G/SPS/N/CAN/1367  
 
4 February 2021  
(21-0910) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English/French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  CANADA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Milk and milk products, and foods and beverages that contain milk 
as an ingredient (HS Codes: 18 06 90; 19 01 10; 19 01 90; 21 06 90; 22 02 99)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Terrestrial Animal Products and By -products: Import 
Policy Framework. Chapt er 10.4 policy regarding the animal health conditions for import 
of milk and milk products, including foods and beverages that contain milk as an 
ingredient . Language(s):  English and French . Number of pages:  5 
https://www.inspection.gc.ca/animal -health/terrest rial-animals/imports/import -
policies/animal -products -and-by-
products/framework/eng/1528738374310/1528738423286?chap=10#s4c10   
https://www.inspection.gc.ca/sante -des-animaux/animaux -
terrestres/importation/politiques -pour-l-importation/produits -et-sous-
produits/cadre/fra/1528738374310/1528738423286?chap=10#s4c10   
6. Description of content:  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has published an 
updated policy regar ding the animal health conditions for import of milk and milk 
products. Beginning in April 2021, new import conditions reflecting the updated policy will 
be published in the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS): Import Requirements – 
Canadian  Food Inspection  Agency  (https://airs -
sari.inspection.gc.ca/airs_external/english/decisions -eng.aspx ) for foods and beverages 
containing milk or milk products as defined unde r the Canadian Health of Animals 
Regulations  (https://laws -lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._296/ ). 
Foods and beverages containing milk or milk products that are co nsumer pre -packaged 
and stable when stored at ambient temperature before opening may be imported from 
any country of origin and zoosanitary certification is not required. Any food and beverage 
products containing milk that are not consumer prepackaged (for  example imported in 
bulk) or require refrigeration or freezing before opening may only be imported from 
countries with a veterinary certification system that has been approved by the CFIA, and 
must be accompanied by a zoosanitary certificate meeting CFIA requirements for import 
of milk and milk products.  
There are two changes to be made:  
1) Removal of the informal "50% rule" used to determine whether a commodity with 
milk or milk products as an ingredient must meet the animal health requirements for 
import of  milk. Previous import conditions for multi -ingredient commodities G/SPS/N/CAN/1367  
 
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  containing milk were based on the percentage of milk in the product on a dry matter 
basis. This is being replaced by a risk -based model, where commodities in final 
consumer -ready packaging that are shelf stable at room temperature are exempt 
from the animal health requirements for milk. Commodities not meeting these criteria 
will be treated as milk, and must be accompanied by zoosanitary certification from a 
country with a veterinary certifi cation system approved by the Canadian Food 
Inspection Agency ; 
2) Commodities defined as milk, including foods and beverages containing milk or milk 
products that are not consumer prepackaged or not shelf stable at room temperature, 
originating from countries  not recognized by the CFIA as free of foot and mouth 
disease, must undergo two pathogen -reducing treatments. One of these treatments 
can be a reduction in ph. The requirement for a lowering of pH value to be used as a 
treatment will change from pH 5 to pH  6, and the required time will be reduced to 
one hour from two hours, for consistency with international recommendations.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Terrestrial Animal Health Code, 
Chapter 8.8  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does th is proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
Technical specifications for processing of milk products may be found in chapter 15.3 
(available in English and French):  
15. Annexes - Terrestrial Animal Products and By -products: Import Policy Framework - 
Animal health - Canadian Food Inspectio n Agency ( https://www.inspection.gc.ca/animal -
health/terres trial-animals/imports/import -policies/animal -products -and-by-
products/framework/eng/1528738374310/1528738423286?chap=15 ) 
15. Annexes - Produits et sous -produits d'animaux terrestres : Cadre sur la politique 
d'importation - Santé des animaux - Agence canadi enne d'inspection des aliments 
(https://www.insp ection.gc.ca/sante -des-animaux/animaux -
terrestres/importation/politiques -pour-l-importation/produits -et-sous-
produits/cadre/fra/1528738374310/1528738423286?chap=15 )  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 1 April 2021  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 1 April 2021  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 1 April 2021  
[X] Trade facilitating measure   G/SPS/N/CAN/1367  
 
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  12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if ava ilable) of other body:   
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
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