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Import Policy for Pet Food and Treats Containing Animal Products and By-Products

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TAHD-DSAT-IE-2001-9-10
March 1, 2018

Amendments: This policy has been extensively revised and completely replaces any other versions.

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I. Legal and regulatory framework

This policy falls under the legislative authority of the Health of Animals Act and Health of Animals Regulations, including the Reportable Diseases Regulations, which outline the animal diseases of concern to Canada that can be transmitted in animal products and by-products, and things containing animal products and by-products (APABP).

Part I.1: 6.5 (1), Part II: 7.(1), Part IV: 40, 41(1), 41.1, 50, and 52.(1) of the Health of Animals Regulations are particularly relevant with respect to the import of APABP, and things containing APABP, such as food for pet animals.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) does not regulate pet food production in Canada for domestic sale, however, the importation of pet foods and related products containing ingredients of animal origin are subject to the relevant sections of the Health of Animals Act and Regulations in order to prevent animal diseases from being introduced to Canada.

This set of Act and Regulations defines Canada's authority for recognizing countries as free of specified diseases for the purposes of import into Canada, and includes provisions for the issuance of import permits, the prohibition of feeding certain bovine tissues (Specified Risk Materials, or SRM) capable of transmitting Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) to any animal in Canada, and the conditions under which travellers entering Canada from the U.S. may bring pet food for their pets accompanying them.

Subsections 6.5(1) and (2) of the Health of Animals Regulations relate to the prohibition of feeding of SRM tissues to any animal in Canada, and the exemption for travellers entering Canada from the US with food for their pets, if:

  1. the country of origin of that product is the U.S.;
  2. the person on entry into Canada from the U.S., was in possession of the product and was accompanied by the animal to which it is fed;
  3. the person legally imported both the product and the animal into Canada; and
  4. the product is fed only to the animal that accompanied the person into Canada.

The Health of Animals Act and Regulations have provisions for the protection of human health related to diseases and toxic substances that may be transmitted by animals to persons. In addition, the CFIA cooperates with the Public Health Agency of Canada in order to take any necessary mitigating measures regarding concerns to public health associated with processed and unprocessed pet food imported into Canada. Please find here a list of acts and regulations – Public Health Agency of Canada.

Where human health risks have been identified in processed and unprocessed pet food by a competent human health authority, the CFIA applies import requirements for laboratory testing (i.e.: for Salmonella and enterobaceteriaceae).

More information on the human health risks associated with raw animal products and by-products can be found on the Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association websites.

Importation of products with therapeutic claims intended for use in animals, such as veterinary drugs, is regulated by Health Canada's Health Product and Food Branch Inspectorate. Please refer to the Guidance Document on the Import Requirements for Health Products under the Food and Drugs Act and its Regulations (GUI-0084) – PDF (143 kb).

Health Canada does not test, approve or regulate foods sold for companion animals in Canada, however, the Veterinary Drugs Directorate is responsible for authorising therapeutic claims that could be made on pet food.

Health Canada also has an Interim Notification Pilot Program for Low-Risk Veterinary Health Products (LRVHPs), such as certain botanicals, vitamins, minerals and homeopathics for use in cats, dogs, and horses that are not intended for food. Health Canada would not normally seek to prevent the importation, manufacture or sale of products duly notified through the program unless a health risk is identified.

II. Definitions

Animal product
means an animal product that originated from a bird or from any mammal except a member of the orders Rodentia, Cetacea, Pinnipedia and Sirenia; includes cream, eggs, milk, non-fertilized ova and semen.
Animal by-product
means an animal by-product that originated from a bird or from any mammal except a member of the orders Rodentia, Cetacea, Pinnipedia and Sirenia; includes blood or any of its components, bones, bristles, feathers, flesh, hair, hides, hooves, horns, offal, skins and wool, and anything containing any of those things; (i.e.: meat, offal, meals [rendered or process animal proteins, etc.])
Aquatic animals
the definition of "animals" in the Health of Animals Act includes in this nomenclature fish, molluscs (clams, oysters, scallops, squid, etc.) and crustaceans (shrimp, krill, lobster, crab, etc.)
Bovine animal
means cattle or bison domestically raised or kept; includes cattle, buffalo, bison, and exotics. Taxonomically, they are classified as members of the subfamily bovinae from the genus Bos, which includes cattle (Bos taurus and Bos indicus) and bison (Bos bison).
CFIA import permit
a document issued by the Minister under section 160 of the Health of Animals Regulations for the purpose of importing animals or things.
Compound chews
pet chews made from rawhide and additional ingredients, such as meat, rendered animal meals, cheese, ground rawhide, peanut butter, corn syrup, flours, etc. In some cases, the exterior "casing" consists of rawhide wrapped around a meat such as chicken tenders or duck breast.
Country of Origin
with respect to an animal product or animal by-product that has undergone processing that would prevent the introduction of any reportable disease, any disease referred to in Schedule VII and any serious epizootic disease to which the species from which the product or by-product was derived is susceptible and that can be transmitted by the product or by-product, the country in which the product or by-product underwent that processing.
Designated country or zone
a country or zone determined by the CFIA to be free of reportable and immediately notifiable diseases that either affect, or are transmitted by, the species of origin of the animal, animal product, or by-product to be imported into Canada. The CFIA utilizes risk assessment methodology in order to determine if a hazard is present in a country, and to evaluate the risk of transmission of that hazard resulting from the importation of animals, animal products, or by-products. Refer to the list of Reportable Diseases Immediately Notifiable and Annually Notifiable Diseases.
Livestock
means animals of the bovine, caprine, equine, ovine and porcine species
Non-ruminant
animals others than those of the family of Ruminantia (see the definition below).
Pet
a domesticated animal, not including livestock or poultry, usually kept in a residence as a companion and generally referring to dogs and cats; can also be referred to as a companion animal.
Pet chews
products obtained from untanned hides and skins of ungulates or other animal tissues for pet animals to chew. They have no nutritional value and may contain flavourings, colorants, and preservatives. They may be prepared from various animal parts, such as rawhide, bones, tendons, ligaments, trachea (cartilage), shanks, feet, hooves, horns, ears, snouts, offal, tails, penises (pizzles), and skins. This policy deals with only compound pet chews made of rawhide plus other animal products and by-products that are heat treated. Other types of chews include: single ingredient rawhide chews (rawhide only, with no other ingredients) and chews made from other animal tissues.
Pet supplement
a product whose purpose is to provide additional protein, vitamins, minerals, or other products, to pet animals. Supplements may be in pill, capsule, powder, or liquid form. Commodities other than fish oils, such as vitamins/minerals, may fall under the Highly Processed Products Import Directive and may have additional import requirements of any animal origin ingredients contained within. Where health claims exist on pet supplements, Health Canada may have requirements.
Pet treat
a pet food, with limited nutritional value, either baked, extruded, or injection- moulded. It is usually made with flour, starch, fibres from fruit or cereal product, mixed with greaves, meat, or meat meal. The treat may be semi-moist or dried and is used as a supplement to a regular diet, reward, and/or training aid.
Processed pet food
pet food that has been heat-treated; repackaging or packaging from bulk does not constitute processing; raw pet food is not considered to be processed. Processed pet foods containing animal products and by-products are subject to the applicable provisions in the Health of Animals Act and Regulations and may be dry, semi-moist, or moist, and have been extruded, baked, canned or retorted, and are shelf-stable, with no refrigeration required after processing.
Raw food diet
a commercial, ready for retail sale diet which has not undergone any heat treatment, requiring refrigeration; the product may be chilled, frozen or quick/flash frozen. Also known as Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) diet; a typical BARF diet is made up of 60-80 percent of raw meaty bones (RMB); that is, bones with about 50 percent meat (e.g. chicken neck, back and wings) and 20-40 percent of fruits and vegetables, other offal, meat, eggs, or dairy foods.
Rawhide
a material obtained by separating an animal hide over its whole area into two or more layers (splitting the hide). The bottom split is then processed by a means similar to parchment dressing, in which the hide is converted to a form of hardened and dried product without the process of tanning. It has no nutritional value and may contain flavourings and colorants.
Ruminant
animals of the suborder Ruminantia, which regroups the following species: bovine (cattle, bison, and buffalo); ovine (sheep); caprine (goat); and cervid (deer, elk); and other exotics (kudu, élan).
Specified risk material (SRM)
means the skull, brain, trigeminal ganglia, eyes, tonsils, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia of cattle aged 30 months or older, and the distal ileum of cattle of all ages, but does not include material from a country of origin, or a part of a country of origin, that is designated as posing a negligible risk for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy.
Transit
a movement of cargo from the country of origin of the goods to the country of final destination via an intermediate or third country, where the shipment is transferred from one means of container enclosing the goods is not opened, and the original seal remains intact and corresponds to the seal number listed on the zoosanitary export certificate accompanying the shipment issued by the Competent Authority of the exporting country.
Transshipment
a movement of cargo from the country of origin to a country of destination where the container enclosing the goods passes through an intermediate or third country, it is customs cleared, the original seal is broken and the container is opened, the contents are removed and a portion of the original cargo is then shipped from the intermediate or third country's warehouse to the final destination in the importing country.
Zoosanitary export certificate
a certificate issued and endorsed by a veterinarian of a central (national) competent animal health authority, certifying to the importing country's requirements.

III. Foundations of import policy for animal products and by-products and things containing animal products and by-products

Within the above noted legislative framework, the CFIA uses risk-based methodology in the development of specific import conditions.

For pet food containing APABP, the risks depend upon numerous factors, including: the animal products and by-products contained within the product(s), their respective animal species of origin, their country of origin and corresponding animal health status recognition by the CFIA, and the capability of the untreated animal product or by-product to transmit any animal disease(s) of concern.

The list of countries that CFIA has evaluated with respect to animal diseases governed under the Health of Animals Regulations that can be transmitted by APABP can be found listed by country or disease on the CFIA disease freedom tables, published online. In cases where the CFIA has not recognized an exporting country/region/state or zone as free of a disease that can be transmitted in the commodity for import into Canada, the CFIA requires the use of an Import Permit. The CFIA may also require import permits in other circumstances, as per the Section 160 of the Health of Animals Regulations.

Canada accepts the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH; founded as Office International des Épizooties (OIE)) country classification system for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Risk Status, and import requirements related to ruminant animals and their products can found within the CFIA Import Policy for Bovine Animals and their Products and By-Products.

Zoosanitary export certificates facilitate trade in animal products and by-products, including pet food that contains animal products and by-products. They are issued and endorsed by the competent veterinary authority of the exporting country in order to comply with a trading partner's import standards and regulations. Canada's acceptance of zoosanitary export certification attesting to CFIA's import requirements for processed pet food is based upon the CFIA's evaluation of that country's certifying body and/or veterinary infrastructure.

For the purposes of export of pet food to Canada, country eligibility is based upon CFIA evaluation of the above criteria, specifically: the animal health status of the country of origin of the processed pet food, and the ingredients contained within, as well as acceptance of zoosanitary export certification from the country of export.

Importation from countries that have not been evaluated at either of these levels must be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the CFIA, and may require individual facility approval, with all relevant fees and associated expenses paid for by the importer(s) requesting the approval.

IV. Background of pet food import policy

Food for animals other than livestock and poultry, including pets, laboratory and zoo animals, may be manufactured from a wide variety of APABP capable of transmitting diseases posing a risk to animal or human health.

Animal-origin products and by-products used in pet foods, include (but are not limited to): edible and inedible meat and offal, processed animal proteins (i.e.: rendered meals and digests), egg and dairy products, tallow/rendered animal fats, and various other animal products and by-products.

The CFIA has evaluated heat-treatment as a reliable processing method for the mitigation of animal health risks. In order for the CFIA to consider the use of processes other than heat-treatment, a request must be made to CFIA Programs and Policy Branch to evaluate such processes. In some cases, a formal Risk Assessment request will be required, as per the CFIA policy for development of new import protocols – procedures for clients.

This policy addresses the CFIA import policy related to heat-treated, shelf-stable, pet foods (not requiring refrigeration) including: dry and semi-moist food and treats that have been heat-treated (i.e.: extruded or baked), and commercially sterile moist food in cans or hermetically sealed containers, as well as to pet food diets containing raw (not heat treated APABP that require refrigeration).

Import conditions for individual animal products and by-products, as single ingredients for the manufacture of pet food in Canada, are not addressed in this policy. Import conditions for commodities that fall outside of this directive can be found within the commodity-specific import directives listed in Section IV of this policy, on the CFIA import policies web page for animal products and by-products, or by using the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS).

This policy relates to the programs and import requirements of the CFIA under the relevant legislation and does not remove any obligation of the Canadian importer to comply with the import requirements of other CFIA Divisions, such as Feed, Plant Health, or Food (which includes the former Meat Programs Division) and/or any other federal, provincial/territorial, or municipal government requirements.

This policy does not cover:

  1. Pet food imported as samples for laboratory testing, diet trials, or for exhibition purposes.
  2. Pet food imported for feeding to animals for laboratory research/ in research laboratories
  3. Highly Processed Products
  4. Veterinary Drugs or products with therapeutic claims intended for pets
  5. Single ingredient pet chews made only from rawhide or other animal tissues

V. Other relevant CFIA policies

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Import Policy for Bovine Animals and their Products and By-Products

Animal Health Import Requirements for Rendered and Inedible Products (i.e.: for imports of rendered and inedible ingredients for the manufacture of pet food in Canada)

Development of New Import Protocols – Procedures for Clients (i.e.: For imports of new commodities or from new exporting countries)

Highly Processed Products Import Policy and Animal Products/By-Products to be used as Medicinal or Natural Health Products (i.e.: for Vitamins, Minerals or Supplements and Neutraceuticals)

Returns and Permit Application Process for Canadian Animals, Semen, Embryos, Animal Products and By-Products and Finished Pet food (i.e.: for returns of processed pet food legally exported from Canada)

VI. General import requirements for processed (heat-treated, shelf stable and ready to eat) pet food and treats

  1. Originating from countries recognized by the CFIA as free of reportable diseases that may be transmitted in the untreated animal product or by-product(s) used in the processed pet food and negligible risk for BSE:
    • Zoosanitary Export Certification, attesting to CFIA import requirements
  2. Originating from the European Union
    • Zoosanitary Export Certification, attesting to CFIA import requirements
  3. Originating from countries not recognized by the CFIA as free of reportable diseases that may be transmitted in the untreated animal product or by-product(s) used in the processed pet food, recognized by CFIA as negligible risk for BSE, but which the CFIA has significant knowledge of that country's inspection infrastructure:
    • Import Permit (Annex 1 must be submitted with permit application)
    • Zoosanitary Export Certification, attesting to CFIA import requirements
  4. Originating from countries not recognized by the CFIA as free of reportable diseases that may be transmitted in the untreated animal product or by-product(s) used in the processed pet food, of negligible, controlled, or unknown risk for BSE, and for which the CFIA has some knowledge of that country's inspection infrastructure:
    • Import is permitted only from CFIA-approved facilities
    • Import Permit (Annex 1 must be submitted with permit application)
    • Zoosanitary Export Certification, attesting to CFIA import requirements
  5. Originating from countries not recognized by the CFIA as free of reportable diseases that may be transmitted in the untreated animal product or by-product(s) used in the processed pet food, of negligible, controlled, or unknown risk for BSE, and for which the CFIA has no knowledge of that country's inspection infrastructure:
    • Case-by-Case Evaluation by CFIA Animal Import /Export Division National Headquarters

VII. General import requirements for pet food diets containing raw animal products and by-products

Imports of pet food diets containing raw (not heat-treated) animal products and by-products are eligible only from those countries that are recognized as free from diseases that may be transmitted in the unprocessed animal products and by-products. (Category 1 countries, as defined in Section VI, above)

A case-by-case evaluation by CFIA Animal Import /Export Division NHQ is required for imports of raw diets from other countries.

VIII. Pet food accompanying travellers from the United States

In addition to the requirements stipulated in the Health of Animals Regulations, pet food imported with travellers entering Canada from the U.S. with their pets, must be processed pet food, originating from the U.S., and in final packaging. It may be either wet or dry, in its original unopened bag or can. The label must clearly indicate the list of ingredients. A maximum of 20 kg per entry is allowed. Personal imports of pet food from countries other than the U.S. are prohibited.

