Food export requirements library
On this page
- Introduction
- What type of information is available?
- Don't see your market in the export requirements library?
- More information on animal and plant health certification
- Updating foreign country requirements
- Helping to keep export requirements current
- Travellers going abroad
- Taking trade samples overseas
- Requirements by country
- Requirements by food product sector
Introduction
The export requirements library outlines destination country requirements you need to meet when exporting. They include conditions the Canadian government has accepted for issuing export certificates. Their purpose is to facilitate access to overseas markets for Canadian exporters.
The destination country requirements provided below are based on information available to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) at the time of posting. You should confirm product requirements with the importer and the competent foreign authorities before commencing full scale production for export to a foreign market. The CFIA assumes no liability for the accuracy of this information.
Before you export your products, check for changes to regulatory or commercial requirements. You are responsible for ensuring that your exports comply with applicable Canadian requirements and those of the importing country.
Note: Importing country requirements may relate to public health as well as animal health and plant protection.
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What type of information is available?
For each product sector/destination country combination, applicable requirements may be found under the headings as described below:
- Eligible / ineligible product
A description of the products that can be certified by CFIA for export to the destination country and a list of specific products or types of products that cannot be certified by CFIA for export to that country. - Pre-export approvals by the competent authority of the importing country:
- Establishment
- Product
- Label
- Import permit
- Product specifications (microbiological, chemical contaminant and drug residue limits)
A listing of the microbiological, chemical and other product standards and specifications of the importing country which differ from Canadian standards and may require additional controls. - Production controls and inspection requirements
Specific controls or measures to be applied by the operator or producer during production to ensure compliance with the importing country's requirements and any associated inspection activities by CFIA. - Labelling, packaging and marking requirements
Labelling, packaging and marking requirements which are set out in the export certificate as well as other requirements which have been agreed upon between CFIA and the foreign CA. - Documentation requirements (Certificates, Statements, Forms)
Outlines importing country requirements for documentation including specific certificates and statements to be issued and signed by CFIA. - Other information
Other pertinent information including contact details for the foreign competent authority and links to the foreign Competent Authority's website where such information is available.
If a particular heading does not appear for a given product sector/country combination, it means that the Agency is not aware of any destination country requirements that fall under that heading. If you wish to export products to that country, it is your responsibility to verify and comply with any relevant requirements for that market.
- Eligible / ineligible product
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Don't see your market in the export requirements library?
If you wish to export products to countries not listed, it is your responsibility to check and comply with destination country or market requirements. Where the foreign country requirements are unclear, the CFIA or the Market Access Secretariat or the Trade Commissioner's Office can seek clarification from the overseas government concerned. Unofficial interpretations are applied at your own risk.
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More information on animal and plant health certification
Foods with certification requirements related to animal health (aquatic or terrestrial) have been incorporated into the country export requirements below. For information on plant health certification requirements, please consult the CFIA plant export page. Food products that potentially require plant health certification include: grain and processed grain products (hemp seed, ground flax, oatmeal, flour, lentils, peas and other legumes, rice, corn, etc.); plant oils (canola, flax seed oil, etc.); frozen fruits and vegetables; fresh fruits and vegetables (mushrooms, bulbs, etc.); dried or freeze dried fruits or vegetables; dried soup mixes (particularly if they contain grains or dried vegetables); coffee and teas (including herbal teas); spices (especially spices that are whole seeds such as cardamom); and, traditional medicine ingredients. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list.
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Updating foreign country requirements
When a requirement for a particular country is updated, relevant notifications by Listserv will be sent out and posted in the Food export notices section of Food exports.
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Helping to keep export requirements current
Please advise the CFIA if you receive information about new requirements or the way in which countries administer their requirements. This helps ensure that market-specific export requirements are valid and as up-to-date as possible. It may also provide a basis for negotiations to amend an existing requirement or establish a new one.
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Travellers going abroad
If you are travelling overseas and carry food products intended for later personal use or consumption, you are exempt from licensing as an exporter.
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Taking trade samples overseas
You may need to meet export requirements if you take trade samples to other countries. These are normally defined in the foreign country requirements for the countries or markets the samples are intended for.
