Obtaining the SFC License

The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations have been in force since January 15, 2019. Some requirements came into effect immediately and some were phased in over 2020 and 2021. As of July 15, 2020, it is now required to have a Safe Food for Canadians License (SFC) to import manufactured food products into Canada. Some examples of these food products are snacks, beverages, spices nuts and cereals. The purpose of these regulations are to strengthen the food supply chain in Canada.

What is the SFC License?

The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) are overseen and enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The SFCR apply to businesses that import or prepare food for export. On July 15, 2020, the SFCR required these businesses to obtain an SFC license to import manufactured food products into Canada. However, due to the COVID pandemic, the CFIA is not prioritizing compliance at this time. More info can be found here. 

How to Obtain the License 

The first step to obtain an SFC license is to visit MyCFIA to create an account and set up a business profile. The second step is to determine which license your business needs. Part of this step includes creating a preventative control plan. CFIA offers guidance on this step. The final step is to complete the application which you can locate in your MyCFIA account under the Service Request Tab. Finally, pay their fees and you will either receive your license, or CFIA will require an inspection of your establishment before a license is granted.

With the SFC regulations now in force, an SFC license is mandatory to import manufactured foodstuff into Canada. It is important to ensure that you have your license in place prior to your shipment arriving. CFIA will not issue a license once the shipment is at the border. Once you obtain your license, please ensure to provide it to Orbit Brokers so it can be included in the release entry for your shipment. If you have any questions, please feel free to Contact Us.