The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) came into force on January 15, 2019, and subject to licence requirements for certain food commodities on a phased in approach by activity and business size. CFIA is reminding industry that the SFC licence expires two years after the date on which it was issued or renewed, unless it has been cancelled before the expiry date. The expiry date is found on your licence.
Some Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licence holders will need to act now to ensure they renew their licence before it expires. Some SFC licences expire on January 15, 2021 while others will expire in the days and weeks that follow.
If you have an SFC licence, it can be renewed online through your My CFIA account. Submit your request for renewal as soon as possible to allow sufficient processing time. You can do so up to 120 days before the expiry date of your licence. No matter how early you apply, your renewed SFC licence will be valid for two years from the original expiry date.
If your licence expires, your business will no longer be permitted to conduct licensed activities in accordance with the Safe Food for Canadians Act and may be subject to enforcement actions and removal from export eligibility lists. You will then need to apply for a new licence and be issued a new licence number, which may further disrupt your business activities including the ability to request export certification.
Additional information
Issues logging into your existing My CFIA Account
Regulatory requirements: licensing of food businesses
Timelines: when you need a food licence for your business
If you have not already done so, please complete the Establishment Risk Assessment (ERA) questionnaire during your renewal process to ensure your establishment risk is accurately documented. Parties without a completed ERA questionnaire are considered high-risk facilities by the CFIA and are prioritized for more frequent inspection.
Learn more through the additional resources and information here on ERA.
Contact CFIA if you have any questions or require assistance.