CHAPTER 16 – IMPORTING ACTIVITIES  Dairy Products Inspection Manual   
October 2008  16-4.1  16.5 CHEESE IMPORT LICENSING 
 
Amendments to the cheese compositional standards  in federal regulations come into force on 
December 14, 2008. These amendments introduce requirements for a cheese import licence and 
revise the compositional standards for cheese. 
 
Requirements related to a cheese import licence are specified in Sections 26.2 to 26.6 of the Dairy 
Products Regulations (DPR).  These sections descri be the requirements that must be met to apply for 
and maintain a cheese import licence as well as the conditions for suspension or cancellation of a 
licence. 
 
Exemptions for requiring a cheese import licence are the same as outlined in Section 16.3.1.  
 
16.5.1 Application for a Cheese Import Licence 
 
An application for the issuance, renewal or amendmen t of a cheese import licence shall be sent to the 
local dairy inspector in a form provided by t he Agency (CFIA / ACIA 5562 (2008/08), available at 
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/for/mpppe.shtml ) and shall indicate: 
- whether it is an application for a new cheese import licence or for the renewal or amendment 
of an existing cheese import licence; 
- the number of the importer's existing cheese  import licence, if any and expiry date; and 
- the name, address, including postal code, telephone number, emergency contact number and 
e-mail address. 
 
The application shall have annexed to it: 
a) a copy of the importer's cheese recall program, indicating: 
- the person responsible for carrying out the program, 
- the cheese coding system description, and 
- the notification and other proc edures to effect the recall; 
b) a list of cheeses expected to be imported dur ing the period of the cheese import licence, and 
the country in which they originate; and 
c) if the importer has an establishment in Canada for the purpose of cutting, shredding, 
repackaging, etc... (not including storage) of  the imported product, other than a registered 
establishment, the application shall also have annexed to it: 
- plans and specifications for the establishment  including description of the location of the 
establishment in relation to adjacent facilities, intended uses of rooms and types and 
location of equipment to be used, 
- a copy of the sanitation program for the establishment, indicating 
 the person responsible for carrying out the program, 
 the equipment and chemical agents required to maintain clean and sanitary 
conditions, 
 the measures proposed to be taken to  ensure clean and sanitary conditions, 
- a copy of the pest control program for the establishment, indicating 
 the person responsible for carrying out the program, and 
 the measures proposed to be taken to safely and effectively control insects, 
birds, rodents and other vermin, and 
- a document indicating of the source of water to be used at the establishment for drinking 
or for cheese preparation and a copy of a ce rtificate of microbiological analysis of this 
water. 
 
To evaluate if an application for a cheese import lic ence meets the above applicable requirements, the 
local dairy inspector reviews the application package,  consisting of the applicant's current information 
and the annexed information.  A visit is not necessary to evaluate the application but may be 
scheduled to explain the impor ter's respon sibilities and assess  the facilities.  
 CHAPTER 16 – IMPORTING ACTIVITIES  Dairy Products Inspection Manual   
October 2008  16-4.2  If the applicant's current information and the annex ed documents are not complete and accurate, the 
application will be returned to the applicant for resubmission. 
 
If the application and the annexes meet the above requ irements, the local dairy inspector sends the 
application to the Area Program Specialist for final review.  A licence number is assigned and the Director will issue a cheese import licence (CFIA / ACIA 5563 (2008/08).  A cheese import licence is 
not assignable and expires two years afte r the date of issue indicated on it. 
 
In the case of an application for the renewal or am endment of a cheese import licence, the applicant 
only needs to indicate changes or updates to: 
- the recall program, 
- the list of cheeses expected to be imported, 
- the plans, specifications, location  of rooms and equipment to be used, 
- the sanitation and pest control programs. 
  
16.5.2 Conditions to Maintain a Cheese Import Licence 
Every importer who holds a cheese import licence shall 
a) maintain the recall program referred to above; 
b) maintain and carry out the sanitation and pest control programs referred to above and produce 
a certificate of microbiological analysis of t he water once a year, if the importer has an 
establishment in Canada for the purpose of cutti ng, shredding, repackaging, etc. of imported 
cheese, other than a registered establishment;  
c) be able to provide evidence that each import ed cheese meets the Dairy Products Regulations, 
and 
d) keep for two years at an address in Canada, in respect of each imported cheese, 
- a copy of the import declaration; 
- a copy of any evidence in t he possession of the importer that substantiates that the 
cheese meets the requirements set out in the Dairy Products Regulations and 
- a record of: 
 the product code for the cheese, 
 the names, addresses and telephone num bers of the persons to whom the 
cheese was distributed, 
 any complaints received about the cheese and how the complaints were 
handled, and 
 any recall carried out with respect to the cheese. 
 
These conditions will be monitored and evaluated by  CFIA inspectors as per Section 16.6.3. 
 
16.5.3 Suspension/Cancellation of Licence 
 
The Director may suspend or cancel a cheese import lic ence if conditions outlined in Sections 26.5 or 26.6 
of the DPR are met.  Suspension or cancellation ar e available enforcement options and recommendations 
to proceed with the appropriate enforcement option w ill be made by CFIA operational and program staff on 
a case-by-case basis.