Notice to Importers

Eggs and Egg Products – Supplemental Imports (Items 135 to 139 on the Import Control List)

Serial No. 851
Date: November 8, 2013

This Notice replaces Notice to Importers No. 829 dated February 19, 2013, and will remain in effect until further notice.

This Notice is provided pursuant to the authority of the Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA) and its corresponding regulations.

In Brief

Imports of eggs and egg products into Canada are subject to import controls under Canada’s Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA).  Accordingly, an import permit is required for shipments of eggs and egg products to enter Canada.  Import permits for shipments of eggs and egg products destined to the Canadian market are issued to allocation holders under Canada’s tariff rate quota (TRQ) for eggs and egg products, which is administered by Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD). 

The Minister may, at his discretion, authorize the importation of quantities of eggs and egg products in excess of the import access quantity, particularly if he judges that the importation of these products is required to serve overall Canadian market needs.

This Notice to Importers sets out the policies and practices pertaining to supplemental imports of eggs and egg products.  This Notice also explains how to apply for supplemental import permits.

Table of Contents

1. Purpose

1.1. The purpose of this Notice is:

  • a. to set out the policies and practices pertaining to the authorization of supplemental imports for eggs and egg products; and
  • b. to explain how to apply for import permits for imports of eggs and egg products.

1.2. The present Notice should be read with the Notice to Importers No. 848 - Eggs and Egg Products (Items 135 to 139 on the Import Control List), which sets out the policies and practices pertaining to the administration of the eggs and egg products TRQ. This Notice http://www.international.gc.ca/controls-controles/prod/agri/eggs-oeufs/index.aspx?lang=eng is available on the DFATD website..

2. General Information

2.1. In accordance with its commitments under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), Canada has in place a TRQ for imports of eggs and egg products.

2.2. Under Canadian TRQs, in any given year, a predetermined quantity of imports of a good controlled under the EIPA can enter Canada at a lower rate of duty, while imports over this quantity are subject to higher rates of duty. The TRQs therefore have three components: an import access quantity negotiated with Canada’s international trade partners; a within access commitment rate of duty that applies to imports up to the access level; and a higher, over access commitment rate of duty for imports over the access level. 

2.3. Subsection 8.3 (3) of the EIPA allows the Minister to issue permits apart from the access quantity. In exercising his discretion under subsection 8.3 (3), the Minister takes into consideration whether the importation of these products is required to meet Canadian market needs.

2.4. The within and over access rates of duty that apply to imports of eggs and egg products can be found in Canada’s Customs Tariff http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/menu-eng.html .

2.5. Pursuant to the EIPA and its corresponding regulations, when deciding whether to authorize a request for supplemental imports, the Minister will take into account whether the applicant has furnished false or misleading information in connection with any reports required by the Act or the regulations made under the Act or by any condition of a supplemental import authorization, import allocation, or import permit during the 12-month period preceding the period in respect of which the supplemental import authorization is to apply. The Minister may attach conditions to supplemental authorizations and/or to supplemental import permits, and may amend, suspend, cancel or re-instate supplemental import authorizations and supplemental import permits.

3. Products Covered

3.1. This Notice pertains to Items 135 to 139 of the Import Control List (ICL); namely eggs and egg products classified under heading Nos. 04.07, 04.08, 21.06 and 35.02 of Schedule I in the List of Tariff Provisions set out in the Schedule to the Customs Tariff. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/menu-eng.html Appendix 1 provides a detailed list of the products covered and their associated EIPA products codes.

3.2. Importers who require a determination as to whether the product they intend to import is eligible for a supplemental import authorization are encouraged to obtain an advanced tariff classification ruling from the appropriate regional client service office of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

4. Supplemental Import Policies

4.1. There are five categories of supplemental import authorizations for eggs and egg products:

  • a. Authorization to Import Shell Eggs for Resale in the Domestic Market Due to Market Shortages
  • b. Authorization to Import Eggs for Breaking Purposes and/or Liquid Eggs Due to Market Shortages
  • c. Authorization to Import Eggs and Egg Products for Further Processing and Re-Export under the Import for Re-Export Program (IREP)
  • d. Authorization to Import Eggs and Egg Products for the Purpose of Test Marketing
  • e. Authorization to Import Eggs and Egg Products under Extraordinary or Unusual Circumstances

The policies and procedures applicable to each category are set out below.

