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Exporting consumer products from Canada

In Canada, the CFIA certifies food and pet food for export, Health Canada sets the rules for exported health products, cosmetics and consumer products, the CBSA receives export declarations, and Global Affairs Canada issues export permits. The CRA oversees duty-free export of spirits and wine. Exporters certify origin themselves under Canada's trade agreements.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Food and pet food certificates
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Health products, cosmetics, consumer products
Health Canada
Export declarations
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), through CERS
Export permits
Global Affairs Canada, under the Export and Import Permits Act
Excise on spirits and wine
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Certificates of origin
Completed by the exporter, producer or importer, by agreement

By product

What each kind of product needs to leave Canada.

Before the goods leave

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Which authority certifies or regulates the product on the way out? Read more
  2. 2Does the destination ask for a Canadian government certificate? Read more
  3. 3Is the product on the Export Control List, or under a quota? Read more
  4. 4Is an export declaration needed, and by when? Read more
  5. 5Will the importer claim a preferential duty rate? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Who certifies and regulates exports

The federal bodies an exporter of consumer products deals with, and what each one does.

  • The CFIA issues export certificates for food, including certificates of free sale, for animal products and pet food, and phytosanitary certificates for plants and plant products.
  • To receive a CFIA export certificate or another export permission, a food business needs a Safe Food for Canadians licence and a written preventive control plan.
  • The CFIA issues export certificates only for products still in Canada.
  • Health Canada expects exported cosmetics and consumer products to meet the destination's requirements and Canadian law; section 37 of the Food and Drugs Act exempts products made in Canada only for export, with a sworn certificate.
  • Under the Excise Act, 2001, non-duty-paid packaged alcohol removed from an excise warehouse for export by the licensee pays no duty, with proof of export kept for the CRA.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps each export certificate, licence and sworn declaration with the shipment and lot it covers, dated, and shows what is missing or expiring before a shipment. Ask about this

Export declaration and reporting to the CBSA

How commercial goods are reported to the Canada Border Services Agency before they leave Canada, and what the exporter keeps afterwards.

  • In most cases an export declaration is needed for commercial goods. The most common exceptions are goods exported for consumption in the United States and non-restricted goods valued at less than CAN $2,000.
  • Goods moving through the United States to another destination, including goods entering the US on a transportation and exportation (T and E) bond, need a declaration.
  • Restricted goods, those controlled, regulated or prohibited under Canadian law, need their permit, certificate or licence whatever their value; going to the US they need no declaration, but the permit must still be presented.
  • Declarations are made through the Canadian Export Reporting System (CERS) or G7 EDI, with a business number and RM export program identifier. The exporter gives the carrier the proof of report number.
  • Minimum time limits: 2 hours before loading for air and rail, 48 hours before loading for marine, 2 hours before delivery to the post office, and immediately before export by highway.
  • The exporter may delegate reporting to a customs service provider but remains responsible for the information, and keeps export records in Canada for 6 years.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the proof of report number, permits and export records with each shipment, dated, and shows what is missing before the goods are loaded. Ask about this

Export permits and the Export Control List

Goods on the Export Control List, or going to a country on the Area Control List, need a permit from Global Affairs Canada before they leave.

  • Under section 7 of the Export and Import Permits Act, the Minister may issue to residents of Canada permits to export goods or technology on the Export Control List, or to a country on the Area Control List.
  • Item 5400 covers goods and technology of United States origin exported to any destination other than the United States, unless substantially changed in value, form or use outside the US.
  • For item 5400, United States origin means made in the United States, not the country from which the goods were last shipped to Canada.
  • Group 5 also controls a few goods for economic reasons, such as certain food products and apparel shipped under quota.
  • Global Affairs Canada gives advisory opinions on how a product is classified against the list, and takes permit applications online through NEXCOL.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the permit and its conditions with the shipment, and shows before goods leave where a product's record has no control classification. Ask about this

Certificates of origin under trade agreements

The document that lets the importer claim a preferential duty rate under one of Canada's free trade agreements, such as CUSMA, CETA or CPTPP.

  • A certificate of origin certifies that the good meets a free trade agreement's rules of origin; the importer must have it to claim preferential tariff treatment.
  • Under CETA, the Canada-UK TCA, CEFTA and CUFTA it is an origin declaration on an invoice or other commercial document. Canadian exporters enter their Business Number in the CETA declaration.
  • Under CUSMA and CPTPP it is a set of minimum data elements with no prescribed format, which the importer, exporter or producer may complete.
  • A certificate can cover one shipment, or identical goods over a blanket period of up to 12 months. It is valid for four years from signature.
  • Whoever certifies origin keeps the certificate and supporting records for six years, and must tell everyone they gave it to of any change affecting its accuracy.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps each origin declaration with the products and shipments it covers, shows when a blanket period runs out, and answers importers' origin questions from the record. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
ExporterKnowing the destination's requirements, licences and permits, the export declaration and the records behind them.Export documents kept with each shipment, dated.
Manufacturer or producerLicences for making the product, preventive controls, and origin information.Licences, plans and origin statements kept with each product.
Customs service provider or freight forwarderReporting on the exporter's behalf where delegated; the exporter stays responsible.Proof of report and permits in one place for the carrier.
Certifying authoritiesThe CFIA, Health Canada, Global Affairs Canada and the CRA, each for its own certificates, permits and rules.Each certificate read against what the destination asks for.

Where are the goods going?

Most of what products have to meet is set where they are sold. Each guide sets out the rules on arrival, with the official source for each.

Questions businesses ask

Who issues export certificates for food in Canada?
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). It issues negotiated health certificates, Canadian inspection certificates, certificates of free sale and radiation certificates, through My CFIA or local offices, only for products still in Canada.
Do I need an export declaration to export from Canada?
In most cases, for commercial goods. The common exceptions are goods exported for consumption in the United States and non-restricted goods valued at less than CAN $2,000. Restricted goods always need their permit.
How far ahead must I report an export to the CBSA?
At least 2 hours before loading for air and rail, 48 hours before loading for marine, 2 hours before delivery to the post office, and immediately before export by highway.
Which goods need an export permit from Canada?
Goods and technology on the Export Control List, such as dual-use items, US-origin goods re-exported to other countries and some food and apparel under quota, and goods going to a country on the Area Control List.
Who completes a certificate of origin for Canadian exports?
The exporter under most of Canada's agreements, including CETA. Under CUSMA and CPTPP, the importer, exporter or producer may complete the certification of origin.
How long must Canadian exporters keep their records?
Six years. The CBSA requires export records to be kept in Canada for six years, and certifiers of origin keep certificates and supporting documents for six years.
Can I export products made only for export that do not meet Canadian rules?
In limited cases. Food may be exported under SFCR section 16 if labelled "Export" with documents on the foreign requirement. Packaged food, drugs, cosmetics and devices may be exempt under section 37 of the Food and Drugs Act with a sworn certificate.
How does Compliant Always help with exporting from Canada?
Our team reads the rules for the routes you ship. Compliant Always shows which export documents apply to your product, keeps them with the shipment beside what the destination asks for, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

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