What to consider before applying for a Safe Food for Canadians licence

Canadian Food Inspection Agency fees are updated annually on March 31 based on the Consumer Price Index. Learn more about adjusting service fees for inflation.

On this page

• 1.0 Introduction
• 2.0 Getting a Safe Food for Canadians licence
  • Step 1: create an account in My CFIA
  • Step 2: determine your licence structure
  • Step 3: complete the licence application
  • Step 4: receive your licence
  • 3.1 Amending your licence: changes in activities, food commodities or establishments
  • 3.2 New licence requirements: changing your business structure or selling your business
  • Annex A – Food commodity categories identified in the licence application
    • Dairy
    • Egg
    • Fish and seafood
    • Fresh fruits and vegetables
    • Honey and honey products
    • Manufactured foods
    • Maple and maple products
    • Meat and poultry products
    • Processed fruits and vegetables
    • Licensable domestic activities
      • Preparing food for interprovincial trade
      • Preparing for food export
      • Preparing food for intraprovincial trade where provincial regulations require a federal licence
      • Slaughter of food animals for interprovincial trade
      • Slaughter of food animals for export
      • Storing and handling imported meat products for the purpose of inspection
      • Importing food
      • Exporting food

      1.0 Introduction

      The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) are now in force, including requirements related to food licences. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) licensing system grants licences to a person to conduct specific activities relating to food and food animals.

      To find out if your business requires a licence, use the following information resources:

      • Licensing interactive tool
      • Food business activities that require a licence under the SFCR

      If you need a licence and you are ready to apply, review the information outlined in this document, including the 2 annexes. It will help you prepare for the application process.

      2.0 Getting a Safe Food for Canadians licence

      Complete the following 4 steps to get a Safe Food for Canadians licence (SFC licence).

      Step 1: create an account in My CFIA

      The first step in preparing to apply for a SFC licence is to visit My CFIA to create an account and business profile. The licence application is available online at My CFIA.

      Through My CFIA your business can request licences and export certificates, as well as set up electronic payments.

      When enrolling in My CFIA, you can create 1 or more profiles for your business. Visit Before you sign up for My CFIA to learn more about how to set up your profile.

      Step 2: determine your licence structure

      The SFCR does not limit the number of licences a person can hold. You can operate under a single licence or multiple licences, depending on what fits your business needs.

      Before deciding how many licences to request in your application consider the following:

      • you may have to pay a fee for each licence you request
        • refer to CFIA's Fees Notice for current fee amounts
        • CFIA's preventive control plan (PCP) guidance can help you prepare and implement a PCP
        • if a CFIA enforcement action, such as suspension or cancellation, is taken on your licence, this will impact all activities and foods covered by that licence
        • a CFIA finding of non-compliance or enforcement action on 1 licence could result in follow up inspections under other licences you may have

        Additional considerations for food businesses that prepare food for export, export food and need a certificate or wish to be on an export eligibility list

        • Many foreign trading partners require a unique identification number for each physical location or establishment where a food commodity is prepared. In most cases, your SFC licence number should not be used as the unique establishment identification (ID) number. Refer to the CFIA's guidance on assigning establishment numbers under the Safe Food for Canadians Act and Regulations for information about how to request an establishment ID number if needed for export or other purposes.
        • If you choose to have more than 1 licence at a particular physical location or establishment, there cannot be any overlap in the food categories and activities covered by those licences.

        Examples of licence structures

        The scenarios below provide examples of different licence structures. Other structures may be considered.

        Refer to Annex A for definitions and examples of the food commodity categories you need to choose from when completing the licence application. Refer to Annex B for descriptions of licensable activities under the SFCR.

        Example A: 1 licence to cover all activities and food commodity categories occurring at 1 establishment. Therefore, if you operate several establishments at different physical locations, you obtain a licence for each physical location.

        Note: this structure is recommended.

        Example B: 1 licence for each activity Footnote 1 you conduct. Therefore, you could have multiple licences for 1 establishment if you conduct a variety of activities at that location.

        Note: this structure is not advisable if you export food.

        Example C: 1 licence to cover all activities you conduct in a certain food commodity category. Therefore you could have multiple licences for 1 establishment if you conduct activities on a variety of different food commodity categories at that location.

        Note: this structure is not advisable if you export food.

        Step 3: complete the licence application

        Now that you are ready to apply for a licence, make sure you have all the necessary details of your business. When filling out the application for each licence, you must do all of the following:

        • indicate the activities for which a licence is being sought
          • refer to Annex B for a preview of the activities that will be listed on the licence application
          • note: for the activities of import and export, establishment information is not required
          • refer to Annex A for a preview of the food commodity categories you need to choose from when completing the licence application

          You can find the SFC licence application in your My CFIA account, under the Service Request tab.

          Keep in mind

          You will need an approved work shift agreement for activities relating to meat products and slaughtering food animals.

          Slaughter of food animals and the production of their derived meat products are activities that inherently carry more risk. Because of this, they require regular or sustained oversight.

          If you conduct these activities, you must have inspection services and a work shift agreement with CFIA in order to qualify for an SFC licence. The document Regulatory Requirement: Inspection services for Food Animals and Meat Products provides an overview of the regulatory requirements on work shifts, inspection stations and minimum number of hours of inspection.

          Step 4: receive your licence

          After you submit your completed online licence application and payment, you will receive an electronic message indicating 1 of the following:

          • a) your licence has been issued and is available in your My CFIA account, or
          • b) your licence will be issued once CFIA has inspected the business

          In the case of option b), some establishments may have to be inspected before an SFC licence can be issued.

          • CFIA uses a risk-based approach to inspecting new businesses that apply for a licence.
          • A variety of risk factors are used to prioritize and manage these inspection activities.
          • CFIA may have to inspect licence holders requesting an export certificate or other export permission, regardless of their risk profile, if it is a requirement of the importing country.

          3.0 Making changes to a Safe Food for Canadians licence

          It is the responsibility of a person regulated under the Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) to ensure that they comply with all applicable requirements of the SFCA and the SFCR, including licensing requirements.

          3.1 Amending your licence: changes in activities, food commodities or establishments

          Once you have a licence, it is important to remember that it covers the activity, location and food commodity you have entered in your application, as indicated on the licence. Any time this information changes, an amendment to your licence is required.

          This means you must:

          • meet the relevant SFCR requirements associated with the new activities or food commodities, such as preventive controls, traceability and labelling requirements
          • have a written preventive control plan that is updated to reflect these changes, if required, and
          • comply with record keeping requirements.

          For example, if you want to conduct activities in a new food commodity category, you are required to have the new food commodity and sub-commodity categories added to the scope of your licence. You can request an amendment to your licence online through your My CFIA account. Licence amendments are not subject to any fee.

          3.2 New licence requirements: changing your business structure or selling your business

          Your SFC licence is not transferable (SFCA, Subsection 20(5)). An SFC licence is issued specifically to a person (for example, an individual or business) who is identified in the SFC licence application. The person named in the licence must always be the same person who conducts the activity(ies) authorized in the licence. As a licence holder, it is your responsibility to determine whether a particular change, including a sale or change in ownership, change in controlling shareholders, amalgamation, or other change related to the business, results in a change to the "person" holding the licence.

          If you are unsure whether a change in your business structure will result in a change to the "person" holding the SFC licence such that a new SFC licence is required, you may wish to consult a lawyer or other professionals who specialize in this area. Additionally, the Canada Revenue Agency provides guidance on change of legal status that may assist you in determining whether a particular change in your business results in a change to the person identified in the licence.

          Depending on the circumstances, you may need to amend or surrender your existing licence to appropriately reflect the change. If you determine the change amounts to a different person holding the licence, a new SFC licence would be required for the new person to conduct the activities set out in the licence. To apply for a new licence the new person should refer to My CFIA – User guidance.

          4.0 Additional information

          Refer to the CFIA's Food licences page for more information on this topic. If you have questions, contact us or call 1-800-442-2342.

          Annex A – Food commodity categories identified in the licence application

          When applying for a Safe Food for Canadians licence (SFC licence), you will be asked to identify the food commodity(ies) you are responsible for by choosing from a list of commodity and sub-commodity categories. It is important to select the correct food commodity and sub-commodity categories so that your licence accurately reflects your business. Examples of foods that fall within each of the commodity categories are provided in the tables below. You do not need to select commodity categories to cover the ingredients you use in your food. For example, you would not select "Egg" or "Dairy" to cover the ingredients used in your "cream filled doughnuts".

          Note: Some sub-commodity categories are further broken down to an additional level of detail. For example, if the food you are responsible for is romaine lettuce, you select the "Fresh fruit or vegetable" commodity category, followed by the "Fresh vegetables" sub-commodity category. You are then given the option to select either "Leafy greens" or "Other". Since the CFIA considers romaine lettuce to be a leafy green, you select "Leafy greens".

          In order to assist food importers and brokers, the tables below also provide examples of the Harmonized System (HS) chapters where foods in each sub-commodity category may be found. Food importers are required to declare an HS code, as well as a CFIA Other Government Department (OGD) extension, on their food import declaration that accurately reflects the food they intend to import.

          Keep in mind

          The commodity and sub-commodity category titles found in the SFC licence application do not use the same definitions found within the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR). In most cases, these categories are broader than the SFCR definitions and standards of identity.

          • Dairy
          • Egg
          • Fish and seafood
          • Fresh fruits and vegetables
          • Honey and honey products
          • Manufactured foods
          • Maple and maple products
          • Meat and poultry products
          • Processed fruits and vegetables

          Commodity category: dairy

          Select this box if the food you are responsible for is milk, derived from milk or contains milk based fats. Milk, milk derivatives, and milk fats can be derived from mammals (such as cows, buffalos, goats, sheep, camels).

          Do not select this box if the food you are responsible for is a vegan dairy substitute that does not contain dairy ingredients, such as soy or almond beverages. For these products, select the "Manufactured foods" commodity category.

          Sub-commodity categories identified under dairy

          The sub-commodity categories identified under dairy can include milk products that are dried, cultured, condensed, or frozen.

          Composite dairy products is a sub-commodity category for dairy products that are mixed with other foods, but still recognized by the consumer as a dairy product.

          Dairy substitutes is a sub-commodity category for foods that may be used by the consumer in place of dairy products but contain ingredients derived from dairy products (for example, caseinates).

          Dairy drinks is a sub-commodity category for dairy based beverages, such as flavoured milk, smoothies and egg nog.

