CAN/1192
WTO/SPS
CA Canada
  • 65 - Agriculture
  • 67 - Technologie alimentaire
2018-09-25
2018-07-27

All plant, animal and food commodities

Notice to International Trading Partners: Progress Towards Electronic Certification

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is launching electronic export certificates for plant, animal and food commodities. Certificates will now be signed with either ink or electronic signature and can be viewed securely online. The automation of export processes and certificates will be phased in throughout 2018-2020.  

The attached document "The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is moving to Electronic Certification" outlines the minor procedural and format changes the CFIA has made to electronic export certificates, also attached are samples of the new format of Canadian electronic export certificates. These changes are only impacting CFIA general purpose and/or internationally recognized certificates.

All bilaterally negotiated certificates remain unchanged. For bilaterally negotiated certificates that will be launched electronically, the CFIA will engage with foreign competent authorities directly. All negotiated export requirements for public or plant/animal health requirements and associated attestations for bilaterally negotiated certificates remain in place. This measure is also notified to the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade as G/TBT/N/CAN/561.