5. Authorization to Import Shell Eggs for Resale in the Domestic Market Due to Market Shortages

5.1. A market shortage is a short-term scarcity in the domestic supply of product required to serve existing overall Canadian market needs. Existing overall Canadian market needs are assessed on the basis of domestic production and global imports under the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) for eggs.

5.2. Applicants who have been issued an import allocation will normally be required to have exhausted this allocation before an authorization for supplementary imports may be issued under this provision. An import allocation will be considered exhausted only if all permits issued have been used and the allocation balance is zero.

5.3.  Before Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) will consider an application for a supplementary import permit, the applicant must make an offer to purchase domestic product by completing:

  • a)  Form EXT1791 “Shell Eggs – Supplemental Import Authorization Application –Domestic Sourcing Request” included as Appendix 2 which must be faxed to the Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC) and DFATD; and
  • b)  Form EXT1792 “Shell Eggs – Supplemental Import Authorization Application - Commercial Confidential Information” included in Appendix 3 which must be faxed to DFATD only.

5.4  The delivery date specified must provide the EFC with:

  • a)  a domestic sourcing period of at least three working days; and
  • b)  not less than four working days immediately following the EFC sourcing period during which delivery will be accepted.

5.5 With regard to application EXT 1791, the product specifications for grade and size of product required must conform to normally accepted trading classes of the product.

5.6 The EFC must advise the applicant and DFATD no later than the end of the sourcing period whether the product is available from Canadian sources for delivery during the applicable period.

5.7 Should the applicant refuse to purchase domestic product sourced by the EFC at the formula-related market price in accordance with this procedure, a request for an authorization for supplementary imports will normally not be considered from the applicant in question for a period of 90 days from the date of application.

5.8 If, by the end of the sourcing period, the EFC has advised the applicant and DFATD that the product is not available domestically, DFATD will consider the applicant’s request for a supplementary import permit on the basis of the information provided in Form EXT 1792.

5.9 In form EXT 1792, the applicant must state:

  • a) that he or she has a regular domestic source of production for the product requested;
  • b) the quantities normally available on a weekly basis from the applicant’s regular source of domestic production: and
  • c)  the reason for the temporary disruption of supply of the product requested and the expected duration of disruption.

5.10 The quantity requested must take into account any quantities available domestically and the total of the two amounts should not exceed the quantity available on a weekly basis from the applicant’s regular source of domestic production.

5.11 Consideration of applications will take into account any short-term disruption of customary arrangement between an applicant and his or her domestic supplier(s). 

5.12 Import permits issued pursuant to such authorization will be valid only for the specified delivery period, and will not be extended.

6. Eggs for Breaking Purposes and/or Liquid Eggs Due to Market Shortages

6.1 A request for an authorization may be submitted at any time during the calendar year.

6.2 Applicants must state in their request that they have exhausted their normal sources of domestic supply.

6.3 Applicants who have been issued an import allocation will normally be required to have exhausted this allocation before an authorization for supplementary imports may be issued under this provision. An import allocation will be considered exhausted only if all permits issued have been used and the allocation balance is zero.

6.4 Applicants must make an offer to purchase domestic product in writing to: Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC), 21 Florence Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0W6; telephone: 613-238-2514; fax: 613-238-1967, e-mail import.requests@eggs.ca stating:

  • a) the request is being made within the context of a request for an authorization for supplementary permits;
  • b) the type of product required (product specifications must conform to normally accepted trading classes of the product);
  • c) the quantity required; and
  • d)the delivery period required:
    • the delivery period specified must provide the EFC with a domestic sourcing period of at least three working days; and
    • applicants must also specify a period of not less than four working days immediately following the EFC sourcing period during which delivery will be accepted.

