On April 13th, 2021 two new sets of import conditions will come into effect for pet food from the United States, one for heat-treated pet food, and one for raw/minimally heat-treated pet food. The conditions will be posted in the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS). To qualify for import as heat-treated pet food, the animal-origin ingredients must have undergone the following treatments:
- Egg ingredients: 57 °C for 27 minutes
- Poultry ingredients: 65 °C for 14 minutes, or 74 °C for 5 minutes
- Cattle, sheep, goat or swine ingredients: 70 °C for 30 minutes, 79 °C for 30 seconds, or 90 °C internal temperature
Otherwise, the pet food must be imported using the conditions for raw/minimally heat-treated pet food. For an 8 week transition period following the implementation, either the new or old conditions will be accepted. An import permit will no longer be required for raw/minimally heat-treated pet food from the US following the implementation date.
Any questions or comments may be sent to: cfia.apabpimport-importationpespa.acia@canada.ca.