Changes to import requirements for pet supplements
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is modernizing and simplifying import requirements for pet supplements containing animal products and by-products. We are writing to give you advance notice of changes to import requirements that will be published on June 24, 2024.
1. Simplified categorization of pet supplements
The current categories for pet supplements in the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) do not accurately reflect the variety of options available on the market. On June 24, 2024, the CFIA will update AIRS to include only 3 categories:
a) Pet supplements with no animal origin ingredients
b) Pet supplements containing only highly processed animal origin ingredients
c) Pet supplements containing animal origin ingredients that are not highly processed
Highly processed animal origin ingredients:
- Albumin
- Bee-derived products
- Chondroitin sulphate
- Collagen
- Dicalcium phosphate
- Egg and egg products
- Fish oils
- Gelatin and gelatin capsules
- Green lipped mussel powder
- Marine materials that are not rendered (other than fish oil and green lipped mussel powder)
- Milk and milk products
- Tallow
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D3 from lanolin
Non-highly processed animal origin ingredients:
- Meat
- Organs
- Offal
- Bone or meat meal
- Bone broth
- Spray dried plasma or other blood derivatives, including blood meal
- Products of a rendering plant (other than fish oil and green lipped mussel powder)
Pet supplements with no animal origin ingredients will be allowed from any country, with a copy of the label or manufacturer’s ingredient list. Pet supplements with animal origin ingredients must be accompanied by a zoosanitary certificate. AIRS will be updated to specify whether pet supplements will be accepted or refused from each country, making it easier for importers to find the information they want.
2. Zoosanitary Certification
The zoosanitary certificates for pet supplements with animal origin ingredients will allow the official veterinarian of the exporting country to cross out ingredients that are not included in the shipment being certified. Also, different types of supplements in the same shipment will be able to be certified using the same zoosanitary certificate, as long as they are all in the same category of highly processed or non-highly processed.
Please visit the new Notice to Industry for the wording of these zoosanitary certificates.
There will not be a transition period, therefore, we are providing advanced notification of this change (scheduled for June 24, 2024). Please ensure that you work with your importation team to be aware of this deadline and the new requirements.
If you have any questions about these changes, please contact the Animal Products and By-Products import inbox at cfia.apabpimport-importationpespa.acia@inspection.gc.ca.
For routine inquiries, your local CFIA office continues to be your first point of contact.