Update provided by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency:
In March 2018, CFIA negotiated with the USDA APHIS to allow shipments of thermally processed, shelf-stable pet food/chews/treats from Canada to be exported using only the standardized veterinary certificate HA2828 (no VS import permit is required).
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforces APHIS import requirements at US ports of arrival. Previously, a VS Special Authorization letter was required to allow CBP to accept copies of the Canadian HA2828 certificate for all shipments. As VS now allows copies of certificates to be uploaded into CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Document Imaging System (DIS) for most shipments, the use of the VS Special Authorization letter is no longer needed. Please see this guidance regarding uploading VS-required certificates into ACE DIS: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/2e69019
Instead, CBP will now verify that copies of the Canadian HA2828 certificates are uploaded into ACE DIS, as they would for copies of certificates for any other shipment. Brokers must upload the HA2828 certificate into ACE DIS prior to shipments arriving at a U.S. port, which was already required. As with any shipment (including those with the VS Special Authorization Letter), if there are any concerns, CBP may ask to verify certificates by requesting original paper certificates.
The new requirements for shipments using the HA2828 are as follows:
- A valid HA2828 CFIA Veterinary Certificate for Shelf-Stable, Thermally Processed Pet Food/Chews/Treats Exported from Canada to the United States of America
Certificates are valid for a 30-day period from issuance and can be used for multiple shipments
AND
- A shipment-specific Importer’s Statement of Compliance for Shelf-Stable, Thermally Processed Pet Food, Chews, and Treats from Canada to the United States
Importers can continue to use the VS Special Authorization Letter and the previous procedures for 3 months after the date of this email. CBP will inform importers of the above changes when a VS Special Authorization Letter is used. New VS Special Authorization Letters will not be issued by the USDA APHIS.
This change in import requirements does not alter Facility Inspection Checklist requirements. CFIA must still inspect production facilities and warehouses using the HA2828 every two years. Please note that shipments from Canada (imported into the U.S.) that do not use the HA2828, require permits, and require Checklists, still require a yearly Checklist or Annex G to issue the permit.
