News from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
In January 2024, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) launched a phased approach to digital Phytosanitary application through My CFIA for plant exports to the United States (US). Since then, select participants have been using My CFIA to submit export service requests online to CFIA rather than emailing a completed Application for Export Inspection and Phytosanitary Certification (form CFIA / ACIA 3369). Certificates requested via My CFIA are issued as electronic Phytosanitary certificates (ePhyto). ePhytos are sent directly to the United States Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) through government to government (G2G) data exchange. A certified copy of the ePhyto is available to view and print from My CFIA and a paper original Phytosanitary certificate is no longer issued.
As of June 17th, 2024 the CFIA is gradually increasing the number of exporters invited to use My CFIA for certification of plant and plant product commodities to the US.
My CFIA is available for Phytosanitary export requests to the US. Export requests for other destination countries must continue to be submitted to local CFIA plant offices using a completed Application for Export Inspection and Phytosanitary Certification (form CFIA / ACIA 3369).
Note – use of My CFIA does not represent changes to the current phytosanitary export requirements.
- For example, seed shipments to the USA that currently use the certificate of analysis PPQ925 and CFIA5289 or other certificates will continue to use them.
- No new export requirements are being added. For example, exports to the USA that currently do not require a phytosanitary certificate will continue not to require a phytosanitary certificate.
- Horticulture commodities that are currently shipped under the Greenhouse Certification Program and Canadian Nursery Certification Program will continue. This process will not change.
