Information from Canadian Food Inspection Agency:

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is starting to digitalize plant program services.

Benefits of digitalization include:

• Submitting applications securely online, anytime, from anywhere
• Tracking application status and receiving CFIA-issued permissions online
• Paying fees online and accessing digital records (permissions, inspections, invoices)
• Better data to manage trade and environmental risks

Starting in Fall 2025, the CFIA will begin moving the application process for registration in many plant systems-based programs*online to My CFIA

*A Systems-based program is one where multiple risk management measures are put in place to meet specified requirements. These risk management measures are audited by the CFIA. Examples include the Canadian Nursery Certification Program, Canadian Grain Sampling Program, and the Shipborne Dunnage Program. For more information, refer to the Plant Protection Policy Directives.

The availability of online applications for systems-based programs will be released in groups; more details on those groups will be provided in advance.

Regulated parties currently registered in a systems-based program will be required to re-apply through My CFIA by submitting a service request. This ensures their information is up to date in the digital system.

Before submitting the service request, regulated parties who have not yet enrolled will need to create a My CFIA account, set-up a profile, and familiarize themselves with the system. To support this, the CFIA will offer information sessions covering enrolment, profile setup options and the application process.

The CFIA will directly contact regulated parties registered in a program once the digital application becomes available. Additional resources will also be provided to assist with the onboarding process.

CFIA policy directives and webpages will be updated to reflect program administration changes, including the new application process, which will direct regulated parties to submit their program registration applications through a My CFIA service request. This applies to new program participants and current participants will be informed when the changes take effect and reapplication is required.

For questions or assistance with the My CFIA platform, enrolment, or technical issues, visit My CFIA – User Guidance or call 1-800-442-2342

For questions regarding different systems-based programs, please see Plant protection policy directives for guidance or contact the appropriate local CFIA office.

For information on accounting or invoicing, please refer to the CFIA Fees Notice or contact the National Centre for Accounts Receivable at 1-888-677-2342.

Information from Canadian Food Inspection Agency:

Beginning May 26, 2025, importers/brokers will be required to provide a digital copy (image) of the organic product certificate as part of their import declaration.

This notification serves to clarify that the AIRS Registration Type #68 – organic certificate’s format remains a confirmation “Y/N”. In addition, the registration type will be updated to a materialized Licence, Permit, Certificate, and Other document(s) (LPCO), meaning that an image is required to be provided. This will require importers/brokers to upload a digital copy of the organic product certificate.

What importers/brokers should expect on May 26, 2025:

• Provide the value “Y/N” to confirm that an Organic certificate is/not present
• Choose “Y” when acknowledging the presence of the organic certificate.
• Upload a digital copy of the Organic certificate that will create a Unique Reference Number (URN).

Please note that once this measure comes into effect, failure to upload a copy of the organic product certificate, and/or declaring No in the AIRS registration Type #68 field, will result in an automated reject message. It is the responsibility of the importer to familiarize themselves with the recently added organic products in AIRS and ensure compliance.

If you have any questions, please contact the Canada Organic Regime team at OPR-RPB@inspection.gc.ca.

Information from AAFC’s Market Access Secretariat:

On Thursday May 22, 2025, the European Commission published the EUDR benchmarking country classification list.  Canada has been classified as a low-risk country.

Sourcing from low-risk countries allows for simplified due diligence obligations for operators and traders. This means that they must collect information on products being imported and/or placed on the market (see EUDR Articles 9 and 13) but are not required to assess and mitigate risk (Articles 10 and 11).   It also reduces the extent of compliance checks that Member States’ competent authorities must undertake to 1% of product imports (Article 16).

Information gathering requirements under Article 9 include: general product information; geolocation information; and adequately conclusive and verifiable information that the product was produced legally and deforestation-free, among other requirements.

Further information about today’s announcement is available in the European Commission’s press release.

Although a low-risk classification is positive news for Canada, implementation concerns remain. Government officials will continue advocacy in an effort to ensure that Canada’s interests and concerns are taken into account in the coming months.   We will also continue to monitor EUDR-related developments and keep you informed of any further updates as they arise.

The FDA published a Federal Register notice to extend the comment period for the proposed rule on a front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labeling scheme until July 15, 2025. They are taking this action in response to requests to extend the comment period to allow interested parties additional time to submit comments. A 60-day comment period extension allows adequate time for interested parties to submit comments while also not significantly delaying rulemaking on the important issues in the proposed rule.

Information from AAFC’s Market Access Secretariat

On March 20, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its intention to extend the compliance date for the Food Traceability Rule (the “final rule”) by 30 months.  The compliance date for the FTR was originally set for Tuesday, January 20, 2026, and so this extension will give affected industry sectors another 2.5 years to comply. The final rule applies to domestic and foreign entities producing food for U.S. consumption, and foods subject to the final rule requirements appear on the U.S. Food Traceability List (FTL).

The FDA advises that the compliance date extension does not amend, nor do they intend to amend, the requirements of the final rule. The compliance date extension is meant to provide covered entities the additional time to ensure complete coordination across the supply chain in order to fully implement the final rule’s requirements. The FDA plans to use the extended time period to continue the agency’s work with stakeholders, including by participating in cross-sector dialogue to identify solutions to implementation challenges and by continuing to provide technical assistance, tools, and other resources to assist industry with implementation.

The CFIA will continue to work with the FDA in order to provide information to Canadian industry and sectors who export foods listed on the FTL to the United States.  Industry is encouraged to visit the  FDA website which includes many resources to help you better understand how to comply with the new rule.  You may also submit questions directly to FDA through the Technical Assistance Network (TAN).