4 answers
What CFIA expects of food importers before, during and after a shipment.
In outline: hold an SFC licence before the shipment arrives, have a preventive control plan unless you're exempt, keep traceability records, make sure the food meets Canadian standards and labelling, and check any commodity-specific import conditions before you order.
Check what applies to my business Source: CFIA: Importing food to Canada, a step-by-step guide (opens in a new tab)
Most licensed importers do. The plan has to show how you make sure the food you import was made under controls that give the same level of protection as Canadian requirements, for example through supplier assessments, certificates and testing.
Source: CFIA: Regulatory requirements, preventive control plan (opens in a new tab)
Traceability records that let you trace food one step back to your supplier and one step forward to your customer, kept for two years, plus the records your PCP calls for, such as supplier evidence and complaint and recall records.
Source: CFIA: Regulatory requirements, traceability for food (opens in a new tab)
Yes. Prepackaged food sold in Canada has to meet Canadian labelling requirements, including bilingual mandatory information and a Canadian-format Nutrition Facts table, and some imported foods need a country-of-origin statement.
General information, reviewed 2026-10-28. It isn't legal advice or a determination for your business; what applies depends on your products, activities and markets.
Related solution: SFCR licensing and PCP
See what's includedA few sentences are enough. I'll reply with a sensible next step.
