1 October 2008

5562, Cheese Import Licence

The following letter was provided by Jennifer Miner, Dairy Specialist, Agrifood Division, CFIA.

Members are advised that starting October 2008, CFIA will accept applications for a “Cheese Import Licence”. The application form for a Cheese Import Licence (CFIA form no. 5562) can be found at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/for/pdf/c5562e.pdf.

Importers requiring a licence are asked to submit their applications as soon as possible to their local inspector to ensure that the licence is issued prior to December 14, 2008 - the date the amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) and the Dairy Products Regulations (DPR) revising the regulations on the compositional standards for cheese come into effect. The revisions introduce an importer licensing system to identify cheese importers and to facilitate the enforcement of the regulations.

All cheese importers, not only those holding a cheese import authorization from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, will be required to obtain a licence. However, exemptions apply for cheese imports:

- not intended for sale in Canada, AND
- weighing 20 kg or less;
- carried on a means of transportation for food for the crew or passengers;
- part of an immigrant’s personal effects;
- consigned to a national or international exhibition, weighing 100 kg or less; or
- imported from the USA onto the Akwesasne Reserve for use by an Akwesasne resident.

The procedures for obtaining a cheese import licence and the requirements that must be met will be added to “Chapter 16 - Importing Activities” of the CFIA Dairy Products Inspection Manual. This section of the manual is also available on the CSCB website, in both English and French, at: http://www.cscb.ca/listinfo/CheeseImportLicencing_200810.pdf.

Information to assist you in developing a cheese recall program can be found at:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/recarapp/rap/igguide.shtml.

Any questions or clarifications should be directed to your inspector.

Dairy Program Specialists

Atlantic:

Ann Fillmore
Floor 3, Room A307
BOX 2222
Fredericton, NB E3B 5G4
(506) 452-4149

Québec:

Normand Giguère
Édifice London Life
Pièce 746-K
2001 Rue University
Montréal, QC H3A 3N2
(514) 283-3815 (4354)

Ontario:

Ralph Plickert
174 Stone Rd. W
Guelph, ON N1G 4S9
(519)826-2896

West:

Cathy Sherbo
269 Main St.
Winnipeg, MB R3C 1B2
(204) 983-0810

Marie de Montigny
Floor 4, Room 400
Burnaby, BC V5C 6S7
(604) 666-7793