6.5 A copy of the request to the EFC must also be forwarded to DFATD.

6.6 The EFC must advise the applicant and DFATD not later than the end of the sourcing period whether the product is available from Canadian sources for delivery during the applicable period.

6.7 If the product is not available domestically, DFATD may authorize supplementary imports. Import permits issued pursuant to such authorization will be valid only for the specified delivery period, and will not be extended.

6.8 Should the applicant refuse to purchase domestic product sourced by the EFC at the formula-related market price in accordance with this procedure, a request for an authorization for supplementary imports will normally not be considered from the applicant in question for a period of 90 days from the date of application.

7. Authorization to Import Eggs and Egg Products under the Import for Re-Export Program (IREP)

7.1. This program is limited to Canadian processors.

7.1.1 Applicants approved for participation in the program for a given year must comply with program terms and conditions, permit conditions, as well as reporting requirements. Normally, failure to comply with program terms and conditions, permit conditions as well as reporting requirements, or failure to provide updated and accurate information, could result in the application of sanctions as set out in Section 7.8. 

7.2. An IREP participant:

  • a. must be the importer of record of those products;
  • b. must be the sole processor of those products; and
  • c. must subsequently re-export the associated processed product as the exporter of record.

7.2.1. As the importer of record, the name of the IREP participant should correspond to the importer name on customs release documentation (e.g. B3, section 1), and the IREP participant owns the imported eggs or egg products. As the exporter of record, the name of the IREP participant should correspond to the importer name on foreign customs release documentation (e.g. US Entry Summary, box 26).

7.2.2. Diversion of product imported under the IREP to the Canadian market is prohibited. Specifically, the transfer or sale of products imported under the IREP, or of finished goods containing products imported under the IREP, within Canada or to a Canadian resident or company is prohibited.

7.3. The IREP Authorization Year

7.3.1. The IREP authorization year extends from June 1 to May 31 inclusive.

7.4. Application Process

7.4.1. To participate in the IREP, a Canadian processor must apply for an authorization for supplemental imports each authorization year. An applicant may submit an application at any point during the authorization year.

7.4.2. IREP participants seeking an authorization for continued participation in the program may be eligible for the streamlined renewal process detailed in Section 7.4.6.

7.4.3. An application is composed of the following documents:

  • Application form (one per imported ingredient)
  • Export Product(s) List (Section 13) form (one per imported ingredient)
  • Recipe for each finished product
  • Label for each finished product
  • USDA Application for Approval of Labels, Marking or Device, stamped by the USDA
  • Processing procedures and detailed explanation of the loss factor declared in the Export Product(s) List (Section 13) (signed)
  • Contract or purchase order documentation from foreign client (for new applications only)

7.4.4. The application form and related documents are included in Appendix 4. They must be submitted electronically to the DFATD IREP mailbox (irep@international.gc.ca). Incomplete applications will not be processed until all information has been received.

7.4.5. To be eligible to continue to participate in the IREP, IREP participants must submit their application to DFATD no later than the 31st of March immediately preceding the start of the authorization year for their continued participation to be approved by June 1st.

7.4.6. Streamlined renewal process:  To be eligible for the streamlined renewal process, applicants must satisfy the following four criteria:

  • The IREP participant is applying for an imported ingredient that has already been approved for the current authorization year;
  • The IREP participant is not applying for new finished products;
  • The IREP participant has not changed its recipes, labels, processing procedures or loss factors (i.e., the data in latest approved Export Product(s) List (Section 13) are still valid); and
  • The IREP participant was not suspended for non-compliance with the terms, conditions or reporting requirements of the program during the twelve months preceding the application.

7.4.7. IREP participants who do not meet all four eligibility criteria for the streamlined renewal process must submit complete applications as per section 7.4.3.

7.4.8. As with the regular application process, the streamlined renewal process requires one application form for each ingredient for which an authorization is being sought.  Under the streamlined renewal process, however, eligible applicants may select the renewal check-box that appears on the application form.  Other forms and supporting documents listed in section 7.4.3 are not required to be submitted at the time of application under the streamlined renewal process; however, they must be supplied on demand if requested.

