CFIA updates fees; single fish import rate

Summary#

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has updated its fees schedule by amending the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fees Notice. Announced on December 19, 2024, the main practical effects are a single, simplified fee for fish import inspections and several administrative and rate updates across dairy, egg, plant protection and fish inspection fees.

What it does#

• Replaces the two-tier fish import inspection fee system with one per‑kilogram fee for all imported fish and seafood. The per‑kg rate shown as of March 31, 2024 is $0.00230 (previously $0.00215 up to March 30, 2024).
• Removes fees for services that are no longer being provided. These obsolete fees are deleted from the Fees Notice.
• Changes how some fees must be paid:
  • Dairy fees can be paid on completion of an inspection, on issuance of an export certificate or on invoice receipt.
  • Egg and fish inspection fees (and some other listed fees) will be paid on receipt of an invoice.
• Updates a number of specific fees and rates (examples from the notice):
  • Egg and processed‑egg inspections to verify corrective action: $72.07 → $76.97 per hour (as of March 31, 2024).
  • Plant protection field inspection rates, for example:
    • Peat bogs: $107.57 → $114.88 per 100 hectares.
    • Field crops (per 30 hectares): $53.79 → $57.45.
    • Greenhouse first half‑hectare: $53.79 → $57.45; each additional half‑hectare: $23.67 → $25.27.
    • Nursery inspections: $188.26 → $201.06 for up to four hours; daily cap $322.71 → $344.65.
  • Fish import inspection table is reworded so the single fee applies to all product types (ready‑to‑eat, canned, fresh, raw molluscan shellfish, other).
• Standardizes table headers across the Fees Notice to show specific dates (for example, “Fee up to March 30, 2024” and “Fee as of March 31, 2024”) rather than fiscal‑year/CPI language.

Note: Some parts of the notice present multiple numbers and older column headings in a way that is hard to read outside the original tables. If you need a precise fee for a specific service, check the official Fees Notice tables or contact the CFIA.

Who's affected#

• Fish and seafood importers — the change to a single per‑kg fee is expected to affect most importers. The CFIA estimates about 95% of importers will pay a lower fee.
• Small and medium enterprises in the fish and seafood trade are singled out as likely to see the most benefit.
• Dairy businesses that export products (export inspection and certificate fees are listed among the amendments).
• Egg and processed‑egg operators who pay inspection hourly rates.
• Growers, greenhouse operators and nurseries subject to plant protection inspections.
• Anyone who pays CFIA fees or uses CFIA services will see clearer table headings and the removal of fees for services no longer offered.

Why it matters#

• Simplifies billing for imported fish by removing a licence‑based fee split. That can lower costs for most importers and make fees easier to predict.
• Aligns the fees with the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, reducing a mismatch that had persisted since those regulations took effect.
• Removes charges for services the CFIA no longer provides, so the public-facing fee list better matches reality.
• Small businesses in the seafood import sector are likely to benefit financially, while other stakeholders get clearer fee tables and some updated rates.
• If you import, export, process, or grow food regulated by the CFIA, check the updated Fees Notice or contact the CFIA to see how the new rates and payment rules affect your costs.