IX. Transshipments, transiting shipments and exports from third countries

In cases where shipments of pet food for import into Canada have been transshipped, have transited through or have been legally imported into third countries, prior to entering Canada, all import conditions apply as if the products were being imported directly from the country of origin. Such shipments must be approved by CFIA NHQ prior to import.

Additional certification from the transiting or transshipping countries' competent authority(ies) may be required, to ensure the integrity and zoosanitary status of shipments for import into Canada.

1. Transit

  1. Any shipments of pet food transiting through Canada for import into third countries, must meet all of CFIA's import requirements.
  2. Transit of goods from a foreign country via an intermediate country to Canada must be requested by the importer and must be pre-authorized by the CFIA.

The zoosanitary export certificate issued by the official authority of the country of origin must state that Canada is the final destination of the product, specify the border entry point in the transiting country, the border exit point in the transiting country, the description of the product, and the container seal number as well as other certification statements as required by the import permit conditions.

Note: It is the responsibility of the importer to ensure that the product (pet food) is in compliance with all applicable transiting country government regulations.

Transiting shipments must be accompanied by official documentation from the transiting nations' competent authority indicating the seal numbers and that all seals were verified to be intact upon entry and exit from that country, and that the goods were maintained under official supervision during transit.

2. Transshipment

Transshipment of goods from a foreign country via an intermediate country prior to entering Canada must be requested by the Canadian importer and must be pre-authorized by the CFIA. Transshipment is permitted through: the United States, the European Union, Australia and New Zealand.

The importer must provide the proposed transshipment details (name of transshipping country and port of entry, warehousing, conditions of warehousing, any re-sealing, other ingredients on the premises of the transshipment location, etc.), and must declare on their permit application the origin of the pet food to be transshipped.

The shipment must be accompanied by zoosanitary export certification from the country of origin attesting to Canada's import requirements.

The zoosanitary export certificate must clearly show the original seal number(s) of the container(s), the full description of the pet food seeking to enter Canada, and its specific identification references/method(s), either lot or batch number, etc. and the final destination of that part of the shipment that is destined for Canada.

Upon transshipment in the third country, additional zoosanitary export certification is required (referencing and attached to the original zoosanitary export certificate) from the animal health competent authority of the transshipping country certifying that:

Once the product is loaded on the means of conveyance to Canada at the transshipment point, no further transshipment is permitted. The product must move directly to the destination in Canada.

X. Specific import requirements

A) United States (USA)

i) Import requirements for processedFootnote 1 (heat-treated, shelf-stable and ready-to-eat) pet food and treats manufactured in the USA or Canada and exported from the USA to Canada

  1. The certified pet food and/or pet treats were processed in a facility or facilities located in the USA or Canada and authorized by the official competent veterinary authority in the country of origin to manufacture pet food containing animal products and by-products.Footnote 2
  2. The certified pet foods and/or pet treats in the shipment may include the following (check all that apply):
    • Box Pet foods and/or pet treats with no bovine-origin ingredients except exempt ingredients (i.e., milk or milk products, hide-derived gelatin or collagen, and tallow with a maximum level of insoluble impurities of 0.15% by weight).
    • Box Pet foods and/or pet treats with non-exempt bovine-origin ingredients.
  3. In the case of pet foods or pet treats containing tallow, the tallow used is protein-free with a maximum level of insoluble impurities of 0.15% by weight.
  4. In the case of pet foods or pet treats containing bovine meat, offal, or any bovine ingredients other than exempt ingredients, they meet the following requirements:
    1. Bovine-origin raw materials (meat/offals):
      1. were harvested in the United States from U.S.-origin cattle or legally imported cattle that:
        • were presented live for slaughter and
        • were not subjected to a stunning process prior to slaughter, with a device injecting compressed air or gas into the cranial cavity, or to a pithing process, and were humanely rendered unconscious prior to being bled

        and/or (check all that apply):

      2. Were legally imported from a country or countries recognized by the CFIA to be of:
        • Box Negligible BSE Risk StatusFootnote 3

          or

        • Box Controlled BSE Risk Status (Insert name of country or countries):
          __________ and that:
          • do not contain and
          • have not been contaminated with bovine specified risk materials (SRMs).Footnote 4
      3. All bovine-origin rendered protein materialsFootnote 5 originate only from countries of Negligible BSE Risk Status.
    2. The certified pet foods and/or pet treats were sufficiently heat processed to ensure the destruction of pathogens that represent a risk to public or animal health.
    3. Precautions were taken to prevent cross-contamination of the finished products with any animal origin product or by-product derived from animals of a lesser zoosanitary status.

ii) Validity Period of Multiple Shipment Export Certification

The CFIA has negotiated a multiple shipment export certificate for shipments of pet food containing animal products and by-products from the USA. The multiple shipment certificate is designed to be used by importers who are importing multiple shipments per week or per month. The certificate is valid for the shipment to cross the USA/Canada border for 30 calendar days after endorsement by the official USDA-APHIS veterinarian.

Each shipment entering Canada with a USDA-APHIS multiple shipment export certificate must be accompanied by an Importer's Statement of Compliance, indicating the shipment specific details, and referencing the multiple shipment export certificate number.