          Sub-commodity categories identified under dairy

          Sub-commodity categories	Examples	Examples of HS chapters for importing Footnote 2
          Butter/butterfat	cultured butter, ghee, salted butter, unsalted butter, light butter, whey butter	04.05
          By-products	whey, casein, caseinates	04.04 35.01, 35.02, 35.04
          Cheese	creamed, hard, processed and soft cheeses such as cheddar, creamed cheese, mozzarella, paneer and their products (such as crumbled, shredded, sliced)	04.06
          Composite dairy products	dairy products mixed with other food commodities, such as fruits or vegetables, that are recognized as a dairy product (such as onion and garlic cream cheese, smoked salmon flavoured cream cheese), cranberry goat cheese, cheese balls or logs containing nuts or fruits, dairy parfaits)	04.06 21.05, 21.06.90
          Cultured dairy products	crème fraîche, kefir, sour cream (includes flavoured sour cream), yoghurt (with or without fruit or other toppings), yoghurt drink, buttermilk	04.03
          Dairy drinks	chocolate milk, strawberry milk, milkshakes, smoothies, egg nog	18.06 19.01 22.02.99
          Dried milk powder	skim-milk powder, buttermilk powder, chocolate milk powder, malted milk powder, flavoured milk powder	04.02
          Evaporated/condensed products	2%, whole evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk	04.02 19.01
          Frozen dairy/novelties	ice-cream, frozen yoghurt, ice cream cakes, ice cream sandwiches, frozen dairy dessert, sherbet, gelato, ice milk mixes, frozen dairy dessert mixes	18.06.90 19.01.90 21.05
          Milk/cream	whole milk, 2% milk, 1% milk, skim milk, 10% cream, half and half, whipping cream	04.01 – 04.03
          Dairy substitutes	dairy spreads, coffee whitener	04.05 19.01

          Commodity category: egg

          Select this box if the foods you are responsible for are shell eggs, processed eggs or composite egg products.

          While the majority of eggs and egg products in Canada are from domestic chickens (Gallus domesticus) and domestic turkeys (Melagris gallopavo), this commodity category also includes eggs from other species, such as duck or quail eggs.

          Do not select this box if the food you are responsible for is balut, which is a fertilized duck egg. For this product select the "Manufactured foods" commodity category.

          Sub-commodity categories identified under egg

          Shell egg is the sub-commodity category used for egg products that are still in their shell. These eggs may be pasteurized provided they meet the criteria in section 95 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations.

          Processed egg products can be in dried, pickled, frozen or liquid form, cooked or uncooked. Processed egg products can be made of the whole egg, or the separate egg yolk and egg white components and may or may not contain other ingredients.

          Composite egg products are foods that contain eggs mixed with other foods, but are commonly recognized by consumers as a food that is egg-based.

          Sub-commodity categories identified under egg

          Sub-commodity categories	Examples	Examples of HS chapters for importing Footnote 2
          Composite egg products	eggs mixed with other commodities (such as dairy and vegetables) and recognized as an egg product such as frozen breakfast egg sandwiches, egg salad, egg salad mixed with potatoes and vegetables, egg salad sandwiches, omelette mix, quiche, egg patties	19.05.90 21.06.90
          Processed eggs	dried, frozen, liquid eggs (whole eggs, egg whites (egg albumen) and egg yolks), hard boiled eggs, pickled eggs	04.07, 04.08, 04.10 35.02
          Shell eggs	graded and ungraded eggs in shell, eggs pasteurized in shell	04.07, 04.10

          Commodity category: fish and seafood

          Select this box if the food you are responsible for is a fish or seafood or any marine mammals, amphibians or reptiles.

          Sub-commodity categories identified under fish and seafood

          Amphibians (and reptiles) is a sub-commodity category for foods derived from amphibians, reptiles and marine mammals, including their by-products.

          Chordates is a sub-commodity category used for sharks, skates (rays) and their by-products.

          Finfish is a sub-commodity category for finfish species; however, it also includes non-finfish species, such as cuttlefish, octopus and squid.

          Composite fish and seafood products are foods that contain fish or seafood products mixed with other foods but are commonly recognized by consumers as a food that is fish or seafood based.

          Sub-commodity categories identified under fish and seafood

          Sub-commodity categories	Examples	Examples of HS chapters for importing Footnote 2
          Amphibians (and reptiles)	alligators, crocodiles, frogs, turtles, snakes any of their parts and products	02.08.50, 02.10.93 16.01
          Chordates	sharks, skates (rays), any of their parts, products and by-products	03.01 – 03.05 16.04 21.04
          Composite fish and seafood products	fish and seafood products mixed with other food commodities (such as dairy, vegetables and grain products) and recognized as a fish product such as bacon wrapped scallops, shrimp rolls, shrimp spring rolls, sushi rolls, fish cakes, fish sandwiches, seafood lasagna, shrimp pad thai, lobster mac and cheese, seafood chowder, fish sauce, seafood or fish stuffing	16.05 19.02, 19.04, 19.05 20.05 21.03, 21.04
          Crustaceans	lobsters, crabs, shrimp, crayfish, crawfish, rock lobsters, scampi, any of their parts, products and by-products such as cooked whole lobster, cooked crabmeat, cooked lobster claws, cooked shrimp, canned crabmeat, lobster cocktail, lobster tomalley, lobster paste, breaded shrimp, shrimp cocktail, barnacles	03.05, 03.06 15.06 16.03, 16.05 19.02 21.03.90, 21.04.10
          Echinoderms	sea urchins and sea cucumbers, any of their parts, products and by-products	03.08 16.05
          Finfish	ground fish and flat fish such as anchovy, basa, catfish, cod, croaker, eels, flounder, gourami, haddock, halibut, hake, herring, kingfish, mackerel, mudfish, mullet, perch, pickerel, pike, pollock, rockfish, salmon, sardine, scad, seabass, seabream, smelt, snapper, sole, sturgeon, tilapia, trout, tuna, turbot, wahoo, walleye and whiting finfish products and by-products such as fish oil, caviar, fish eggs (roe), fish sticks, kamaboko, minced fish, smoked salmon and surimi this category also includes fish that don't have fins such as cuttlefish, octopus, squid, any of their parts	03.01 – 03.05 15.04 16.03, 16.04
          Gastropods	abalone, conches, loco, periwinkles, snails (marine and terrestrial), whelks, any of their parts and products	03.07 16.05
          Marine mammals	seals, whales, any of their parts, products and by-products (such as seal oil)	02.08.40, 02.10.92, 02.10.99 15.04.30
          Bivalve molluscs	clams, cockles, geoducks, mussels, oysters, scallops, any of their parts, products and by-products such as breaded scallops, canned baby clams, canned oysters, cooked mussels, frozen scallop meat	03.07 16.03

