The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) now include requirements for food licenses. For any business that wants to start activities related to food and food animals, this is exactly what you need to know:
How to get a Safe Food for Canadians licence:
There are 5 steps:
Step 1: Have an account in My CFIA
Create an account to have a business profile. Click here to read the process of signing up for My CFIA
Step 2: Determine your licence structure
It does not limit the number of licences you can have, you can have one licence or multiple licences, depending on your business operations.
But, you have to consider:
- Paying a fee for each licence you want.
- Having a preventive control plan (PCP) for each licence held.
- Being inspected and enforced for the licence by the CFIA.
Additional information for foreign exporters:
- Foreign trade partners require a unique identification number for each physical location where food is prepared.
- If you have multiple licences at the same location, the food commodity categories and activities covered by each licence must not overlap.
Step 3: Complete the licence application form
Do the following when filling out the application:
- Specify the activities covered by the licence.
- Specify the location where the activities take place.
- Identify the food commodity category.
- Confirm compliance with applicable SFCR requirements, including PCP.
- Confirm that all information provided is complete, truthful, and not misleading.
- Complete the Food Safety Supplemental Information questionnaire for each establishment.
Step 4: Verify your application information
The CFIA will review the information you fill in the application:
- You may be contacted for an interview or inspection.
- A risk-based approach is prioritized for new businesses registering for a licence.
- Risk factors will determine inspection priorities.
- An inspection may be required for applicants seeking export certificates or other export permissions, regardless of their risk profile, if the importing country requires it.
Step 5: Receive your licence
When a licence is issued, you will receive an email and find it in your My CFIA account, which includes the issue and expiration dates.
Remember:
- Each licence expires after 2 years.
- To renew, you have to request renewal through My CFIA account. Do it before your licence expires, the renewal option will be available 120 days before the expiration date.
- If not renewed on time, the licence will not be valid and cannot be renewed, and you will have to apply for a new one directly on your My CFIA party profile.
Cre: Government of Canada (n.d.)