All aquatic animals must be declared at the border, and those listed in Schedule III of the Health of Animals Regulations may also require an aquatic animal health import permit.
The process for the administration and application for an aquatic animal health import permit can be found at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/perme.shtml.
Specifically, aquatic animal health import permits:
- will be required for live aquatic animals listed in Schedule III and for their carcasses or offal, and
- must be obtained before these aquatic animals can be imported or introduced into Canada.
Aquatic animal health import permits will not be required for:
- pet aquatic animals that meet specific requirements,
- aquatic animals on Schedule III that meet the requirements for personal use,
- aquatic animals that are eviscerated (gutted),
- products derived from aquatic animals already processed,
- packaged products derived from aquatic animals, and
- ready-to-eat products derived from aquatic animals.
The Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) will indicate which aquatic animal commodities will require an aquatic animal health import permit and zoosanitary certification by an exporting country.
The Canadian Food inspection Agency is currently negotiating these zoosanitary certificates with Canadas trading partners.
