Do I need a PCP or an SFC licence?
It depends on your activities, your products and your sales. Here are the essentials, without jargon.
Acronyms, in plain words
- PCP
- Preventive Control Plan. The written document explaining how your business prevents food safety risks.
- SFC licence
- Safe Food for Canadians licence. The federal licence generally required to import or export food, or sell it in another province.
- CFIA
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The federal agency that issues licences and inspects businesses.
- SFCR
- Safe Food for Canadians Regulations. The federal rules behind the SFC licence and the PCP.
- My CFIA
- The CFIA’s online portal, where your business applies for its licence.
- HACCP
- Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. A recognized method for finding and controlling food hazards.
- GFSI
- Global Food Safety Initiative. It recognizes certification standards such as SQF, BRCGS and FSSC 22000.
The SFC licence (Safe Food for Canadians licence)
In general, a licence is required if your business:
- imports food into Canada;
- manufactures, processes, treats, preserves, grades, packages or labels food for interprovincial trade or export;
- exports food for which an export certificate is requested;
- slaughters food animals, or stores and handles certain meat products.
The PCP (Preventive Control Plan)
A PCP is a written plan describing how you identify and control hazards to your food. The CFIA does not approve plans: its inspectors verify that they are written, implemented and effective.
The small business exception
Some businesses with gross annual food sales of $100,000 or less do not need a written PCP. The exception does not apply to:
- dairy products, eggs and processed egg products;
- fish and meat products;
- processed fruit or vegetable products and food animals;
- businesses that request an export certificate.
How long does it take?
- Our work: up to 4 weeks for your PCP on the standard track, or 1 week on the fast track (higher price). The clock starts once we have all your documents.
- The CFIA: its target for processing a complete SFC licence application is 70 business days, about 3 to 4 months.
- An SFC licence is valid for 2 years, then must be renewed.
- Importers must have their licence before their goods arrive at the border.
Official CFIA resources
- Toolkit for food businesses
- Obtain a licence through My CFIA
- PCP exception for small businesses
- CFIA service standards
This page is for general information and is not legal advice. Even without a written PCP, a business must meet the other preventive control requirements of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR).
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