The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Position on the Permit Conditions for U.S. Fish Meal and Fish Oil Importation into Canada

As of July 12, 2007, permits are required for importation of all products of rendering plants, including fish meal and fish oils (from all countries).

For all uses:

Imported fish meal/oil must meet the following conditions:

1. shipments must be accompanied by a copy of the permit; and
2. records must be kept for ten (10) years (importer, distributor and retailer).

If these conditions are met, the product can be used for all feeds except ruminant feeds.

For all uses including ruminant feeds:

In the event that the imported fish meal or fish oil is intended for ruminants, further conditions will apply. Each shipment must be accompanied by an original export certificate endorsed by a veterinarian of either the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) or Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) or the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) certifying that:

1. the products covered by the export certificate and import permit were only produced at (name and address of the producer as identified in the import permit) and were only exported to Canada;
2. the facility does not receive, store or process any ruminants and by-products, and
3. the moisture content is less than 12%.

The export certificate is required for all products of rendering plants for use in all feeds, including ruminants. The importer must maintain records of the name and address of any place to which the imported product is sold or distributed for ten (10) years following importation.

A statement from the renderer to the importer is required for non prohibited material which includes the name and address of the rendering plant that produced the product, the date of production (range), and confirms that the moisture content is less than 12% and that the plant does not handle prohibited material for ruminant feeds.

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Ann Allain
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
59 Camelot Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0Y9
Telephone: 613-221-4136
Email: ann.allain@inspection.gc.ca

Please contact your local CFIA Inspection Office or Area Office Import Coordinator for further instructions on conditions for other non-negligible countries.

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