Starting January 15, 2019, the new Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) are coming into force and some businesses will need licences for the regulations’ debut. According to the release, food business owners can now apply for a ‘Safe Food for Canadians’ licence through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The two-year licence costs $250 and can be obtained through the CFIA’s online portal My CFIA. Emailed and faxed applications will not be accepted.

The CFIA has also created an online tool to help businesses determine if they need a licence.

For fruit and vegetable businesses, a licence is not needed if they:

1.Grow or harvest only for interprovincial trade or export
2.Export
3.Sell at the consumer retail level

A licence is needed if they:

1.Package and label in field for interprovincial trade or export
2.Manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package or label for import or export
3.import
4.Export food that requires an export certificate or certificate of free sale; note that the manufacturers’ declaration will no longer be used (effective January 15)

For businesses with a registration or licence issued under the Canada Agricultural Products Act, it “will remain valid until it expires, even once the Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) comes into force, as long as there is a statement on it that it is also a licence issued under the SFCA. once expired, food businesses will need to apply for a licence under the SFCR.”

In addition to licensing, the new regulations also require a preventative control plan, preventative controls and/or traceability depending on the food, activity and gross annual food sales. Some requirements will be needed for January 15, while others will be phased in over the next 12 to 30 months.