European Union (EU)

i) Import requirements for processed (heat-treated, shelf-stable and ready to eat) pet food and treats and ornamental fish food manufactured in the European Union

  1. The finished processed pet food and pet treats as described in the veterinary export certificate have been prepared and stored in a plant approved and supervised by the competent veterinary authority of the EU Member State.
  2. All unprocessed animal-origin products and/or by-products for the finished processed pet foods and pet treats, including canned or hermetically sealed pet foods, originate only from:
    • either [2.1. mammalian and/or avian terrestrial animals, including farmed game animals killed for human consumption, that received and passed ante-mortem inspection and were presented for post-mortem inspection in a slaughter facility under the supervision of the Member State competent veterinary authority,]
    • and/or [2.1. non-mammalian aquatic animals showing no signs of disease communicable to humans or animals,]
    • and/or [2.1. invertebrates other than species pathogenic to humans or animals,]
    • and/or [2.1. raw materials derived from the above animals not presenting risks to public or animal health,]
    • and/or [2.1. dairy, hatchery products, eggs and egg products originating from animals which did not show any clinical signs of disease communicable through that material to humans or animals.]
  3. None of the animals from which any of the unprocessed or processed animal-origin products and/or by-products used to manufacture the processed pet food are derived were under any official restrictions by the member state competent veterinary authority for any serious epizootic disease to which the species from which the product or by-product was derived is susceptible and can be transmitted by the untreated product or by-product and none of the animals from which the animal origin raw materials are derived were under movement restrictions for or were culled or eradicated as part of a disease response for any reportable disease as defined by Canada.
  4. All processed and unprocessed bovine-origin products and/or by-products used in the manufacture of processed pet food, excluding milk or milk products:
    • either [4.1. Are derived only from animals whose origin is from Australia, New Zealand, and EU Member State(s) recognized by Canada as being of Negligible BSE Risk Status (as described by the WOAH), __________ (name of country or countries)]
    • and/or [4.1. Are derived from animals whose origin is from EU Member State(s) recognized by Canada as being of Controlled BSE Risk Status (as described by the WOAH), __________ (name of country or countries)]
    • and:
    • 4.1.1. are not derived from, do not contain, and have not been cross-contaminated with Specified Risk Material from bovine animals including: the palatine tonsils and distal ileum from bovine animals of all ages and the skull, brain, trigeminal ganglia, eyes, spinal cord and vertebral column (excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the transverse processes of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae and the wings of the sacrum), from bovine animals aged 30 months and older and
    • 4.1.2. do not include any mechanically separated meat and
    • 4.1.3. every precaution was taken to prevent direct or indirect contact during the slaughter, processing and handling of the bovine origin ingredients with the aforementioned SRM tissues in point 4.1.1.]
    • 4.2. are sourced from animals that were presented live for slaughter and were not subjected to a stunning process, prior to slaughter, with a device injecting compressed air or gas into the cranial cavity, or to a pithing process, and were humanely rendered unconscious prior to being bled or were slaughtered as per Judaic or Islamic law.
    • 4.3. Rendered fats used in the pet food and/or pet treats have a maximum insoluble impurities level of 0.15% in weight.
  5. Either the processed pet food and pet treats or the raw materials being used and excluding canned or hermetically sealed pet foods, have been subjected to a heat treatment:
    • either [5.1. at least 90 degrees Celsius throughout their substance]
    • or [5.1. to 70 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes]
    • or [5.1. for milk products, 75 degrees Celsius for 15 seconds]
    • or [5.1. The processed pet food and treats for export to Canada have been sufficiently heat treated to reach the microbiological standards as outlined in 6: at least __________ Temp (degrees Celsius) for __________ Time.]
  6. The processed pet food and treats, excluding pet foods that have been canned or heat treated in hermetically sealed containers, have been analysed by random sampling of at least five (5) samples taken during or after storage at the processing plant and complied with the following standards: on a basis of at least five (5) samples for each lot processed, selected at random during or after storage at the processing plant, and meeting the following standards:
    • Salmonella : Absence in 25g: n=5, c=0, m=0, M=0 and
    • Enterobacteriaceae : n=5, c=2, m=10, M=300 in 1g.
  7. Processed pet foods that have been canned or heat treated in hermetically sealed containers:
    • 7.1. have been heat treated to a minimum F0 value of greater than or equal to 3.0 and
    • 7.2. have been analysed by a random sampling of at least five containers from each processed batch by laboratory diagnostic methods to ensure adequate heat treatment of the whole consignment to meet condition in the point 7.1.
  8. Every precaution was taken to prevent cross-contamination of the finished products with any animal origin product or by-product derived from animals of a lesser zoosanitary status.
  9. Have been packaged in new packaging that clearly indicates that the product is intended for pet food.

ii) Import requirements for processed ornamental bird food or rodent food manufactured in the European Union

  1. The only animal origin ingredients in the products are: milk products and/or egg and/or animal fats and/or vitamin D3 and/or gelatin and/or honey and/or crustaceans and/or insects
  2. The pet food in each shipment was manufactured only at the establishment specified in box I.11
  3. Animal-origin ingredients either:
    • Originate from countries recognized by Canada to be free of diseases of concern to which the species from which the animal product or by-product was derived is susceptible and that can be transmitted by the untreated product or by-product and none of the animals from which the animal-origin raw materials are derived were under movement restrictions for or were culled or eradicated as part of a disease response to any reportable disease as defined by Canada
    • or
    • Have been subjected to heat treatment to a minimum core temperature of 90°C.
  4. In the case of tallow of bovine origin, the tallow must contain less than or equal to .15% insoluble impurities
  5. Every precaution was taken to prevent cross-contamination of the finished products with any animal origin product or by-product derived from animals of a lesser zoosanitary status.
  6. The product has been packaged in new packaging intended for pet bird food or rodent food.

