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Archived - Food export notice: Notice to industry – Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP)

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April 6, 2018

Under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the United States (U.S.) issued a final regulation requiring U.S. importersFootnote 1 to establish Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) to verify that food imported into the United States has been produced in a manner that meets applicable U.S. safety standards. The FSVP regulations apply to all foods regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) with some exceptions, such as juice, fish and seafood which are covered by other US FDA regulations. Please refer to the US FDA website for more information about the FSVP regulations including the products that are covered.

Canada and the U.S. have a Food Safety Systems Recognition Arrangement (FSSRA). The FSVP rule allows U.S. importers to meet modified requirements for food covered under the FSSRA that they import from Canadian manufacturers if the food is not intended for further processing. Under these modified requirements, rather than verifying that Canadian suppliers meet applicable U.S. safety standards, importers will verify that their suppliers are in regulatory good standing with Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR)

The CFIA will implement measures to help Canadian exporters demonstrate they are in good regulatory standing with the CFIA once the proposed SFCR come into force.

The proposed SFCR will enable the CFIA to identify Canadian food manufacturers that operate in good regulatory standing to support the modified FSVP requirements because the regulations will:

The CFIA will maintain a list of federally licensed businesses considered in 'good standing' with Canadian regulatory requirements when the proposed SFCR come into force. In order to be included on this list, Canadian food businesses will need to be licensed, and have records for their Preventive Control Plan and traceability system.

This list will be accessible to the public and to foreign entities (US FDA, U.S. importers, etc.). The CFIA will add, amend and remove Canadian food businesses, as necessary.

In the meantime

Trade in foods regulated by the US FDA may still proceed. Canadian food businesses should work with their U.S. importers and provide any information about the food safety controls that they follow to meet Canadian regulatory requirements when requested.

The CFIA strongly encourages all Canadian food businesses to enrol at My CFIA to access online services, and to be ready to meet the proposed SFCR licencing requirements when the regulations come into force.

More information

For more information on the FSVP regulation related to the Canadian food business context, please visit the United States of America – Foreign Supplier Verification Program web page.

You can access more information on export requirements through our Export requirements library.

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