Most food importers are required to hold a valid Safe Food for Canadians licence (SFC licence) issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
On February 12, 2024, the CFIA will activate the automatic verification of SFC licences for imports of manufactured foods. Food import transactions will be automatically rejected and the shipment will be denied entry into Canada unless a valid SFC licence number is declared.
If you import manufactured foods, visit Food importers: You need a Safe Food for Canadians licence to learn how you can prepare for automatic licence verification.
For questions about applying for or amending an SFC licence, visit My CFIA or call 1.800.442.2342.