Dear CSCA Members,
Pulse Canada has received several questions from CSCA Members regarding the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR).
The new regulations introduce requirements for companies involved in the manufacturing, processing, treating, preserving, grading, packaging or labelling of food for export. While the some of the new regulations come into force on January 15, 2019, there are different compliance timelines for different commodities.
Pulses and special crops will not require full regulatory compliance until July 15, 2020. The only change that has come into force for exporters of pulses and special crops pertains to exporters who are exporting to customers that require a Manufacturer’s Declaration Form (CFIA/ACIA 5280).The Manufacturer’s Declaration Form has been phased out as of January 15, 2019. Products previously eligible to receive the Manufacturer’s Declaration Form may now be certified by a Certificate of Free Sale (issued by CFIA) provided the exporter has a licence and a preventative control plan (PCP).
Companies will not need a license in order to obtain a phytosanitary certificate from CFIA. CSCA Members requiring a licence and PCP can apply online by signing up for a MyCFIA account.
After July 15, 2020 SCFR will require companies to obtain a license if they conduct one or more of the following activities on the unprocessed food used as grain, oil, pulse, sugar or beverages for the purpose of export or interprovincial trade:
- de-hulling
- crushing
- grinding
- milling
- soaking
- steaming
- package and label for the purpose of interprovincial trade or export, if you package them for sale to consumers.
Companies will not need a licence to conduct one or more of the following activities on unprocessed food used as grain, oil, pulse, sugar or beverages:
- aerating
- blending
- cleaning, including screening, rotary, gravity or spiral
- drying
- fumigation
- polishing, using a processing aid
- sifting
- sorting
- splitting
Pulse Canada will continue to work with CFIA to clarify the impacts the SFCR will have on all CSCA Members and provide updates accordingly. Please feel free to reach out with any further questions.