The Health of Animals Regulations (HAR) restrict the import of certain dairy products from countries where the presence of animal diseases poses a threat to Canadian agriculture and animal health. Please be informed that ghee and butter oil (anhydrous milk fat) are not allowed to be imported into Canada from certain countries where these products are commonly produced. These restrictions are because:
- Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), a disease which poses a serious risk to Canadian animals, occurs in some of these countries
- we have not evaluated the veterinary system of some of these countries and do not accept their export certificates
- there is limited scientific information on how to treat these products to inactivate FMD
To find the import requirements for butter oil or ghee, please see the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) under the commodity code 040590 3563 01.
Using wrong product names or codes to avoid import restrictions or selling products that do not meet Canadian import requirements poses serious risks to animal health, puts export markets at risk, and can harm the national economy. It may also result in enforcement action (for example, fines).
Useful links
- Canadian import restrictions on butter oil and ghee
- Foot and Mouth Disease – Countries officially recognized by Canada as free of the disease
- Countries evaluated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for export of animal products and by-products to Canada
If you have any questions regarding the import of animal products or by-products into Canada, please contact your local CFIA district office for assistance.
Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency
