Validation of Animal Health Import Permits Prior to Importation

According to the Animal Health Regulations, importers of animal products and by-products, and commodities containing these as ingredients, are required to obtain an animal health import permit (dependent on commodity and country of origin), issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The importer is required to obtain a permit for the commodity(ies) being imported, and to include any other documents that may be necessary for compliance with Canadian requirements (e.g. registration of livestock feed). Please verify the required documentation by accessing the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) or by contacting the National Import Service Centre.

The CFIA Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) will accept only a valid animal health import permit number that matches the one issued to the importer by the CFIA. If the import permit is not valid, the EDI transaction will be rejected, and the commodity will not be permitted entry into Canada, until such time as a replacement transaction (or version) is submitted.

The animal health import permit number is referred to in EDI as a "Registration Number". The animal health import permit number (A-YYYY-NNNNN-n) must be entered under the "Registration Type" with the appropriate "Registration Code".

Registration Information

Rejection Reasons

These provides the reasons for rejection of import permit validation.

• Invalid Format = CFIA-Invalid Registration Number. Import permit Number format must be A-YYYY-NNNNN-n
• Invalid Permit Number = CFIA-Invalid Registration Number. Import permit Number Not valid
• Invalid Permit = CFIA-Invalid Registration Number. Import permit Not valid

For additional information on rejection reasons and other EDI issues, please contact the CFIA EDI Coordinator by e-mail, or call the EDI Help Line at 613-773-5322.

Originally issued February 14, 2011 (Notice to Industry)