February 11, 2020 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is reminding fish importers to declare their shipments properly. Importers have the legal responsibility to provide complete and accurate import information prior to or at the time of import and it remains the importer’s responsibility to ensure that all declarations are complete and accurate under subsections 13(1) and 13(2) of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR), and section 15 of the Safe Food for Canadians Act.
All customs brokers or importers should be submitting import information through the Integrated Import Declaration (IID). The import information provided through the IID should match the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) registration.
Importers can search for the latest import requirements in the Automated Import Reference System database. CFIA’s AIRS Video Tutorial demonstrates how to use the database to determine the requirements for importing into Canada.
CFIA is reviewing fish import declarations and is contacting importers to ask them to update or complete information where required.
CFIA is taking a graduated enforcement approach when importers do not provide the required import information. The enforcement action will be based on the gravity of the non-compliance, considering factors such as the potential or actual harm, intent and compliance history.
Control and enforcement activities conducted by CFIA staff will be guided by the Standard Regulatory Response Process (SRRP) and may include a letter of non-compliance, issuance of administrative monetary penalties (AMPs), or the suspension or cancellation of the Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licence.
Additional information can be found on the CFIA website:
- General information on importing food into Canada
- Regulation of imported fish and seafood products in Canada
- Declaring CFIA regulated goods as Canadian Goods Returning
- Fact sheet: Single Window Initiative – Integrated Import Declaration
- Understanding a reject message sent through the Integrated Import Declaration (IID)
Graduated enforcement of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations as of January 15, 2019