          Commodity category: fresh fruits and vegetables

          Select this box if the food you are responsible for is a fresh fruit or vegetable that is whole, washed, sliced, cored, peeled, grated or cut.

          It is important to distinguish this commodity category from the "Processed fruits or vegetables" commodity category. Generally, a fruit or vegetable is considered "fresh" and not "processed" if it can degrade or rot during storage (dry storage or refrigerated).

          Do not select this box if the food you are responsible is a dried herb. For this product select the "Manufactured foods" commodity category and the "Spices, herbs, flavours, condiments, dressings" sub-commodity category.

          Do not select this box if the food you are responsible for is a fruit or vegetable that has been further processed. For this product select the "Processed fruits or vegetables" commodity category.

          Fresh fruits

          Berries include only blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries. They do not include other berries or any small fruits such as grapes.

          Fresh vegetables

          Leafy greens include (but are not limited to) romaine lettuce, green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, butter lettuce, baby leaf lettuce, escarole, endive, spring mix, spinach, cabbage, kale, chard, arugula and bok choy. Leafy greens do not include fresh herbs such basil, coriander, dill, mint and parsley.

          Specialty mushrooms include any mushroom species that does not belong to the genus Agaricus. Specialty mushrooms include enokitake (enoki), shiitake and oyster mushrooms. Speciality mushrooms do not include common mushrooms such as button, cremini and portobello mushrooms.

          berries: only fresh blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries. They may be whole, washed, sliced, grated or cut.

          other: whole, washed, sliced, cored, peeled, grated or cut fresh fruits such as apples, bananas, citrus, coconuts, melons, pineapples, rhubarb, peaches and plums, fresh fruit products (such as fresh fruit salad), wild harvest fruits, fresh fruits packaged with dipping sauce, all other berries not listed above

          leafy greens: whole, washed, sliced, grated or cut fresh leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, butter lettuce, escarole, spring mix, spinach, cabbage, kale, chard, arugula, bok choy, prepared salads and salad kits containing leafy greens

          specialty mushrooms: whole, washed, sliced, peeled, grated or cut fresh speciality mushrooms such as enokitake (enoki), oyster, shiitake

          other: whole, washed, sliced, peeled, grated or cut fresh vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, fresh herbs, common mushrooms (such as button, cremini, portobello), root vegetables (such as garlic, ginger, onion, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips), microgreens, sprouts, wild harvest vegetables, fresh vegetables packaged with dipping sauce

          Commodity category: honey and honey products

          Select this box if the food you are responsible is honey or honey products. All honey and honey products fall under this single commodity box. These foods may or may not be subject to standards of identity or grades set out in the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations and the Food and Drug Regulations.

          The foods found in the honey and honey products sub-commodity category may contain other ingredients, such as spices, but are still recognized by the consumer as a honey product.

          Do not select this box for apiculture products other than honey or honey products. For other apiculture products such as bee pollen or propolis, select the "Manufactured foods" commodity category.

          Sub-commodity category identified under honey and honey products

          Sub-commodity category	Examples	Examples of HS chapters for importing Footnote 2
          Honey and honey products	liquid or creamed raw or pasteurized honey, whipped honey spread, honey in the comb, powdered honey, honey jelly	04.09 21.06

          Commodity category: manufactured foods

          Select this box if the food you are responsible for is an alcoholic beverage, non-alcoholic beverage, confectionary, sweeteners, snack food, fats, oils, food chemical, a food derived from grains, infant formula, human milk fortifier, nuts, seeds, spices, herbs, seasoning or condiment.

          Sub-commodity categories identified under manufactured foods

          Alcoholic beverages is the sub-commodity category used for all beverages that contain more than 0.5% absolute ethyl alcohol by volume. Mixed alcoholic beverages, aperitifs and liqueurs are included in this category.

          Confectionary, sweeteners, snack foods and non-bakery desserts is a sub-commodity category that includes a wide variety of foods. This sub-commodity category is used for candies, sweets, and gum as well as sweeteners like sugar, molasses and corn syrup and non-dairy based iced novelties such as popsicles and freezies. Snack foods include potato chips and corn chips. Desserts included in this sub-commodity category are sugar-based desserts.

