The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), under Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR), has adopted a risk-based approach to inspection, which has resulted in changes to current import processes. It is mandatory for importers to adopt and comply with the new requirements which came into force on January 15, 2019.

 
What’s new for fish importers under the SFCR?

• Fish Import Notifications (FIN) are no longer required by the CFIA to obtain release of a shipment. The import declaration, at time of import, is now the only requirement.
• CFIA notifications or approvals are no longer required to distribute/deliver shipments that have been released by the CBSA.
• Quality Management Program Import (QMPI) and Basic licenses have been replaced by a single SFCR license and the requirement for a Preventative Control Plan (PCP).
• Mandatory product inspections triggered by the Mandatory Inspection List (MIL) and the Enhanced Inspection List (EIL), will be replaced by ongoing compliance verifications conducted on an importer’s PCP.

For a complete list of all the changes related to Fish and Seafood imports, please click here.
 

Important Information

Licenses issued under the Canada Agricultural Products Act, Fish Inspection Act, or Meat Inspection Act, will remain valid until their expiration date, as long as there is a statement indicating that it is also issued under the Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA). Upon expiration, the license holder, will need to apply for a SFCR license through My CFIA.

More information on how and when to obtain a SFCR license can be found on the CFIA Website.