G/SPS/N/CAN/1445/Add.1  
 
29 September 2022  
(22-7311) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English/French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
Addendum  
The following communication, received on 27 September 2022, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of Canada . 
 
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New measure prohibiting commercial dog imports from countries at high-risk for dog rabies  
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will prohibit the importation of commercial dogs from 
countries which have been identified as posing a high -risk for rabies caused by canine -variant viruses.  
Rabies is a reportable disease in Canada and Canada is free of rabies caused by canine -variant 
viruses. In order to prevent the re -introduction of rabies caused by canine -variant viruses and to 
protect the health and safety of both animals and humans within Canada, th e CFIA will be 
implementing import restrictions for dogs from high -risk countries.  
As of 28 September 2022, all dogs with a commercial end -use, as defined by the CFIA, from high -
risk countries will not be permitted entry into Canada. As of this date, the C FIA will also no longer 
issue permits for commercial dogs less than eight months of age from high -risk countries. 
All shipments of commercial dogs (regardless of age) that are on route to Canada must arrive on or 
before 27 September 2022 to be eligible for  importation. Any dog from a high -risk country that is 
presented for importation into Canada on or after 28 September 2022 and deemed to be a commercial 
import will not be allowed to enter Canada. There will be no exceptions made to this new measure 
regard less of the age of the dog or whether or not an import permit was previously required. 
Canada  respectfully requests that all trading partners from high -risk countries take the necessary 
steps to ensure commercial dogs are not exported to Canada.  
The import ation of personal pet dogs and assistance dogs, as defined by the CFIA, from high -risk 
countries will continue to be permitted under the CFIA's currently established import requirements. 
The CFIA's Automated Import Reference System  (AIRS) is the source for Canada's import 
requirements.  
This addendum concerns a:  
[ ] Modification of final date for comments  
[X] Notification of adoption, publication or entry into force of regulation  
[ ] Modification of content and/or scope of previously notified draft regulation  
[ ] Withdrawal of proposed regulation  
[ ] Change in proposed date of adoption, publication or date of entry into force  
[ ] Other:  
Comment period: (If the addendum extends the scope of the previously notified measure 
in terms of products and/or potentially affected Members, a new deadline for receipt of 
comments should be provided, normally of at least 60 calendar days. Under other 
circumstances, such as extension of originally announced final date for comments, the 
comment period provided in the addendum may vary.)  G/SPS/N/CAN/1445/Add.1  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the addendum to the notification and/or 
(dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable  
Agenc y or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification Authority, 
[ ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other 
body:  
 
Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X] National  Enquiry Point. 
Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:  
The electronic version of the regulatory texts can be found at:  
Notice to Industry: New measure prohibiting commercial dog imports from countries at high -risk for 
dog rabies:  https://inspection.canada.ca/animal -health/terrestrial -
animals/diseases/reportable/rabies/n otice-to-industry/eng/1656424333818/1656424334393  
(English)  
Avis à l'industrie: Nouvelle mesure interdisant l'entrée de chiens commerciaux en provenance de pays 
à haut risque pour la rage canine: https://inspection.canada.ca/sante -des-animaux/animaux -
terrestres/maladies/declaration -obligatoire/rage/avis -a-l-
industrie/fra/1656424333818/1656 424334393  (French)  
Countries at high -risk for dog rabies: https://inspection.canada.ca/animal -health/terrestrial -
animals/diseases/reportable /rabies/countries -at-high-risk-for-dog-
rabies/eng/1656375417730/1656375418777  (English)  
Pays considérés à haut risque pour le variant canin du virus de la rage: 
https://inspection.canada.ca/sante -des-animaux/animaux -terrestres/maladies/declaration -
obligatoire/rage/pays -consideres -a-haut-risque -pour-le-varian t-
cani/fra/1656375417730/1656375418777  (French)  
 
Canada's Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Technical Barriers and Regulations Division  
Global Affairs Canada  
111 Sussex Drive  
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0G2  
Canada  
Tel: +(343) 203 4273  
Fax: +(613) 943 0346  
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca  
 
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