The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS), implemented a policy change on March 1, 2018, affecting imports of thermally processed, shelf-stable pet food, chews or treats from Canada, that are of Canadian or U.S. origin.
The policy change removed the requirement for an APHIS-VS import permit, and allowed shipments to be imported using only a standardized Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) veterinary certificate (HA2828).
It also allowed a single CFIA veterinary certificate to be used for multiple certified shipments during a 30-day validity period, with the first shipment using the original CFIA veterinary certificate, and subsequent imports using a copy of the original CFIA veterinary certificate. A shipment-specific Importer’s Statement of Compliance was also required to accompany the shipment.
APHIS-VS is refining the policy, effective August 27, 2018, to allow the use of copies of a CFIA veterinary certificate (HA2828) for the first and subsequent shipments during the 30-day period.
To do so the Canadian processing facility must obtain a VS Special Authorization Letter, obtained by forwarding a copy of a CFIA approval letter to APHIS-VS’ National Import Export Services (NIES) via email. NIES will then issue a Special Authorization Letter.
This VS Special Authorization Letter will detail the documents that must accompany each shipment including:
- a copy of the valid CFIA veterinary certificate,
- Importer’s Statement of Compliance, and
- a copy of the VS Special Authorization Letter.
This change is the result of difficulties providing an original CFIA veterinary certificate with the first shipment crossing the border.
If you have any questions regarding this update to VS Import Permit requirements for imports of pet food, chews or treats from Canada, Livingston can help! Please contact either your Livingston account manager or our regulatory affairs group at usregaffairs@livingstonintl.com