C) New Zealand

i) Import requirements for heat-treated pet food from New Zealand

The pet food or pet treats:

  1. Have been prepared and stored in a premises approved and supervised by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries
    1. Were derived from animals of New Zealand origin and/or
    2. Were partly derived from product of New Zealand origin and product which was legally imported into New Zealand from (insert country of origin) and were further processed in approved premises and/or
    3. Were derived from product which was legally imported into New Zealand from (insert country of origin) and was further processed in approved premises
  3. In the case of pet food and treats containing bovine-origin animal by-products (meat and offal), the animals were born, raised, and slaughtered in New Zealand or Australia
  4. All raw/non-heat treated animal-origin products and/or by-products originate only from either:
    1. Mammalian and/or avian terrestrial animals, including farmed wild game animals killed for human consumption, that received and passed ante-mortem inspection and were presented for post-mortem inspection in a slaughter facility under the supervision of the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries and/or
    2. Non-mammalian aquatic animals showing no signs of disease communicable to humans or animals, and/or
    3. Products derived from the above animals not presenting risks to public or animal health, and/or
    4. Dairy, hatchery products, eggs and egg products originating from animals which did not show any clinical signs of disease communicable through that material to humans or animals
  5. Processed pet foods that have been canned or heat treated in hermetically sealed containers have been treated to a minimum F0 value of greater than or equal to 3.0
  6. For processed pet foods that are not canned or heat treated in hermetically sealed containers
    1. The products have been subjected to a heat treatment of at least 90 degrees Celsius throughout their substance or
    2. The products have been subjected to a heat treatment of at least 70 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes or
    3. The products have been subjected to a heat treatment time/temperature combination found to be equivalent to 90 degrees Celsius throughout their substance or 70 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes: a minimum of (insert temperature) degrees Celsius for a minimum of (insert time) minutes
  7. Every precaution was taken to prevent cross-contamination of the finished products with any animal-origin product or by-product derived from animals of a lesser zoosanitary status
  8. The feeding of ruminant protein to ruminants is prohibited in New Zealand.
  9. The live animal(s) or animal product(s) herein described, complies/y with the relevant New Zealand standards and requirements that have been recognized as equivalent to the European Union standards and requirements as prescribed by the European Union-New Zealand Agreement on sanitary measures (Decision 97/132/EC)

ii) Import requirements for raw pet food from New Zealand

The pet food or pet treats:

  1. Have been prepared and stored in a premises approved and supervised by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries
    1. Were derived from animals of New Zealand origin and/or
    2. Were partly derived from product of New Zealand origin and product which was legally imported into New Zealand from (insert country of origin) and were further processed in approved premises and/or
    3. Were derived from product which was legally imported into New Zealand from (insert country of origin) and was further processed in approved premises
  3. In the case of pet food and treats containing bovine-origin animal by-products (meat and offal), the animals were born, raised, and slaughtered in New Zealand or Australia
  4. All raw/non-heat treated animal-origin products and/or by-products originate only from either:
    1. Mammalian and/or avian terrestrial animals, including farmed wild game animals killed for human consumption, that received and passed ante-mortem inspection and were presented for post-mortem inspection in a slaughter facility under the supervision of the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries and/or
    2. Non-mammalian aquatic animals showing no signs of disease communicable to humans or animals, and/or
    3. Products derived from the above animals not presenting risks to public or animal health, and/or
    4. Dairy, hatchery products, eggs and egg products originating from animals which did not show any clinical signs of disease communicable through that material to humans or animals
  5. None of the animals from which any of the animal origin products and/or by-products used to manufacture the raw/non-heat treated pet food are derived were under any official restrictions by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries for any serious epizootic disease to which the species from which the product or by-product was derived is susceptible and can be transmitted by the untreated product or by-product and none of the animals from which the animal-origin raw materials are derived were under movement restrictions for or were culled or eradicated as part of a disease response for any reportable disease as defined by Canada.
  6. Every precaution was taken to prevent cross-contamination of the raw materials and finished products with any animal-origin product or by-product derived from animals of a lesser zoosanitary status
  7. The product has been packaged in new packaging intended for pet food and labelled "Not For Human Consumption" on the outer layer or by the use of stickers
  8. The feeding of ruminant protein to ruminants is prohibited in New Zealand.
  9. The live animal(s) or animal product(s) herein described, complies/y with the relevant New Zealand standards and requirements that have been recognized as equivalent to the European Union standards and requirements as prescribed by the European Union-New Zealand Agreement on sanitary measures (Decision 97/132/EC)

D) Thailand

i) Import requirements for commercially cooked, canned pet food from Thailand

Each shipment of heat-treated, commercially sterile and hermetically-sealed processed pet foods must be accompanied by an original zoosanitary export certificate endorsed by the competent animal health authority of Thailand, attesting that:

  1. The pet food products in the shipments imported under this permit contain the following animal- origin ingredients: piscine and/or avian and/or ruminant (bovine and ovine).

  2. The pet food in the shipments imported under this import permit was processed strictly at the following approved establishment, under the supervision of the competent animal health authority in Thailand.