          Do not select this box for grain-based desserts. Grain-based desserts are part of the "Grain derived foods" sub-commodity category.

          Fats and oils derived from plants are found in this sub-commodity category.

          Do not select this box for animal based fats and oils (rendered fat, suet, lard/shortening, tallow, etc.). Animal based fats are found in the "Meat and poultry products" commodity category.

          Food chemicals are often used as food ingredients; they are not typically consumed on their own. This sub-commodity category is for food chemicals used for vitamins, minerals, artificial sweeteners, food additives and many other uses. Food additives are considered to be those listed on Health Canada's Lists of permitted food additives. Please note this category does not include stand-alone vitamin or mineral supplements such as those sold in pill form, but rather those vitamins and minerals produced as ingredients or additives to food.

          "Foods not otherwise listed" is the sub-commodity category used for foods that cannot be categorized into the other sub-commodity categories listed under "Manufactured foods". It includes foods made from insects, such as cricket flour, dried mealworms and roasted crickets. Foods such as collagen casings, gelatins, and balut are also in this sub-commodity category.

          Grain derived foods is a sub-commodity category used for foods that are made from processed grains, such as wheat, rice, oats, barley or corn. Foods made from processed grains include a wide variety of pastas, cereals, and breads, as well as a variety of grain-based desserts such as cakes, cookies, pastries, pies and muffins.

          Infant foods are human milk fortifiers and infant formulas that are available at retail as well as those that are only available under medical supervision (for example, formulas for inborn errors of metabolism, formulas for infants born premature). Infant foods are offered as ready to serve liquid formulas, concentrated liquid formulas or powdered formula products that can be blended with water and/or milk before consumption.

          Do not select this box for foods for infants that consist of other commodity groups.

          • foods for infants consisting of grains or cereals select the "Grain-based foods" sub-commodity category
          • foods for infants consisting of meat and other ingredients select the "Meat and poultry products" commodity category and the "Composite meat products" sub-commodity category
          • foods for infants consisting of pureed fruits or vegetables select the "Processed fruits or vegetables" commodity category.

          Note: When applying for an SFC licence, those who prepare and/or import infant foods should be aware that they cannot be sold or advertised for sale in Canada until the manufacturer has submitted a notification to Health Canada in accordance with the requirements of Part B, Division 25 of the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR). Under the FDR, a premarket notification is required for any infant food that is new to the Canadian market, or that has undergone a major change. Following the review and acceptance of the submission, Health Canada will issue a letter (Letter of No Further Questions/Authorization) to the manufacturer of the infant food, which will permit the sale or advertising for sale of the food. Health Canada issues a letter for each specific infant food product (not by brand).

          Before an SFC licence is issued or amended, the CFIA will conduct verification activities to confirm that the applicable SFCR requirements are met, including subsection 29(1). Part of the CFIA verification process includes:

          • requesting that domestic manufacturers provide a copy of the authorization letter issued by Health Canada
          • assessing whether licence applicants who import, process, treat, preserve, package and/or label these products have a procedure in their Preventive Control Plan that ensures:
            • available documentation of authorization letters for each infant food product they import, process, treat, preserve, package or label; or
            • the products are otherwise "eligible for temporary importation"

            For further information on preparing premarket submissions for infant foods, refer to Health Canada's Guidance documents: Infant formula and human milk fortifiers.

            Multiple foods is the sub-commodity category for foods that consist of multiple commodity categories, such as vegetarian pizza or vegetable-based sandwiches. This sub-commodity category also includes foods used in liquid diets, meal replacements, protein drinks and nutritional supplements.

            Do not select this box for foods that contain more than 2% meat ingredients. For foods containing a significant quantity of meat ingredients select the "Meat and poultry products" commodity category and the "Composite meat products" sub-commodity category.

            Do not select this box for natural health products. Natural health products are not subject to the SFCR.

            Non-alcoholic beverages is a sub-commodity category that includes a wide variety of drinks. These beverages can be made from soy, coconuts, coffee, or tea. It also includes dry powders or liquid flavour concentrates that are intended to be added to liquid to make a non-alcoholic beverage. This sub-commodity also includes soft drinks, carbonated drinks, and water (including flavoured water).

            • Supplemented beverages include a wide variety of drinks that have one or more specific ingredients (supplemental ingredients) added for purposes other than nutrition. Examples of supplemented beverages include:
              • drinks with added vitamins and minerals
              • drinks with added caffeine, such as caffeinated energy drinks

              Do not select this box for non-alcoholic beverages made from fruits or vegetables, such as juice, concentrated juice, or frozen concentrated juice. These foods can be found in the "Processed fruits or vegetables" commodity category.

              Nuts, grains, seeds can be raw, roasted, seasoned, or smoked. This sub-commodity category also includes foods made from processing nuts, grains or seeds into other products, such as nut butters, ground seeds, or vegan substitutes.

              Do not select this box for pulses that are frozen or packed in hermetically sealed packages (such as frozen or canned chickpeas, lentils, faba beans). For these foods use the "Processed fruits and vegetables" commodity category and the "Processed vegetables" sub-commodity category.

              Spices, herbs, flavours, condiments, dressings is the sub-commodity category for foods that are typically used to complement, season or add flavour to another food. They can be used as an ingredient in a food, added after a food is prepared, or used to accompany a food (for example, in a sauce). Spices are typically derived from flowers, seeds, fruits, roots, bark or nuts of a plant. Herbs are the dried leaves of herbaceous plants.

              Do not select this box for fresh herbs. For these foods use the "Fresh fruits or vegetables" commodity category and the "Fresh vegetables" sub-commodity category.

              Do not select this box for ketchup, chutneys and other diced or pureed fruits and vegetables. For these products use the "Processed fruits or vegetables" commodity category.

              Vegan dairy substitutes is the sub-commodity category for foods which are suitable for a vegan diet. These foods do not contain dairy products or dairy derivatives.

              supplemented beverages: such as caffeinated energy drinks or other beverages with added vitamins and minerals

              other: carbonated beverages, flavoured water, coffee, tea, kombucha, coconut water, soy beverages, soft drinks, drink powders or liquid fruit flavour concentrates for making drinks, oat beverage, coconut beverage

              Commodity category: maple and maple products

              Select this box if the food you are responsible is maple and maple products. All maple and maple products are within this single commodity category. These foods may or may not be subject to standards of identity or grades set out in the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations and the Food and Drug Regulations.

              The foods found in the maple and maple products sub-commodity category may contain other ingredients but are still recognized by the consumer as a maple product.

              Do not select this box for foods made from other tree species, such as birch syrup nor for maple-flavoured syrups. For these products select the "Manufactured foods" commodity category and the "Confectionary, sweeteners, snack foods, and non-bakery desserts" sub-commodity category.

              Sub-commodity category identified under maple and maple products

              Sub-commodity category	Examples	Examples of HS chapters for importing Footnote 2
              Maple and maple products	maple syrup, maple sugar, maple butter, maple candy, maple taffy, maple jelly	17.02 20.07

              Commodity category: meat and poultry products

              Select this box if the food you are responsible for is derived from a food animal.

              Do not select this box for foods derived from marine mammals, amphibians or reptiles. For these products, you should select the "Fish and seafood" commodity category.

              Sub-commodity categories identified under meat and poultry products

              There are several sub-commodity categories of food animals which are based on the wide variety of domesticated animals and game animals used as food. The various meat and poultry sub-commodity categories include the meat derived from the animals associated with that sub-commodity, as well as any of their parts or products. This means that the meat and poultry products can be a variety of cuts, ground meat, marinated meat, or further processed into luncheon meat, sausage, broths, animal fats and oils (such as lard/shortening, tallow), meat flavours and extracts, and meat gravies and flavours.

              Composite meat products are foods that contain meat mixed with other foods. These foods are made up of more than 2% meat ingredients, which may trigger SFCR requirements that would not otherwise apply to the food, such as a work shift agreement.

              Game animals are hunted, wild animals, for which permission is granted by a competent authority to hunt the animal for commercial use.

              Farmed game animals and farmed game birds are food animals that are historically considered "wild" but have been raised for food production and transported to an abattoir for traditional slaughter with stunning.

              Sub-commodity categories identified under meat and poultry products

              Sub-commodity categories	Examples	Examples of HS chapters for importing Footnote 2
              Bovine (beef, bison and veal)	beef, bison and veal or any of their parts (such as chops, ground meat, organs, roasts, edible offal) and products such as broth, corned beef, lunch meat, meatballs, sausage	02.01, 02.02, 02.06, 02.10 05.04 15.02, 15.17 16.01 – 16.03
              Caprine (goat)	goat, any of its parts (such as ground meat, roasts, edible offal) and its products such as marinated meat, sausages	02.04, 02.06, 02.10 05.04 15.02, 15.17 16.01, 16.02
              Cervidae	farmed elk, deer, any of their parts (such as edible offal) and products	02.08, 02.10 05.04 15.17 16.01, 16.02
              Composite meat products containing a non-meat animal origin ingredient	foods containing more than 2% meat (calculated on the basis of the cooked weight of the product) mixed with other food commodities such as vegetables and grain products; meat pies ( tourtière ), meat spaghetti sauce, beef stews, meat pizza (frozen or refrigerated), chicken lasagna, frozen meals containing meat, foods for infants consisting of meat and other ingredients; broths, flavours and extracts of meat origin	07.05, 07.09 15.17, 15.18 16.01, 16.02 19.01, 19.02, 19.04, 19.05 20.04, 20.05 21.03, 21.04, 21.06.90
              Equine	horses, asses, mules, hinnies, any of their parts (such as ground meat, steaks, roasts, edible offal) and products (such as marinated meat, sausages)	02.05, 02.06, 02.10 05.04 15.06, 15.17, 15.18 16.01, 16.02
              Farmed game	farm raised game animals, such as bison, musk ox, elk, reindeer, caribou, antelope, deer, water buffalo, any of their parts and products	02.01, 02.02, 02.06, 02.08, 02.10 05.04 15.17, 15.18 16.01, 16.02
              Farmed game bird	farm raised game birds, such as partridge, pheasant, pigeon (squab), quail, any of their parts and products	02.08, 02.10 15.17, 15.18 16.01, 16.02
              Game	hunted wild game animals, such as caribou, musk ox, reindeer, any of their parts and products	02.01 – 02.03, 02.06, 02.08, 02.10 05.04 15.17, 15.18 16.01, 16.02
              Ovine (Sheep, lamb and mutton)	sheep, lamb and mutton, any of its parts (such as ground meat, lamb chops, rack of lamb, roasts) and its products (such as marinated meat, sausages)	02.04, 02.06, 02.10 05.04 15.02, 15.17, 15.18 16.01, 16.02
              Porcine (Pork)	any of its parts (such as chops, ground meat, ribs, roasts) and its products (such as bacon, creton, cured/dried sausage, ham, headcheese, hotdogs, and sausage), pork rinds	02.03, 02.06, 02.09, 02.10 05.04, 05.11 15.01, 15.17, 15.18 16.01 – 16.03
              Poultry	chicken, cornish hen, duck, goose, guinea fowl, turkey, any of their parts (such as breast, legs, liver) and their products such as breaded chicken strips, broth, meatballs, pâté, sausage, smoked breast	02.07, 02.10 05.04 15.01, 15.17, 15.18 16.01 – 16.03
              Rabbit	rabbit, hare, any of its parts (such as edible offal) and products	02.08, 02.10 15.17, 15.18 16.01, 16.02
              Ratites	emu, ostrich, rhea, any of their parts (such as edible offal) and products	02.06, 02.08, 02.10 15.01, 15.17, 15.18 16.01, 16.02

