Chicken, turkey and eggs

Document symbol
G/LIC/N/3/CAN/23
Original language
English
Published on
11/03/2025

Outline of Systems

Q1. Give a brief description of each licensing system as a whole and, with respect to each, reply to the following questions as relevant, placing all of the material with respect to a given system in sequence together, and using cross references as appropriate when elements which have already been described are also present in another system.

Chicken, turkey, egg and egg products, and broiler hatching eggs and chicks remain on the Import Control List, established under the Export and Import Permits Act. Effective 1 January 1995, existing import controls on these products were replaced with TRQs.

Purposes and Coverage of Licensing

Q2. Identify each licensing system maintained and state what products, appropriately grouped, are covered.

Imports of chicken and chicken products, turkey and turkey products, eggs and egg products and broiler hatching eggs and chicks are subject to global TRQs and preferential TRQs under the CPTPP and CUSMA. All shipments within the TRQ access are administered using shipment specific permits and previous allocation of import These products were placed on the Import Control List under the authority of Paragraph 5(1)(a) and (b) and Sections 5.3 and 6 of the Export and Import Permits Act.

Q3. The system applies to goods originating in and coming from which countries?

The system applies to: for global TRQs, goods originating in and imported from all countries; for CPTPP TRQs, goods originating in and imported from CPTPP Parties; and, for CUSMA TRQs, goods originating in and imported from the United States.

Q4. Is the licensing intended to restrict the quantity or value of imports, and if not, what are its purposes? Have alternative methods of accomplishing the purposes been considered and if so which? Why have they not been adopted?

The licensing system is used to implement TRQs on chicken and chicken products, turkey and turkey products, eggs and egg products and broiler hatching eggs and chicks in accordance with Canada's commitments under the WTO, the CPTPP and the CUSMA.

Q5. Cite the law, regulation and/or administrative order under which the licensing is maintained. Is the licensing statutorily required? Does the legislation leave designation of products to be subjected to licensing to administrative discretion? Is it possible for the government (or the executive branch) to abolish the system without legislative approval?

See Section 1.

Procedures

Q6. For products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports (whether applicable globally or to a limited number of countries or whether established bilaterally or unilaterally):

Q6.I. Is information published, and where, concerning allocation of quotas and formalities of filing applications for licences? If not, how is it brought to the attention of possible importers? Of governments and export promotion bodies of exporting countries and their trade representatives? Is the overall amount published? The amount allocated to goods from each country? The maximum amount allocated to each importer? How to request any exceptions or derogations from the licensing requirement?

Information on TRQs and related formalities is published on the Global Affairs Canada website. Some TRQ-specific information is published in the Notices to Importers published individually for each TRQ, and which are available through the same website.

Q6.II. How is the size of the quotas determined: on a yearly, six-monthly or quarterly basis? Are there cases where the size of quota is determined on a yearly basis but licences are issued for imports on a six-monthly or quarterly basis? In the latter case, is it necessary for importers to apply for fresh licence on a six-monthly or quarterly basis?

TRQ size and import license allocations are determined on a yearly basis.

Q6.III. Are licences allotted for certain goods partly or only to domestic producers of like goods? What steps are taken to ensure that licences allocated are actually used for imports? Are unused allocations added to quotas for a succeeding period? Are the names of importers to whom licences have been allocated made known to governments and export promotion bodies of exporting countries upon request? If not, for what reason? (Indicate products to which replies relate.)

If an allocation holder for these products uses less than 90% of its allocation (95% in the case of CPTPP and CUSMA breaking eggs sub-TRQs, and WTO egg products and egg powder sub- TRQs), the allocation in the next year will be reduced by the percentage of the allocation not utilized in the previous quota year. Allocations not used in one quota year are not available for carry-over to the next quota year.

Q6.IV. From the time of announcing the opening of quotas, as indicated in I above, what is the period of time allowed for the submission of applications for licences?

Individual import permits are required for each shipment at the within-TRQ rates of duty.

Q6.V. What are the minimum and maximum lengths of time for processing applications?

Import permits are issued through an on-line automated system either (a) in the offices of customs brokers in major cities across Canada, or (b) at the Permit Operations, Client Services and Reporting Division of Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa. Requests for permits are accepted 30 days prior to the expected date of arrival of the shipment to Canada. Import permits are normally issued with a validity period of 30 days around the date of arrival specified by importers (five days prior to and 24 days after). Utilization of permits for one quota year is not allowed in the next quota year.

Q6.VI. How much time remains, at a minimum, between the granting of licences and the date of opening of the period of importation?

Import permits are issued through an on-line automated system either (a) in the offices of customs brokers in major cities across Canada, or (b) at the Permit Operations, Client Services and Reporting Division of Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa. Requests for permits are accepted 30 days prior to the expected date of arrival of the shipment to Canada. Import permits are normally issued with a validity period of 30 days around the date of arrival specified by importers (five days prior to and 24 days after). Utilization of permits for one quota year is not allowed in the next quota year.

Q6.VII. Is consideration of licence applications effected by a single administrative organ? Or must the application be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval? If so, which? Does the importer have to approach more than one administrative organ?

Import permits are issued through an on-line automated system either (a) in the offices of customs brokers in major cities across Canada, or (b) at the Permit Operations, Client Services and Reporting Division of Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa. Requests for permits are accepted 30 days prior to the expected date of arrival of the shipment to Canada. Import permits are normally issued with a validity period of 30 days around the date of arrival specified by importers (five days prior to and 24 days after). Utilization of permits for one quota year is not allowed in the next quota year.

Q6.VIII. If the demand for licences cannot be fully satisfied, on what basis is the allocation to applicants made? First come, first served? Past performance? Is there a maximum amount to be allocated per applicant and, if so, on what basis is it determined? What provision is made for new importers? Are applications examined simultaneously or on receipt?

Allocation methods vary by TRQ. Please refer to the Notices to Importers referred to in response I for allocation and administration policies for individual TRQs.

Q6.IX. In the case of bilateral quotas or export restraint arrangements where export permits are issued by exporting countries, are import licences also required? If so, are licences issued automatically?

N/A

Q6.X. In cases where imports are allowed on the basis of export permits only, how is the importing country informed of the effect given by the exporting countries to the understanding between the two countries?

N/A

Q6.XI. Are there products for which licences are issued on condition that goods should be exported and not sold in the domestic market?

A supplementary import policy is in place to allow supplementary imports in certain situations, including market shortages. Supplementary imports may also be authorized for re-export.

Q7. Where there is no quantitative limit on importation of a product or on imports from a particular country:

N/A

Q7.a. How far in advance of importation must application for a licence be made? Can licences be obtained within a shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence (for example, owing to inadvertency)?

N/A

Q7.b. Can a licence be granted immediately on request?

N/A

Q7.c. Are there any limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence and/or importation may be made? If so, explain.

N/A

Q7.d. Is consideration of licence applications effected by a single administrative organ? Or must the application be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval? If so, which? Does the importer have to approach more than one administrative organ?

N/A

Q8. Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria? Are the reasons for any refusal given to the applicant? Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence and, if so, to what bodies and under what procedures?

See Section 8.1.

Eligibility of Importers to Apply for Licence

Q9. Are all persons, firms and institutions eligible to apply for licences: (If not, is there a system of registration of persons or firms permitted to engage in importation? What persons or firms are eligible? Is there a registration fee? Is there a published list of authorized importers?) a) under restrictive licensing systems? b) under non-restrictive systems?

See Section 8.1.

Documentational and Other Requirements for Application for Licence

Q10. What information is required in applications? Submit a sample form. What documents is the importer required to supply with the application?

See Section 8.1.

Q11. What documents are required upon actual importation?

Import permits and normal customs entry forms are required in addition to health certificates as required under the Canada Agriculture Products Act.

Q12. Is there any licensing fee or administrative charge? If so, what is the amount of the fee or charge?

See Section 8.1.

Q13. Is there any deposit or advance payment requirement associated with the issue of licences? If so, state the amount or rate, whether it is refundable, the period of retention and the purpose of the requirement.

No.

Conditions of Licensing

Q14. What is the period of validity of a licence? Can the validity of a licence be extended? How?

See Section 8.1.

Q15. Is there any penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence?

See Section 8.1.

Q16. Are licences transferable between importers? If so, are any limitations or conditions attached to such transfer?

See Section 8.1.

Q17. Are any other conditions attached to the issue of a licence? a) for products subject to quantitative restriction? b) for products not subject to quantitative restriction?

See Section 8.1.

Other Procedural Requirements

Q18. Are there any other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation?

See Section 8.1.

Q19. Is foreign exchange automatically provided by the banking authorities for goods to be imported? Is a licence required as a condition to obtaining foreign exchange? Is foreign exchange always available to cover licences issued? What formalities must be fulfilled for obtaining the foreign exchange?

See Section 8.1.