceshttp://www.gov.bc.ca/healthservices/

Yukonhttp://www.gov.yk.ca/

Health and Social Services http://www.hss.gov.yk.ca/

Northwest Territorieshttp://www.gov.nt.ca/

Health and Social Services http://www.hlthss.gov.nt.ca/ Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development http://www.rwed.gov.nt.ca/

Nunavuthttp://www.gov.nu.ca/

Federal Legislation

Department of Justicehttp://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/index.html

The Department of Justice has published most federal Acts and Regulations, includingthose referred to in this Guide, on its website.

Canadian Food Inspection Agencyhttp://www.cfia-acia.agr.ca/english/reg/rege.shtml

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has published departmental consolidations ofthe following acts and regulations on our website:! Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act ! Canada Agricultural Products Act (CAP Act) and Associated Regulations

- Dairy Products Regulations - Egg Regulations - Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Regulations - Honey Regulations - Licensing and Arbitration Regulations - Livestock Carcass Grading Regulations- Maple Products Regulations - Processed Egg Regulations - Processed Products Regulations

! Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act! Fish Inspection Act and Regulations! Health of Animals Act and Regulations! Meat Inspection Act and Regulations! Plant Protection Act and Regulations

Other Internet SitesMany Federal Departments and Agencies also publish consolidations of the Acts andRegulations they administer. The following acts and regulations may be also found atthe addresses below:

! Guide to the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulationshttp://www.strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/cp01007e.html

! Fish Health Protection Regulations of the Fisheries Acthttp://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/reg/jredirect2.shtml?fpa

! Food and Drugs Act and Regulationshttp://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/reg/jredirect2.shtml?drga

! Weights and Measures Act and Regulation http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/reg/jredirect2.shtml?wma

! Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International andInterprovincial Trade Act and Regulationshttp://www.cites.ec.gc.ca/eng/sct4/index_e.cfm

Canada Gazettehttp://www.canada.gc.ca/gazette/main.html

Since 1841, the Canada Gazette has been the official news bulletin of the Governmentof Canada. The Canada Gazette is published under authority of the StatutoryInstruments Act. It consists of three parts:

Canada Gazette, Part I

Published every Saturday, it contains all formal public notices, official appointments,miscellaneous notices and proposed regulations from the government and privatesector, that are required to be published by a federal statute or a regulation.

Canada Gazette, Part II

Published every second Wednesday, it contains regulations as defined in the StatutoryInstruments Act, and certain other classes of statutory instruments.

Canada Gazette, Part III

Published as soon as is reasonably practicable after Royal Assent, it contains the mostrecent Public Acts of Parliament and their enactment proclamations.

Appendix IIITelephone Numbers and Contact Information

Telephone listings for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (including its ImportService Centres, its Food Safety Inquiries, its Single Access Food Labelling ServiceOffices, its Fish, Seafood and Product Division, and its National Import OperationsDivision) are listed first.

Complete contact information for Canada Business Service Centres follows. Theremainder of the Appendix contains phone and general contact information for federaldepartments and agencies, arranged alphabetically, followed by some provincial andterritorial telephone contact points (including liquor control), and some non-governmentassociations.

Government Departments and Agencies

1. Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Import Service Centres (ISC)

The Import Service Centres handle telephone inquiries regarding import requirementsfor all commodities regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Eastern Import Service CentreHours 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. (local time)Tel. (877) 493-0468 (inside Canada or U.S.)

(514) 493-0468 (all other countries)Fax (514) 493-4103

Central Import Service CentreHours 7 a.m. to midnight (local time)Tel. (800) 835-4486 (inside Canada or U.S.)

(416) 661-3039 (all other countries)Fax (416) 661-5767

Western Import Service CentreHours 7 a.m. to midnight (local time)Tel. (888) 732-6222 (inside Canada or U.S.)

(604) 666-9240 (all other countries)Fax (604) 270-9247

Food Safety Inquiries

For enquiries regarding food contamination, food poisoning, food allergies, food recalls,etc., call:

OntarioTel. (800) 701-2737

QuebecTel. (800) 561-3350

For all other Provinces and territories call the Canadian Food Inspection Agencyautomated line at: 1-800-442-2342

Single Access Food Labelling Service Offices

The following Single Access Food Labelling Service offices will provide labellinginformation for all foods other than fish. Information regarding the labelling of fish maybe obtained from the Fish, Seafood and Product Division of the Canadian FoodInspection Agency (see under Fish, Seafood and Product Division below).