    Insert approved manufacturing facility name and address, name of competent authority, and competent authority approval or registration number here

  3. All terrestrial animal origin materials (avian, porcine, ruminant) originate from animals that received and passed ante-mortem inspection and were presented for post-mortem inspection in a slaughter facility under the supervision of an official veterinarian of the competent animal health authority in the country of origin.
  4. Ruminant-origin ingredients originate and have been legally imported from federally registered establishments in Australia and/or New Zealand.
  5. The pet food products imported under this permit are commercially sterile and hermetically sealed and have been thermally treated to reach a minimum F0 value greater than or equal to 3.
  6. Where applicable, any legally imported ruminant-derived ingredients, imported with an official zoosanitary export certificate from the competent animal health authority of the country of origin, were shipped in sealed containers directly from the suppliers directly to the manufacturing facility in Thailand, or to approved cold storage facilities under the supervision of the competent animal health authority in Thailand.
  7. The manufacturing facility and all suppliers of animal derived ingredients do not receive, store or process any ruminant material from countries other than Australia and New Zealand.
  8. Every precaution was taken to prevent any direct or indirect contact of these products with any other animal product or by-product of lesser zoosanitary status during the handling, packaging, and transfer of pet food products for export to Canada.
  9. The manufacturer keeps records of inventory for incoming animal-origin products and by-products received and for finished pet foods dispatched.
  10. The pet foods are packaged in new packaging material

E) China

i) Import requirements for pet treats containing avian jerky and bovine or porcine rawhide

Each shipment of pet treats must be accompanied by an original veterinary certificate, issued by an official veterinarian of General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ), attesting that:

  1. The products covered by this certificate contain finished rawhide (bovine and/or porcine origin) and avian-origin animal ingredients.
  2. The bovine and porcine hides used for the manufacture of the pet treats for export to Canada have been washed, limed so as to be de-haired and hard-dried. The finished pet treats made from bovine hides are dry and less than 12% humidity.
  3. All of the products for export to Canada have been heat treated in order to reach a minimum temperature of 75° C for a minimum of 30 minutes.
  4. The pet treats in this shipment were manufactured strictly at the following approved establishment: Name, address and approval number of CFIA approved manufacturing plant here (check list of approved facilities).
  5. Avian-origin animal products, by-products and ingredients used in the manufacture of avian jerky treats for export to Canada originate from establishments approved and registered by the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station (AHVS), General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ).
  6. Avian origin raw materials (meat) used for manufacture of avian jerky treats for export to Canada originate only from animals that received and passed ante-mortem inspection and were presented for post-mortem inspection in a slaughter facility under the supervision of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station (AHVS), General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ).
  7. Every precaution was taken to prevent any direct or indirect contact of the animal-origin ingredients used in the manufacture of pet foods for export to Canada with any other animal product or by-product of lesser zoosanitary status during the handling, packaging and transfer of the ingredients and the manufactured pet treats.
  8. All suppliers of raw material and the manufacturing facilities do not receive, store or process any ruminant material from countries other than Australia and New Zealand.
  9. All products are exported in new and final packaging

ii) Import requirements for pet treats made from avian jerky

Each shipment of pet treats must be accompanied by an original veterinary certificate, issued by an official veterinarian of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ), attesting that:

  1. The products covered by this certificate contain only avian-origin animal ingredients.
  2. All of the products for export to Canada have been heat treated in order to reach a minimum temperature of 75° C for a minimum of 30 minutes.
  3. The pet treats in this shipment were manufactured strictly at the following approved establishment: Name, address and approval number of CFIA approved manufacturing plant here
  4. Avian-origin animal products, by-products and ingredients used in the manufacture of avian jerky treats for export to Canada originate from establishments approved and registered by the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station (AHVS), General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ).
  5. Avian origin raw materials (meat) used for manufacture of avian jerky treats for export to Canada originate only from animals that received and passed ante-mortem inspection and were presented for post-mortem inspection in a slaughter facility under the supervision of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station (AHVS), General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ).
  6. Every precaution was taken to prevent any direct or indirect contact of the animal-origin ingredients used in the manufacture of pet foods for export to Canada with any other animal product or by-product of lesser zoosanitary status during the handling, packaging and transfer of the ingredients and the manufactured pet treats.
  7. All suppliers of raw material and the manufacturing facilities do not receive, store or process any ruminant material from countries other than Australia and New Zealand.
  8. All products are exported in new and final packaging.

F) Brazil

i) Import requirements for processed pet food from Brazil

  1. The finished processed pet food as described above has been prepared and stored in a plant approved and supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply of Brazil.
  2. All unprocessed animal-origin products and/or by-products for the finished processed pet food originate only from:
    1. mammalian and/or avian terrestrial animals that received and passed ante-mortem inspection and were presented for post-mortem inspection in a slaughter facility under the supervision of Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply of Brazil, and/or
    2. non-mammalian aquatic animals showing no signs of disease communicable to humans or animals, and/or
    3. invertebrates, other than species pathogenic to humans or animals, and/or
    4. dairy, hatchery products, eggs and egg products originating from animals which did not show any clinical signs of disease communicable through that material to humans or animals.
  3. None of the animals from which any of the unprocessed or processed animal-origin products used to manufacture the processed pet food are derived were under any official restrictions by Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply of Brazil for any serious epizootic disease to which the species from which the product or by-product was derived is susceptible and can be transmitted by the untreated product or by-product and none of the animals from which the animal origin raw materials are derived were under movement restrictions for or were culled or eradicated as part of a disease response for any reportable disease as defined by Canada.
  4. No ruminant origin proteins (meals) are used in the manufacture of processed pet food except for ruminant proteins that have been legally imported into Brazil from New-Zealand and/or Australia.
  5. The animal origin ingredients contained within the processed pet food for export to Canada are not derived from, do not contain, and have not been cross-contaminated with Specified Risk Material from bovine animals including: the palatine tonsils and distal ileum from bovine animals of all ages and the brain, eyes and spinal cord, from bovine animals aged 30 months and older.
  6. Tallow used in the processed pet food is protein-free and has a maximum insoluble impurities level of 0.15% in weight.
  7. The processed pet food, excluding canned or hermetically sealed, have been subjected to a heat treatment:
    1. of at least 90 degrees Celsius throughout their substance or
    2. of at least 70 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes
  8. The processed pet food that have been canned or heat treated in hermetically sealed containers have been heat treated to a minimum F0 value of greater than or equal to 3.0.
  9. Every precaution was taken to prevent cross-contamination of the finished processed pet food with any animal origin product or by-product derived from animals of a lesser zoosanitary status.
  10. The processed pet food have been packaged in new packaging intended for pet food and labelled "not for livestock animal feeding."

