Importing Live And Raw Molluscan Shellfish
May 17, 2013
Live or raw molluscan shellfish, whether frozen or unfrozen, must be harvested, handled and processed in a manner to ensure that the products are safe for human consumption (as per 6(1)(b) of the Fish Inspection Regulations).
These requirements apply to the following species of molluscan shellfish imported live or raw (frozen or unfrozen) for direct consumption or to be cooked prior to consumption:
Species of Live or Raw (frozen or unfrozen) Molluscan Shellfish (bivalves and predatory gastropods) such as but not limited to:
- Clams/Quahogs/Geoducks (Geoduck products consisting of the meat free of viscera are exempt)
- Limpets
- Loco
- Mussels
- Oysters
- Scallops (Products consisting of the adductor muscle/meat free of viscera or roe are exempt)
- Whelks
Molluscan shellfish are considered "cooked"and exempt from these requirements only when the process control documents demonstrate that the heat process results in a fully cooked product.
Imports of live or raw (frozen or unfrozen) molluscan shellfish are permitted entry into Canada only if the following conditions are met:
1) The live or raw (frozen or unfrozen) molluscan shellfish were harvested in an authorized country of harvest and are a species approved to be exported to Canada:
| Authorized Countries of Harvest | Species of Molluscan Shellfish Approved |
|---|---|
| Chile | Roe-on scallops only |
| European Union | All Species |
| Japan | Shucked Frozen Oysters only |
| Korea | Shucked Frozen Oysters only |
| New Zealand | All Species |
| Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon (SPM) | Live Whelks (Buccinum undatum) |
| United States | All Species |
2) The live or raw (frozen or unfrozen) molluscan shellfish were handled and processed by an authorized shipper / establishment.
Authorized Shippers/ Establishments:
- Shippers from Chile on the Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List when the lot is accompanied by a Certificate to Export Raw Roe-on Farmed Scallop Products from Chile to Canada - PDF (308 kb) issued by SERNAPESCA.
- Shippers from the European Community Member States on one of the Lists of Establishments Authorized to Export to Canada
- Shippers from Japan on the Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List
- Shippers from Korea** May 2013 update: no shippers currently approved to export to Canada
- Shippers from New Zealand on the Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List
- All live common whelks (B. undatum) from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon fishing zone that are covered by the CFIA recognised Biotoxin Monitoring Program.
- Shippers from the United States on the Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List
The Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List (ICSSL) is published by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Please note that the ICSSL includes shippers from countries that are not authorized to export live or raw molluscan shellfish products to Canada.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) assists the CFIA in enforcing the regulatory requirements controlling the origin of live and raw shellfish when shipments of these products are being cleared for entry into Canada. In order to comply with Canadian requirements, importers are required to verify, prior to import, that the molluscan shellfish are from an authorized country of harvest and shipper.
Importers must complete a CFIA Import Service Centre (ISC) Cover Sheet Request for Documentation Review and send the sheet to the CFIA National Import Service Centre (NISC) prior to importing a raw or live molluscan shellfish product. The NISC verifies whether the raw or live molluscan shellfish product is from an authorized country of harvest and shipper. The NISC stamps the ISC cover sheet when the conditions for entry into Canada are met. Importers are required to present the stamped cover sheet to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in order for the product to be permitted entry into Canada. CBSA will not allow the entry of any live or raw molluscan shellfish product without the stamped ISC cover sheet.
In the case of a shipment of raw, roe-on scallops from Chile, a copy of the original Health Certificate to Export Raw Roe-on Farmed Scallop Products from Chile to Canada - PDF (308 kb) issued by SERNAPESCA for that shipment must be provided along with the ISC cover sheet. The name and registration number (for example 9876 SS) of the shipper / establishment of molluscan shellfish and the country of harvest must be provided on the sheet. In the case of a shipment of roe-on scallop from Chile, the NISC ensures that the valid certificate was issued by SERNAPESCA for the lot.
The Import Service Centre may be contacted at:
National Import Service Centre
Telephone:1-800-835-4486 or 905-795-7834
Facsimile: 613-773-9999
In addition to the requirement to present a stamped ISC cover sheet to the CBSA, as for all fish imports, a completed Fish Import Notification must be provided to the appropriate CFIA fish inspection office within 48 hours of the shipment's arrival in Canada. As for all fish imports, the product must be available for CFIA inspection and cannot be released for distribution in Canada until notified by a CFIA fish inspector.
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