On February 12, 2024, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will automatically check Safe Food For Canadians (SFCR) licences at the border for imports of manufactured foods.
Without a valid SFC licence your shipment will be denied entry into Canada.
What you need to do:
Step 1 – Get a Safe Food for Canadians licence
- Do not wait.
- It may take 15 business days or more to process your application, depending on how complex it is.
- Licences will not be issued manually at the border.
Step 2 – If you have a licence, make sure it’s valid
Follow these steps to make sure your licence is:
- active
- issued for “Importing food”
- issued for the commodities being imported
Licences are valid for 2 years. You must renew your licence before it expires or you will need to apply for a new one.
A licence is required to import food, except for the following:
- Food additives
- Alcoholic beverages
- Food listed in Schedule 1 of the SFCR if they:
- Are not processed and will be manufactured, processed, or treated for use as grain, oil, pulse, sugar or beverage;
- Have a label applied, attached to, or accompanying them that states “For Further Preparation Only”;
- Are not a consumer prepackaged food
Click here to determine if you require an SFCR licence.
For more information, contact Brian Rowe, Director – Customs Compliance & Regulatory Affairs.