G) Mexico

Import requirements for processed pet food from Mexico

  1. The finished processed pet food as described above has been prepared and stored in a plant approved and supervised by the competent veterinary authority of Mexico
  2. All unprocessed animal-origin products and/or by-products used for the manufacture of the finished processed pet food originate only from:
    1. mammalian and/or avian terrestrial animals, including farmed game animals, that received and passed ante-mortem inspection and were presented for post-mortem inspection in a slaughter facility under the supervision of the competent veterinary authority of Mexico, and/or
    2. non-mammalian aquatic animals showing no signs of disease communicable to humans or animals, and/or
    3. Dairy, hatchery products, eggs and egg products originating from animals which did not show any clinical signs of disease communicable through that material to humans or animals
  3. None of the animals from which any of the unprocessed or processed animal-origin products used to manufacture the processed pet food are derived were under any official restrictions by the competent veterinary authority of Mexico for any serious epizootic disease to which the species from which the product or by-product was derived is susceptible and can be transmitted by the untreated product or by-product
    • and
    • None of the animals from which the animal origin raw materials are derived were under movement restrictions for or were culled or eradicated as part of a disease response for any reportable disease as defined by CanadaFootnote 6
  4. All processed proteins of ruminant origin used in the manufacture of the processed pet food have been legally imported into Mexico from New Zealand or Australia
  5. All unprocessed bovine-origin products and/or by-products used in the manufacture of the processed pet food for export to Canada:
    1. Are not derived from, do not contain, and have not been cross-contaminated with Specified Risk Material from bovine animals including: the palatine tonsils and distal ileum from bovine animals of all ages and the skull, brain, trigeminal ganglia, eyes, spinal cord and vertebral column (excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the transverse processes of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and the wings of the sacrum) from bovine animals aged 30 months and older
    2. Come from animals whose origin is Mexico, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and/or Australia
    3. Do not contain mechanically separated meat
    4. Are sourced from animals that were presented live for slaughter and were not subjected to a stunning process, prior to slaughter, with a device injecting compressed air or gas into the cranial cavity, or to a pithing process
    5. In Mexico there is a sanitary regulation in force that prohibits the feeding of ruminant meat and bone meal and greaves to ruminants, in accordance with WOAH guidelines
  6. Tallow used in the processed pet food is protein-free and has a maximum insoluble impurities level of 0.15% in weight
  7. The processed pet food, excluding canned or hermetically sealed, has been subjected to a heat treatment:
    1. of at least 90 degrees Celsius throughout the substance or
    2. of at least 70 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes
  8. The processed pet food that has been canned or heat treated in hermetically sealed containers has been heat treated to a minimum F0 value of greater than or equal to 3.0
  9. Every precaution was taken to prevent cross-contamination of the finished processed pet food with any animal origin product or by-product derived from animals of a lesser zoosanitary status
  10. Processed pet food has been packaged in new packaging intended for pet food and labelled "Not intended for feeding to ruminants"

H) Australia

Import requirements for processed pet food from Australia

For pet food containing kangaroo ingredients, all kangaroo origin raw materials (i.e. meat, offal, bones) for the finished processed pet food originate from animals that:

  1. Were harvested and dressed in the field by professionals accredited to perform this activity by the relevant state regulatory authority
  2. Removed viscera were inspected in field by an accredited harvester and were found to have no evidence of disease or condition which would render the product not fit for pet food
  3. The carcass was inspected at the processing establishment and was found to have no evidence of disease or condition which would render the product not fit for pet food.
  4. The processed pet food as described in the veterinary export certificate has been prepared and stored in a plant approved and monitored by a competent authority in Australia.
  5. The pet food was heat-treated to reach a minimum core temperature of 90°C / or has been subjected to a heat treatment sufficient to inactivate pathogens of concern to humans and animals and approved by the Australian competent authorities.
  6. The processed pet food and treats, excluding pet foods that have been canned or heat-treated in hermetically sealed containers, have been analyzed by random sampling of at least five (5) samples taken during or after storage at the processing plant and complied with the following standards:
    • On a basis of at least five (5) samples for each lot processed, selected at random during or after storage at the processing plant, and meeting the following standards:
      • Salmonella: Absence in 25g: n=5, m=0, M=0
      • Enterobacteriaceae: n=5, m=10, M=300 in 1 g
  7. Processed pet foods that have been canned or heat-treated in hermetically sealed containers have been heat-treated to a minimum F0 value of greater than or equal to 3
  8. The pet food is packaged in new packaging material
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