Newfoundland and LabradorTel. (709) 772-5519Fax (709) 772-5100

Nova ScotiaTel. (902) 426-2563Fax: (902) 426-4844

Prince Edward Island Tel. (902) 566-7290Fax (902) 566-7334

New BrunswickTel. (506) 452-3047Fax: (506) 452-3923

Quebec Trois-Rivières (In the province ofQuebec, all label reviews should be sentto this office.)Tel. (819) 371-5207Fax (819) 371-5268

Montreal/AnjouTel. (514) 493-8859Fax (514) 493-9965

LongueuilTel. (450) 928-4300

Fax (450) 928-4104

Quebec CityTel. (418) 648-7373Fax: (418) 648-4792

OntarioDownsview (In the province of Ontario,all label reviews should be sent to thisoffice.)Toll-free(800) 667-2657Tel. (416) 954-0623Fax (416) 954-0608

GuelphTel. (519) 837-9400Fax: (519) 837-9772

Manitoba Tel. (204) 983-2220Fax (204) 984-6008

Saskatchewan Tel. (306) 975-8904Fax (306) 975-4339

AlbertaCalgary Tel. (403) 292-4650

Fax (403) 292-5692 EdmontonTel. (780) 495-3333Fax (780) 495-3359

British ColumbiaNew WestminsterTel. (604) 666-6513Fax (604) 666-1261

KelownaTel. (250) 470-4884Fax (250) 470-4899

VictoriaTel. (250) 363-3455Fax (250) 363-0336

Fish, Seafood and Production Division

For information regarding the labelling of fish products, contact:

Tel. (613) 225-2342 ext 4557Fax (613) 228-6654E-mail: MAndruczyk@inspection.gc.ca

National Import Operations Division

OttawaTel. (613) 225-2342 extension 4181Fax (613) 228-6653

MontréalTel. (514) 283-3815 extension 268Fax (514) 283-3143

E-mail: mlabrosse@inspection.gc.ca

2. Canada Business Service Centres

Canada Business Service Centres provide a single access point for information onalmost all federal and business related programs, services and regulations.

Newfoundland and LabradorCanada/Newfoundland and Labrador Business Service Centre90 O’Leary AvenueP.O. Box 8687, Station ASt. John’s, Newfoundland A1B 3T1

Tel. (709) 772-6022(800) 668-1010 (Atlantic only)

Fax (709) 772-6090Internet http://www.cbsc.org/nl/

Email info@cbsc.ic.gc.ca

Nova ScotiaCanada/Nova Scotia Business Service Centre1575 Brunswick StreetHalifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2G1

Tel. (902) 426-8604(800) 668-1010 (Atlantic only)

Fax (902) 426-6530TTY (800) 797-4188

(902) 426-4188Internet http://www.cbsc.org/ns/Email halifax@cbsc.ic.gc.ca

Prince Edward IslandCanada/Prince Edward Island Business Service Centre75 Fitzroy StreetP.O. Box 40Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 7K2

Tel. (902) 368-0771(800) 668-1010 (Atlantic only)

Fax (902) 566-7377Internet http://www.cbsc.org/pe/Email pei@cbsc.ic.gc.ca

New BrunswickCanada/New Brunswick Business Service Centre570 Queen StreetFredericton, New Brunswick E3B 6Z6

Tel. (506) 444-6140(800) 668-1010 (Atlantic only)

Fax (506) 444-6172TTY (506) 444-6166

(800) 887-6550Internet http://www.cbsc.org/nb/Email cbscnb@cbsc.ic.gc.ca

QuebecInfo entrepreneurs5 Place Ville MarieSuite 12500, Plaza LevelMontreal Quebec H3B 4Y2

Tel. (514) 496-INFO (4636)

(800) 322-INFO (4636)Fax (514) 496-5934Internet http://infoentrepreneurs.orgEmail infoentrepreneurs@cbsc.ic.gc.ca

OntarioCanada – Ontario Business Service Centre Toronto, Ontario

Tel. (800) 567-2345Fax (416) 954-8597Internet http://www.cbsc.org/ontario/Email ontario@cbsc.ic.gc.ca

ManitobaCanada/Manitoba Business Service Centre 250 – 240 Graham AvenueP.O. Box 2609Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4B3

Tel. (204) 984-2272(800) 665-2019

Fax (204) 983-3852TTY: (800)457-8466Internet http://www.cbsc.org/manitoba/index.htmlEmail manitoba@cbsc.ic.gc.ca

SaskatchewanCanada/Saskatchewan Business Service Centre345 – 3rd Avenue, SouthSaskatoon, Saskatchewan S7K 2H6

Tel. (306) 956-2323Toll-free (800) 667-4374Fax (306) 956-2328TTY (306) 975-6308Toll-free (877) 990-2699Internet http://www.cbsc.org/sask/Email saskatooncsbsc@cbsc.ic.gc.ca

AlbertaThe Business Link Business Service CentreSuite 100, 10237-104 Street NWEdmonton, Alberta T5J 1B1

Tel. (780) 422-7722

(800) 272-9675Fax (780) 422-0055Internet http://www.cbsc.org/alberta/Email buslink@cbsc.ic.gc.ca

British Columbia Canada/British Columbia Business Service Centre601 West Cordova StreetVancouver, British Columbia V6B lGl

Tel. (604) 775-5525(800) 667-2272 (B.C. region)

Fax (604) 775-5520Internet http://www.smallbusinessbc.ca/

YukonCanada/Yukon Business Service Centre201-208 Main StreetWhitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2A9

Tel. (867) 633-6257(800) 661-0543

Fax (867) 667-2001Internet http://www.cbsc.org/yukon/Email yukon@cbsc.ic.gc.ca

Northwest TerritoriesCanada/Northwest Territories Business Service CentreP.O. Box 13208th Floor Scotia CentreYellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 2L9

Tel. (867) 873-7958(800) 661-0599

Fax (867) 873-0101Internet http://www.cbsc.org/nwt/Email yel@cbsc.ic.gc.ca

NunavutCanada-Nunavut Business Service CentreP.O. Box 1000, Station 1198Parnaivik BuildingIqualuit, Nunavut X0A 0H0

Tel. (867) 979-6813Toll-free (877) 499-5199Fax (867) 979-6823

Toll-free fax: (877) 499-5299Internet http://www.cbsc.org/nunavut/E-mail cnbsc@gov.nu.ca

3. Canada Customs and Revenue Agency

Customs Automated Information System

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency provides an automated telephone informationservice:

Tel. (800) 461-9999(204) 983-3500(506) 636-5064

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency has many local offices. Their addresses andtelephone numbers are listed in the Government of Canada section of the telephonebook. Their website also contains lists of addresses and telephone numbers forcertain Canada Customs and Revenue Agency offices. (See Appendix II.)

At 22 border offices, Canada Customs and Revenue Agency offers service 24 hours aday, seven days a week, for the release of commercial shipments.

Information on the Administration of Tariff Rate Quotas on Agricultural Products

Interdepartmental ProgramsAdmissibility Programs DivisionTrade Policy and Interpretations DirectorateCustoms BranchCanada Customs and Revenue AgencySir Richard Scott Building10th Floor, 191 Laurier Avenue WestOttawa, Ontario K1A 0L5

Tel. (613) 954-7129Fax. (613) 946-1520

Excise Duties and Taxes

For information on alcohol:

Excise Duty OperationsCanada Customs and Revenue Agency20th Floor, Tower APlace de Ville, 320 Queen StreetOttawa, Ontario K1A 0L5

Tel (613) 954-8473Fax (613) 954-2226

Information for Businesses

For information on registration of import/export accounts, GST and payroll deductions,etc., phone: (800) 959-5525.

4. Canadian Grain Commission

For information regarding the importation of grains and for End-Use Certificates,contact:

Tel. (800) 853-6705(204) 983-2770

Fax (204) 983-2751

5. Canadian Wheat Board

The Canadian Wheat Board423 Main StreetP.O. Box 816, Station MainWinnipeg, Manitoba R3C 2P5

General Enquiries:Tel. (204) 983-0239

(800)-ASK-4-CWBFax (204) 983-3841

For information on the CITES Convention and CITES permits, contact:

The AdministratorConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and FloraCanadian Wildlife ServiceEnvironment CanadaOttawa, Ontario K1A 0H3