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Requirements by country
A
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Antigua
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
- See European Union
Azerbaijan
B
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
- See European Union
Belize
Bermuda
Bolivia
Brazil
Bulgaria
- See European Union
Burkina Faso
C
Cayman Islands
Chile
China
Columbia
- Fish and seafood
- Meat and poultry
- Milk and dairy products
- Processed products (fruits, vegetables and maple products)
Congo (Democratic Republic of)
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
- See European Union
Cuba
Curaçao
Cyprus
- See European Union
Czechia
- See European Union
D
Denmark
- See European Union
Dominican Republic
E
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Estonia
- See European Union
Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)
European Union
- Egg and egg products
- Fish and seafood
- Honey and other apiculture products
- Meat and poultry
- Milk and dairy products
- Composite products
- Gelatine
- Collagen
- Raw materials for the production of gelatine and collagen
- Treated raw materials for the production of gelatine and collagen
- Highly refined products
- Insects
- Sprouts and seeds for the production of sprouts
F
Fiji
Finland
- See European Union
France
French Polynesia
G
Gabon
Georgia
Germany
- See European Union
Ghana
Greece
- See European Union
Greenland
Guatemala
H
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
- See European Union
I
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iraq
Ireland
- See European Union
Israel
Italy
- See European Union
Ivory Coast
J
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
K
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea (Republic of)
Kosovo
Kuwait
L
Latvia
- See European Union
Lebanon
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
- See European Union
Luxembourg
- See European Union
M
Macao
Malaysia
Malta
- See European Union
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Morocco
Myanmar
N
Netherlands
- See European Union
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
- Egg and egg products
- Fish and seafood
- Honey and honey products
- Meat and poultry
- Milk and dairy products
Nicaragua
Nigeria
North Macedonia
Norway
O
Oman
P
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Philippines
Poland
- See European Union
Portugal
- See European Union
Puerto Rico
Q
Qatar
R
Romania
- See European Union
Russian Federation
S
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saudi Arabia
- Egg and egg products
- Fish and seafood
- Honey and honey products
- Meat and poultry
- Milk and dairy products
Scotland
Senegal
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
- See European Union
Slovenia
- See European Union
South Africa
Spain
- See European Union
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Surinam
Sweden
- See European Union
Switzerland
Syria
T
Taiwan
- Egg and egg products
- Fish and seafood
- Meat and poultry
- Milk and dairy products
- Manufactured foods and beverages
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
U
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
- Fish and seafood
- Honey and honey products
- Meat and poultry
- Processed products (fruits, vegetables and maple products)
- Milk and dairy products
United Kingdom
- See European Union
Note: The withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU) was effective as of January 1, 2021.
Please be advised that Canadian exporters have been granted an additional temporary period of 3 months, during which the EU export health certificates will continue to be accepted by the UK authorities. Therefore, current EU certificates can continue to be used for products exported to the UK until March 31, 2021.
Please note that Northern Ireland will continue to follow the EU regulations.
The CFIA will share additional details before March 31, 2021 to facilitate transition into UK Export Health Certificates and ensure continuance of trade.
United States of America
Note: U.S. Foreign Supplier Verification Program Requirements
Uruguay
V
Venezuela
Vietnam
W
West Indies
Z
Zambia
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Requirements by food product sector
- Egg and processed egg products
- Fish and seafood
- Fresh fruit and vegetables
- Honey and honey products
- Processed products (fruits, vegetables and maple products)
- Meat and poultry
- Milk and dairy products
- Manufactured foods and beverages
Egg and processed egg products
- Barbados
- European Union (EU)
- Hong Kong
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Korea (Republic of)
- New Zealand
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Taiwan
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United States of America
Fish and seafood
- Algeria
- Austria
- Argentina
- Australia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bermuda
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Congo (Democratic Republic of)
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Estonia
- European Union (EU)
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- French Polynesia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Haiti
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Korea (Republic of)
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Panama
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico (see United States of America)
- Romania
- Russia
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Saudi Arabia
- Scotland
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- United States of America
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Zambia
Fresh fruit and vegetables
Honey and honey products
- Algeria
- China
- European Union (EU)
- Iraq
- Morocco
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Saudi Arabia
- Tunisia
- United Arab Emirates
Processed products (fruits, vegetables and maple products)
Meat and poultry
- Albania
- Antigua
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bermuda
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Cayman Islands
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Curaçao
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- European Union (EU)
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- French Polynesia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Greenland
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Korea (Republic of)
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Netherlands
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Oman
- Panama
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico (see United States of America)
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Sri Lanka
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Surinam
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- West Indies
Milk and dairy products
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Argentina
- Aruba
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Curaçao
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- European Union
- Finland
- France
- French Polynesia
- Gabon
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Italy
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Korea (Republic of)
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Myanmar
- Netherlands
- Netherlands Antilles
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Peru
- Puerto Rico (see United States of America)
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Saudi Arabia
- Scotland
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Surinam
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
Manufactured foods and beverages
- Date modified: