Know the facts: the CFIA's role in regulating cannabis

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) administers a number of acts and regulations that relate broadly to the import, production and use of plants. These provisions also apply to fertilizers used in cannabis cultivation, cannabis seeds and cannabis products and by-products, industrial hemp, livestock feeds and the disposal of unused plant parts. The passing of the Cannabis Act and Regulations on October 17, 2018, does not change the CFIA's acts and regulations; they remain in effect.

Next steps

As the new legislation comes into force, the CFIA will continue to assess its programs and operations related to hemp and cannabis seeds, plants with novel traits, plant breeders' rights, fertilizers and livestock feeds.

Learn more

Interested growers, plant producers and importers are encouraged to refer to the CFIA website for information on:

• seeds
• plants with novel traits
• plant breeders' rights
• fertilizers
• animal feed
• regulation and import requirements

Subscribe to our email notification service and web feeds for updates. The CFIA will provide information on our website as it becomes available and communicate accordingly.

Find out more about the legalization and regulation of cannabis.