7.4.9. Applicants and/or IREP participants will be apprised in writing of the result of their application. The letter of authorization will provide additional information concerning the terms, conditions and reporting requirements of the program.

7.4.10. Each authorization to participate in the IREP is conditional upon receipt of the CEO acceptance letter (see template in Appendix 4). Failure to provide this letter within 30 days of receipt of the letter of authorization will result in the IREP participant being deemed to not have accepted all the terms and conditions found herein and in its letter of authorization, and its participation in the program will be ended.

7.4.11. Should an IREP participant wish to modify any information in its original application (including, but not limited to, a change in a recipe or additional products), an amendment request must be submitted for approval by DFATD prior to implementation of the change by the IREP participant.

7.5. Permit Conditions

7.5.1. IREP participants will be eligible to receive import permits subject to certain conditions, including:

7.5.2. IREP participants must export all products imported under the IREP within 180 calendar days of the date of entry indicated on the associated supplemental import permit.

7.5.3. IREP permits issued in a given authorization year will be valid only for that authorization year.

7.6. Reporting requirements

7.6.1. Monthly export reports: IREP participants must submit, electronically, monthly export reports for all IREP product exports in a given month (including a nil report if applicable) to DFATD (irep@international.gc.ca) by the end of the following month. These reports must be prepared in the prescribed format using the template in Appendix 4. Units, headers or structure cannot be modified. All fields in the template must be filled for each export shipment. DFATD may at any time request supporting export documentation for any reported shipment (see section 7.7.1.).

7.6.2. Bi-monthly inventory reports: IREP participants must submit, electronically, bi-monthly inventory reports. These reports must be prepared in one of the prescribed format using the template in Appendix 4. Units, headers or structure cannot be modified. The inventory report must be an account, on the first day of the month (starting August 1 of the authorization year), of any product imported under the IREP and any intermediary, finished product or product in the processing phase containing the product imported under the IREP, that has not yet been exported. It must include quantities at the manufacturing facility and, if applicable, quantities stored offsite within Canada.

7.6.3. Only products declared in an approved Export Product(s) List (Section 13) and manufactured with inputs imported under the IREP are eligible to be reported under the IREP. Products manufactured using controlled inputs imported under the TRQ or obtained from other sources are not eligible to be reported under the IREP, and products exported prior to the import of a corresponding quantity of controlled inputs under the IREP are not eligible to be reported as exports under the IREP. An IREP participant who submits erroneous reports may be subject to sanctions (see section 7.8.).

7.6.4. IREP participants must provide a declaration, using the template in Appendix 4, from their CEO, stating that all products imported under the IREP during the authorization year have been exported in accordance with all program terms and conditions, permit conditions, and that reporting requirements were met. This letter should only be submitted once it has been determined that all of these criteria have been fulfilled. This letter may not be submitted prior to May 31 of the relevant authorization year, but must be provided no later than December 31 of the following authorization year.

7.7. Additional information

7.7.1. IREP participants must retain, for a period of seven years, and provide to DFATD on demand, copies of the following documents:

a. Purchase documents for the imported product:

  • Purchase orders and commercial invoices
  • Proof of payment (e.g., banking records)
  • Descriptive literature which indicates the imported product’s composition
  • If available, classification rulings issued by the CBSA related to the imported product

b. Import documents:
Copies of complete release and accounting packages submitted to the CBSA. Packages include:

  • Cargo control documents (e.g., Bill of Lading)
  • CBSA Form B3
  • Commercial invoice
  • Any required permits, licenses, or certificates (e.g., Canadian Food Inspection Agency [CFIA] inspection certificate)

c. Export documents:

  • Transportation documents related to the exportation of the finished product (e.g., Bill of Lading, freight invoices)
  • Accounting documents related to the sale of exported product (e.g., Letter of intent from foreign customer, Purchase Order, sales contracts, commercial invoices, proof of payment)
  • Any required permits, licenses, or certificates (e.g., CFIA inspection certificate)
  • Copies of the importing country’s Customs documentation, completed and certified by a Customs officer of the country to which the goods were exported, which fully describes the goods (e.g. US Entry Summary for exports to the United States)
  • For export destinations other than the United States, a copy of CBSA’s B13A export declaration

d. Documents concerning processing of imported products:

  • Recipes
  • Packaging and labeling for product(s) exported under the IREP
  • Production records to allow tracking of imported product(s), including inventory levels, quantities of raw materials used and quantities of finished product(s)
  • Descriptive literature related to manufacturing processes and products manufactured

7.7.2.  DFATD may request additional information, and may also request that an independent public accountant (or an accountant named by DFATD) certify information provided to it by the IREP participant.

7.7.3. IREP participants may be subject to unannounced onsite verification by DFATD. In accordance with section 10.2 of the EIPA, DFATD inspectors may, at all reasonable times, have access to facilities, warehouses and any other location where IREP products may be processed or stored. Accordingly, IREP participants are required to cooperate fully in the event of an inspection, audit or examination.

7.8. Sanctions

7.8.1. Failure to comply with any term or condition of the IREP or any of its reporting requirements will normally result in suspension from participation in the IREP, cancellation of import permits, reduction of an IREP participant's TRQ allocation(s) and/or prosecution for offences against the EIPA. An IREP participant that is suspended from participation in the IREP is not eligible to receive IREP import permits.

7.8.2. If an IREP participant fails to comply with any term or condition of the IREP or any of its reporting requirements on multiple occasions, that IREP participant may be suspended from participation in the IREP for the remainder of the authorization year.

7.8.3. Should DFATD's reconciliation of an IREP participant’s imports and exports under the IREP indicate that product imported by that IREP participant under the IREP has been in Canada for more than 180 calendar days, the IREP participant will normally be suspended from the program until DFATD determines that the situation has been rectified and that the IREP participant is in compliance with program terms and conditions.

7.8.4. Should there be unresolved discrepancies in the information provided by an IREP participant, that IREP participant may be suspended from the program until DFATD determines that the situation has been rectified and that the IREP participant is in compliance with program terms and conditions.

8. Authorization to Import Eggs and Egg Products for the Purpose of Test Marketing

8.1. Supplemental imports may be authorized to facilitate test marketing in the Canadian market of new products that are, for example, unique or are produced with unique processes and require a substantial capital investment for their production.

8.2. Authorization for supplemental imports for purposes of test marketing may be issued only for products that are marketed directly to consumers.

8.3. Companies that intend to conduct test marketing of a specific product must normally plan the activity within their annual TRQ allocations.  Companies that have been issued an allocation will normally be required to have exhausted this allocation before supplemental imports may be authorized under this provision.

8.4. Applications made on company letterhead may be submitted to the eggs and egg products quota manager at DFATD and should contain the following information:

  • a. a description of the product and related production processes, with indications respecting unique features of same;
  • b. a description of a proposed test marketing program, identifying test market areas, market channels, timing, promotion plans and marketing costs, product quantities required for the proposed test marketing program, and an analysis showing the minimum test market results required to decide in favour of the capital investment in Canadian production facilities; and,
  • c. a detailed outline of the resulting minimum capital investment and job creation; proposed financing required to produce the product, e.g., facilities, equipment, production capacity; and the time required to bring such facilities on line from the time of a DFATD decision to approve the test marketing program.

The name and mailing address of the eggs and egg products quota manager can be obtained on the DFATD website, under Contact Us.

8.5.  Companies are required to commence production in Canada as soon as is feasible after the successful completion of the test marketing program.

8.6.  Imports pursuant to an authorization issued under this provision shall only be made for the products to be test marketed, for the prescribed test marketing period, and for the approved quantities.

8.7.  Once these quantities or the period have been exhausted, further permits may be authorized only for the same product in quantities sufficient to continue serving the test marketing areas during a period reasonably required for the construction of the domestic production facilities.  Once such facilities have been established, no further permits will be allowed for either the test market product or for required raw materials.  An applicant may submit only one test marketing application for a given product.

8.8.     Successful applicants will be required to provide monthly statistics on the sales of imported products by test area.  Failure to submit these statistics may result in suspension of import privileges under this provision.

9. