Update on Implementation of New Policy Chapter for Import of Milk and Milk Products

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a notice to industry to advise on an update on the importation of milk and milk products.

The animal health import policy Milk and Regulated Milk Products (AIED-DIEA-IE-2001-4-7) was replaced by Chapter 10.4 and Annex 15.3 of the Terrestrial Animal Products and Byproducts: Import Policy Framework in December 2020.

Import conditions for foods and beverages with milk ingredients will be updated to reflect the new policy. Once these updates are published in the Automated Import Reference System, foods and beverages containing milk or milk products may be imported from any country provided that they are consumer prepackaged and may be stored at ambient temperature before opening.

Foods and beverages containing milk that are imported in bulk or require refrigeration or freezing before opening may only be imported from countries approved by the CFIA and zoosanitary certification will be required. Changes to the import conditions for specific foods and beverages containing milk affected by the policy updates have been delayed.  Further notification will be provided before the updates are published.

Please note that there will be no changes to import requirements for foods and beverages containing milk ingredients imported from the United States.

Please contact [email protected] for further information.