Language selection

Search

Chapter 4 - Exports

This page is part of the Guidance Document Repository (GDR).

Looking for related documents?
Search for related documents in the Guidance Document Repository

4.1 Export veterinary certification

Objectives of certification

The objective of the CFIA's Animal Health Export Program is to ensure that only healthy animals and animal products and by-products that meet the import health requirements of an importing country are exported from Canada and, in the case of live animals, that they are transported in a humane manner.

Canadian animals, animal products and animal by-products are recognized around the world on the basis of the Canadian veterinary profession's reputation and integrity, and its performance in disease control and eradication. Accredited veterinarians are an integral component of the CFIA's National Animal Health Program and must ensure that the delivery of the Animal Health Export Program is consistent.

Legislative basis

Under section 69 of the Health of Animals Regulations:

(1) Subject to this part, no person shall export out of Canada livestock, poultry, animal embryos or animal semen unless:

  1. the person has obtained a certificate of a veterinary inspector or a certificate of an accredited veterinarian endorsed by a veterinary inspector issued before shipment that clearly identifies the livestock, poultry, animal embryos or animal semen and shows:
    • that a veterinary inspector or an accredited veterinarian has inspected the livestock, poultry, animal embryos or animal semen and found it to be free from any communicable diseases;
    • the date and place of inspection; and,
    • where tests have been performed, the nature of each test and that the livestock, poultry, animal embryos or animal semen proved negative to such tests; and,
  2. the importation requirements of the country to which the livestock, poultry, animal embryos or animal semen are exported have been complied with.

(1.1) Paragraph (1)(a) does not apply in respect of swine exported to the U.S. for immediate slaughter.

(2) No person shall export animal semen out of Canada unless the semen, from the time it was collected, was stored in an animal semen production centre or other place approved by the Minister.

(3) No person shall export livestock, poultry, animal embryos or animal semen unless the certificate referred to in subsection (1) bears the mark of the official export stamp referred to in subsection (4).

(4) The official export stamp required by this section shall contain the words "Government of Canada - CANADIAN FOOD INSPECTION AGENCY - Gouvernement du Canada - AGENCE CANADIENNE D'INSPECTION DES ALIMENTS" and it shall be applied on a certificate only by a veterinary inspector or a person authorized by one.

Legal basis

The Accredited Veterinarian Agreement is the legal instrument that authorizes licenced private veterinarians to perform duties such as the completion of international health certification under the authority of Health of Animals Regulations.

Obligations of the accredited veterinarian

Accredited veterinarians should ensure that they meet the highest possible ethical standards in the performance of procedures and in signing documents. Certifying accredited veterinarians must ensure that the information included in the certificates is accurate and only refers to matters that are within their knowledge at the time of signing, or that have been verified by a qualified third party, such as test results.

When a certificate is signed on the basis of supporting documentation, the certifying veterinarian should be in possession of that documentation before signing. The certifying accredited veterinarian should only sign certificates required once they have been completed correctly in full. It is inappropriate and considered a contravention of the Accredited Veterinarian Agreement for veterinarians to sign documents on the basis of information or events that have not yet occurred or to sign blank documents.

Accredited veterinarians must perform their duties with all due care and accuracy to maintain the credibility of Canada's inspection and certification mechanisms and to avoid inconvenience or expense to their clients as a result of having animals refused entry by the importing country.

When inspecting, testing or certifying animals for export, accredited veterinarians are required to:

All animals must be certified fit for transport and meet all requirements of the reporting country.

Animals afflicted with certain health and welfare related conditions may be refused entry by the importing country. Accredited veterinarians must look for clinical evidence of such conditions during the physical examination of the animals. Examples may include but are not limited to:

Export certification requires veterinary inspection. The signing veterinarian must have carried out the inspection. This task cannot be delegated to a technician or other veterinarian, whether accredited or not, unless otherwise specified in the manual. Some specimen collection may be performed by a fully trained and qualified technician. Application of official seals to transport conveyances may also be done by technicians designated as inspectors under the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act (see 1.4 Special Provisions).

According to CFIA policy, only those conditions established by the importing country are certified. Tests other than those required to meet the import requirements do not constitute part of the official certification and are not to appear on the export health certificate; however, the results of such tests may be attached to the export documents.

Accredited veterinarians must be specifically authorized to inspect, test and certify a species of animal for export to the U.S. or Mexico. Inspections must always be conducted in accordance with the terms and conditions of their accreditation agreement. The animals must be eligible and fully meet all conditions established by the USDA or SAGARPA for their entry into the U.S. or Mexico.

It should be noted that the original export certificate bearing the wet signatures and the official CFIA endorsement stamp must be presented at the port of entry. The exception to this would be for commodities that have an established digital certification system that is accepted by the importing country.

A copy of the export certificate issued by the accredited veterinarian must be retained for a minimum of three years. The accredited veterinarian must be able to submit a copy to the district office upon request.

Export problems

If the accredited veterinarian is contacted by the importer or the competent authorities of the importing country regarding an issue related to the certification or testing of animals for export, the accredited veterinarian must immediately notify the local CFIA district office. The local CFIA district office will provide appropriate instructions to the accredited veterinarian regarding the possible resolution of the problem and the official channels that must be followed in these situations.

4.2 CFIA Fees

The following outlines the CFIA fees associated with testing and certification for export and admission to an animal semen production centre performed by accredited veterinarians. "Certification" means the signing by an inspector of a document authorizing an activity or attesting to the validity of information, no matter who prepared the document. A complete list of fees relating to the Animal Health Program can be found on the CFIA Website.

Note: Fees may be subject to Government Sales Tax (GST) and in some provinces a Provincial Sales Tax (PST) may also be applicable. Contact your district office for more information.

Testing and certification for export

1. Cattle to U.S.

1.1 Certification

  1. First animal on the certificate - $26.89
  2. Each additional animal on the certificate - $1.61 (Temporary cap fee: $80.67 per certificate)

2. Cattle to Mexico

2.1 Certification

  1. Each animal on the certificate - $2.15 (Minimum $26.89) (Temporary cap fee: $80.67 per certificate).

2.2 Testing

  1. Testing of animals by a CFIA laboratory - $4.68 (Min. $15.61).

3. Equine to U.S. and Mexico

3.1 Certification

  1. All purposes other than immediate slaughter:
    • First animal on the certificate - $16.14
    • Each additional animal on the certificate - $1.61 (Temporary cap fee: $80.67 per certificate)

4. Porcine to U.S.

4.1 Certification

  1. First animal on the certificate - $16.14
  2. Each of the next 50 animals on the certificate - $0.54
  3. Each animal in excess of 51 on the certificate - $0.15 (Temporary cap fee: $80.67 per certificate)

5. Porcine to Mexico

5.1 Certification

  1. First animal on the certificate - $26.89
  2. Each additional animal on the certificate - $1.04 (Temporary cap fee: $80.67 per certificate)

6. Ruminants (other than cattle, sheep and goats) to U.S. and Mexico

6.1 Certification

  1. First animal on the certificate - $26.89
  2. Each additional animal on the certificate - $2.62 (Temporary cap fee: $80.67 per certificate)

7. Ovine and caprine animals to U.S. and Mexico

7.1 Certification

  1. First animal on the certificate - $16.14
  2. Each additional animal on the certificate - $1.04 (Temporary cap fee: $80.67 per certificate)

8. Sheep and goats consigned to a sale in Canada for possible export to U.S. (same shipper, same sale), for individual certificates

8.1 Certification

  1. First certificate - $16.14
  2. Each additional certificate - $5.38

9. Poultry or hatching eggs to U.S.

9.1 Certification

  1. Ratites or their hatching eggs:
    • First animal or egg on the certificate - $26.89
    • Each additional animal or egg on the certificate - $1.61 (Temporary cap fee: $78.02 per certificate)
  2. Chickens, turkeys, game birds, ducks, geese or their hatching eggs:
    • Each certificate - $26.89
  3. Other poultry or their eggs:
    • Each certificate - $21.52

9.2 Testing

  1. Ratites or their hatching eggs:
    • Test performed in a CFIA laboratory, each animal - $10.75 (min. $26.89)

10. Animals not mentioned elsewhere (pets), animal products, by products

10.1 Certification

  1. Each certificate - $21.52

11. Correction of Certificate

  1. Assistance to ensure compliance with import requirements or to correct an export certificate (documentation only) - $32.27

Animals entering an animal semen production centre

On farm testing of animals by a CFIA laboratory for the purpose of admission to an animal semen production centre

  1. For each bovine - $32.27
  2. For each porcine - $21.52
  3. For any other animal - $26.89

Isolation testing of animals by a CFIA laboratory

  1. For each bovine - $75.30
  2. For each porcine - $26.89
  3. For each ovine or caprine - $32.27
  4. For any other animal - $75.30

Note: If an account with the CFIA exists, fees will generally be assessed to a client, whether a producer, an accredited veterinarian, or their clinic. If no account exists, the fees shall be paid when the service is requested.

Date modified: