SFC Licences for Imports of Manufactured Foods
As previously announced, on February 12, 2024, the CFIA will activate the automatic verification of SFC licences for imports of manufactured foods. Food import transactions will be automatically rejected and the shipment will be denied entry into Canada unless a valid SFC licence number is declared.
In preparation, the CFIA has been monitoring import transactions of manufactured foods and have noticed instances of concerns. They have identified two common licensing errors, first the use of an incorrect AIRS end use code. The second issue is where an inappropriate HS code/OGD extension is used to declare the food. For example, if the code for fresh herbs (a fresh fruit and vegetable) is used for the import of dried herbs (a manufactured food) and the importer’s licence only covers the import of manufactured foods, the transaction will be rejected.
To prevent these types of errors, we encourage members to work with their clients to make sure the HS code/OGD extension is appropriate for the food being imported.
Source: Canadian Society of Customs Brokers (CSCB)
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