Tel. (819) 997-1840Fax. (819) 953-6283

7. Fisheries and Oceans Canada

For information on import permits and addresses of Local Fish Health Officers, contact:

6. Environment Canada – Wildlife Import Offices

National Registry of Fish DiseasesDepartment of Fisheries and OceansOttawa, Ontario K1A 0E6

Tel. (613) 990-0276Fax (613) 954-0807

8. Foreign Affairs and International Trade

For further information on quota allocation or obtaining a permit for agricultural TRQgoods, please contact:

Export and Import Controls Bureau Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade125 Sussex Drive4thFloor, Tower COttawa, Ontario K1A 0G2

Tel. (613) 995-8104Fax (613) 996-0612

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade provides an automatedtelephone information service (Foreign Affairs Info Centre). The department alsoprovides an automated faxlink information service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,which provides the caller with information bulletins from a fax machine. Info Centre: (613) 944-4000

(800) 267-8376Faxlink: (613) 944-4500

(613) 944-6500 (International)

9. Health Canada

Office of Food Biotechnology

Tel. (613) 941-5535

Food Research Division

For information on food colours, call:Frank E. LancasterFood Colour UnitHealth Products and Food Branch, Health CanadaBanting Research CentreTunney’s PastureOttawa ON K1A 0L2

Tel. (613) 957-0980Fax (613) 941-4775Email frank_lancaster@hc-sc.gc.ca

Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate

Operational Centres:

Atlantic (902) 426-2160

Québec (450) 646-1353

Ontario and NunavutScarborough (416) 973-1600

Manitoba and Saskatchewan (204) 984-1341

Western and Yukon (604) 666-3895

Alberta (District Offices)Calgary (403) 292-5081Edmonton (780) 495-3380

Northwest Territories (780) 495-3380

Natural Health Products Directorate

Tel. (613) 952-2558Email nhpd_general@hc-sc.gc.ca

Therapeutic Products Directorate

Ottawa (613) 957-0368

10. Industry Canada

Competition Bureau

Tel. (800) 348-5358(819) 997-4282

Measurement Canada

Measurement Canada Program Development DivisionStandards Building, #4

Tunney’s PastureHolland AvenueOttawa, Ontario K1A OC9

Tel. (613) 952-0652

11. Information Canada

Information Canada provides information and telephone numbers for federalgovernment agencies, departments, government services or programs, between 8:00a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, Eastern time.

Tel. 1-800-O-Canada (1-800-622-6232)

Internet http:// canada.gc.ca/

Canadian Government Publishing Tel. 1-800-635-7943Internet http://publications.gc.ca/

12. Provincial and Territorial Information

For information on provincial programs and services, please contact the offices listedbelow.Newfoundland and LabradorTel. (709) 729-7097

Nova ScotiaTel. (800) 670-4357

(902) 424-5200

Prince Edward IslandTel. (902) 368-5050

(800) 236-5196

New BrunswickTel. (888) 762-8600

(506) 684-7901

Quebec(800) 363-1363

Hull (819) 772-3232Montreal: (514) 873-2111Quebec City: (418) 643-1344

OntarioFrom within 613 area code:

(800) 268-8758 (other areas) (800) 267-8097 Ottawa: (613) 238-3630Toronto: (416) 326-1234

ManitobaTel. (800) 282-8060

(204) 945-3744

SaskatchewanTel. (306) 787-5140

AlbertaTel. 310-0000 - direct dial

(780) 427-2711

British ColumbiaTel. (800) 663-7867Vancouver: (604) 660-2421Victoria: (250) 387-6121

YukonToll Free (800) 661-0408Tel. (867) 667-5811

NunavutToll Free (877) 334-7266Tel. (867) 975-5000

Northwest TerritoriesTel. (867) 873-7817

13. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF)

Food Inspection Branch5th Floor NW, 1 Stone Road WestGuelph, Ontario, N1G 4Y2

Tel. (519) 826-4230Toll free (888) 466-2372 (Ontario only)Fax: (519) 826-4375

14. Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation(MAPAQ) - Quebec

Direction générale de l'alimentation200 Chemin Sainte-Foy, 11e étageQuébec, Québec G1R 4X6

Tel. 1-800-463-5023Fax (418) 380-2169

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland Liquor Corporation P.O. Box 8750, Station AKenmount Road St. John’s, Newfoundland A1B 3V1

Tel. (709) 724-1112Web Site: http://www.nfliquor.com/

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation93 Chain Lake DriveBear’s Lake Business Park Halifax, Nova Scotia B3S 1A3

Tel. (902) 450-5802Web Site: http://www.nsliquor.ns.ca/

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island Liquor Control Commission P.O. Box 967 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 7M4

Tel. (902) 368-5720Web Site: http://www.gov.pe.ca/infopei/Government/Provincial/PEI_Liquor_Control_Commission/

New Brunswick

New Brunswick Liquor Corporation P.O. Box 20787 Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5B8

15. Provincial and Territorial Liquor Control

Tel. (506) 452-6826Web Site: http://www.nblc-sanb.com/

Quebec

Société des alcools du Québec 905, Avenue Delorimier Montreal, Quebec H2K 3V9

Tel. (514) 873-3816Web Site: http://www.saq.com

Ontario

Liquor Control Board of Ontario 55 Lakeshore Boulevard East Toronto, Ontario M5E 1A4

Tel. (416) 864-2453Web Site: http://www.lcbo.com/

Manitoba

Manitoba Liquor Control CommissionP.O. Box 1023 Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 2X1

Tel. (204) 284-2501Web Site: http://www.mlcc.mb.ca/

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority P.O. Box 5054Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3M3

Tel. (306) 787-1738Web Site: http://www.slga.gov.sk.ca/

Alberta

Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission 50 Corriveau Avenue St. Albert, Alberta T8N 3T5

Tel. (780) 447-8600Web Site: http://www.aglc.gov.ab.ca/

British Columbia

Liquor Distribution Branch Province of British Columbia 2625 Rupert Street Vancouver, British Columbia V5M 3T5

Tel. (604) 252-3000Web Site: http://www.bcliquorstores.com/

Yukon

Yukon Liquor Corporation Board 9031 Quartz Road Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 4P9

Tel. (867) 667-5245Web Site: http://www.ylc.yk.ca/

Northwest Territories

Northwest Territories Liquor Commission Suite 201, 31 Capital Drive Hay River, Northwest Territories X0E 1G2

Tel. (867) 874-2100

Non-Government

Suite 320, 55 Murray St.Ottawa, OntarioK1N 5M3

Tel. (613) 562-3543Fax: (613) 562-3548Internet: http://www.cscb.ca/ E-mail: cscb@cscb.ca

17. Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters Inc.

Suite 1618, Box 60438 University AvenueToronto, Ontario M5G 2K8

16. Canadian Society of Custom Brokers

Tel. (416) 595-5333Fax: (416) 595-8226Internet: http://www.caie.ca/ E-mail: info@caie.ca

18. Electronic Commerce Council of Canada

885 Don Mills Road, Suite 301Toronto, Ontario M3C 1V9

Toll Free: (800)567-7084Toronto: (416) 510-8039Montreal: (514) 355-8929Internet: http://www.eccc.org/E-mail: info@eccc.org

Appendix IVProduct Codes

Universal Product Code (U.P.C.)

The Universal Product Code (U.P.C.) is a 12 digit, all-numeric, machine readable code(bar code) that identifies a consumer package. The U.P.C. is not required bygovernment, but is administered by the Electronic Commerce Council of Canada.Although this code is not required by law, virtually all retailers require that the foodmerchandise they carry be labelled with a U.P.C. The code is used in trackinginventory, pricing, accounting and at the check-out counter. It is also used on invoices,cases, bills of lading, etc.

For more information concerning the U.P.C., or to obtain an application form, contactthe Electronic Commerce Council of Canada at the following address:

Electronic Commerce Council of Canada885 Don Mills RoadSuite 301Toronto, Ontario M3C 1V9

Telephone: (416) 510-8039Toll free: (800) 567-7084Montréal: (514) 355-8929Internet: http://www.eccc.org/ E-mail: info@eccc.org

Harmonized System Codes - HS Codes

The Harmonized System or HS is an international commodity classification systemused in international trade. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency uses HS codes init’s Automated Import System (AIS). The AIS system allows importers to referenceimport requirements and then create an electronic import shipment request that is sentto Canadian Food Inspection Agency via Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. TheCanadian Food Inspection Agency is also planning to use HS codes for export anddomestic systems in the future.