              Commodity category: processed fruits and vegetables

              Select this box if the food you are responsible for is made from a fruit or vegetable that has been processed to create a refrigerated, frozen or shelf stable food. The processes applied to these foods most often are (but not limited to): cooking, freezing, drying, pickling, canning (hermitically sealed package), pureeing, or juicing.

              Sub-commodity categories identified under processed fruits and vegetables

              The foods found in the Processed fruits or Processed vegetables sub-commodity categories may contain a variety of other ingredients and may or may not be subject to standards of identity or grades set out in the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations and the Food and Drug Regulations. Many of these foods were previously regulated by the Processed Products Regulations; however, similar foods made by processing fruits or vegetables that fell outside these former regulations are now included within these sub-commodity categories for licensing purposes.

              Processed fruits

              Frozen berries include only frozen blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries. They do not include other frozen berries or any frozen small fruits such as grapes.

              frozen berries: only frozen blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries

              other: apple sauce, fruits packed in hermetically sealed packages (such as cherries, fruit cocktail, fruit salad, fruit cups, peaches, pears, plums, sliced apples, strawberries), frozen fruits (other than the berries listed above), sorbet, fruit juice, concentrated fruit juice, fruit juice from concentrate, and frozen concentrated fruit juice, fruit nectars, jams, jellies, fruit spread, fruit pie filling, fruit peel, marmalade, minced meat, dried fruits, fruit leathers, fruit powders, foods for infants consisting of pureed fruits

              Supplemented foods

              If you are applying for a licence to conduct an activity on a supplemented food, select the commodity category and sub-commodity category associated with the food's traditional counterpart.

              For example, if you are applying for a licence to import a chocolate confection with supplemental Vitamin D, your licence should include the activity "Importing food" as well as the "Manufactured foods" commodity category, sub-commodity category "Confectionary, sweeteners, snack foods and non-bakery desserts".

              Refer to Health Canada's Guidance document: Supplemented Foods Regulations for more information on supplemented foods.

              Annex B – SFCR licensable activities

              When applying for a Safe Food for Canadians licence (SFC licence), you will be asked to identify the activities that you conduct and for which you need a licence. It is important to select the correct activities so that your licence accurately reflects your business activities and needs.

              The list of activities below reflects the activities available for selection in the SFC licence application. It is possible to do only domestic activities, or only international activities, or do both. It all depends on your business. While selecting your activities, think of other services you may require from CFIA. For example, requesting an export certificate from CFIA in order to meet the importing country's requirements would trigger the need for an SFC licence to export.

              • Licensable domestic activities
                • Preparing food for interprovincial trade
                • Preparing food for export
                • Preparing food for intraprovincial trade where provincial regulations require a federal licence
                • Slaughter of food animals for interprovincial trade
                • Slaughter of food animals for export
                • Storing and handling imported meat products for the purpose of inspection
                • Importing food
                • Exporting food

                Keep in mind

                For the purpose of the SFC licence application, the term "prepare" means to either:

                • manufacture, process, treat, preserve
                • grade
                • package
                • label
                • store (when you want an SFC licence to store food, other than imported meat products for the purpose of inspection by CFIA)

                Licensable domestic activities

                Activities carried out in a domestic establishment in Canada where:

                • food is prepared for interprovincial trade
                • food is prepared for export
                • food is prepared for intraprovincial trade and provincial regulations require a federal licence
                • food animals are slaughtered for interprovincial trade or export; or
                • imported meat is stored and handled for the purpose of inspection

                Activity: preparing food for interprovincial trade

                Select this box if the food you are preparing will be sent or conveyed to a different province.

                For example, if your facility is located in Manitoba and is preparing food that is to be sent or conveyed to Ontario, select this option.

                In the licence application, prepare means to manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label. It also means to store if you want an SFC licence to store food or if you need one to satisfy requirements imposed by your buyers, sellers or the importing country. However, it excludes to store and handle imported meat for the purpose of inspection by CFIA since this activity is captured in the "Storing and handling imported meat products for the purpose of inspection" box below.

                Activity: preparing food for export

                Select this box if the food you are preparing in Canada will be sent or conveyed to a different country.

                This is a domestic activity because it occurs within Canada.

                If your business prepares a food in Canada that is destined for another country, select "Preparing food for export" under Licensable Domestic Activities.

                Note: if your business in Canada also exports food, you should also select "Exporting food" under Licensable International Activities.

                In the licence application, prepare means to manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label. It also means to store if you want an SFC licence to store food or if you need one to satisfy requirements imposed by your buyers, sellers or the importing country. However, it excludes to store and handle imported meat for the purpose of inspection by CFIA since this activity is captured in the "Storing and handling imported meat products for the purpose of inspection" box below.

                Activity: preparing food for intraprovincial trade where provincial regulations require a federal licence

                Select this box if a provincial or territorial requirement states that you require a federal licence, even if the food you prepare does not leave the province.

                You do not need an SFC licence to trade food within your province or to prepare food that will be sold or consumed in your province. However, you can get a licence if a provincial regulation states that you require a federal licence.

                Commodities which may have such a requirement include dairy products, eggs, fish, fresh fruit or vegetables, honey, maple products, meat products, processed egg products, and processed fruit or vegetable products.

                When you apply for your licence, you will be required to name the provincial or territorial regulation or policy that requires you to obtain a licence from CFIA.

                Activity: slaughter of food animals for interprovincial trade

                Select this box if you slaughter food animals to be sent or conveyed to a different province.

                Slaughter activities include all the stages, procedures and processes conducted in the slaughter establishment during operations that directly affect the live animal prior to its death.

                The SFCR defines food animal as a bird or mammal, other than a marine mammal, from which an edible meat product may be derived.

                Note: you will need an approved work shift agreement for activities related to meat products and slaughtering food animals. Slaughter of food animals and the production of their derived meat products are activities that inherently carry more risk. Because of this, they require more regular and sustained oversight.

                If you conduct these activities, you must have inspection services and a work shift agreement with the CFIA in order to qualify for an SFC licence. The document, Regulatory Requirements: Inspection services for Food Animals and Meet Products provides an overview of the regulatory requirements for work shifts, inspection stations and minimum number of hours of inspection.

                Activity: slaughter of food animals for export

                Select this box if you slaughter food animals in Canada for export.

                Slaughter activities include all the stages, procedures and processes conducted in the slaughter establishment during operations that directly affect the live animal prior to its death.

                The SFCR defines food animal as a bird or mammal, other than a marine mammal, from which an edible meat product may be derived.

                Note: you will need an approved work shift agreement for activities related to meat products and slaughtering food animals. Slaughter of food animals and the production of their derived meat products are activities that inherently carry more risk. Because of this, they require more regular and sustained oversight.

                If you conduct these activities, you must have inspection services and a work shift agreement with the CFIA in order to qualify for an SFC licence. The document, Regulatory Requirements: Inspection services for Food Animals and Meet Products provides an overview of the regulatory requirements for work shifts, inspection stations and minimum number of hours of inspection.

                Activity: storing and handling imported meat products for the purpose of inspection

                Select this box only if you are storing and handling imported meat at your establishment specifically for the purpose of CFIA inspection to ensure the meat products meet Canadian requirements.

                When meat imported into Canada requires a CFIA inspection it must be immediately delivered to an establishment where the meat product will be stored and handled by a person who holds a licence to store and handle an edible meat product in its imported condition for inspection. In general terms, this phrase refers to preparing edible meat products for inspection by CFIA.

                Select this option if you are a Canadian establishment that receives meat products that have been imported into Canada and you store and handle this meat for the purpose of inspection by CFIA.

                Do not select this box if you are storing and handling imported meat at your establishment but you are not having meat inspected by CFIA.

                For the full list of meat products exempt from this requirement, refer to Table 1 Understanding the meat product exceptions under section 25 of the SFCR.

                Licensable international activities

                Licensable international activities include:

                • the import of food including food ingredients; and
                • the export of food including food ingredients, where you require export documentation from CFIA such as an export certificate, a certificate of free sale or being on an export eligibility list

                You can choose to hire someone (such as a customs broker or freight forwarder) to facilitate the import process or export process by doing the paperwork, handling all transactions related to the food, or managing the shipping, however, it is the SFC licence holder who is responsible for ensuring they and the food they import or export meets Canadian requirements.

                CFIA needs to deal with the SFC licence holder in the event of a recall or food safety complaint.

                Activity: importing food

                Select this box if you are bringing food into Canada from a foreign country.

                To import a food ingredient for further preparation or processing or a finished food into Canada, select this option regardless of whether the food is in its final packaging.

                If you are located outside of Canada and are importing food into Canada, you can obtain an SFC licence under limited conditions. Please refer to the Non-Resident Importer section on CFIA's website to make sure you meet these conditions.

                Activity: exporting food

                Select this box if you are sending food from Canada to a foreign country.

                Depending on the food commodity you export, the importing country may require an export certificate or other export documentation. CFIA can only issue the documentation if you have an SFC licence to export. This applies even if your sole activity is to export food as a seller or broker. It also applies if you prepared food for export and selected "Preparing food for export" under Licensable Domestic Activities.

                Note: in accordance with existing procedures, meat trading companies and brokers will not need an export licence as CFIA will only issue meat export certificates to the licensed operator of the establishment.

                Do not select this box if the food you prepare is not exported out of Canada.

                Footnotes

                Footnote 1

                Food business activities that require a licence under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations provides further information on the types of activities that are subject to licensing.

                Note that it is possible that your food may be listed in a chapter that is not noted in the table.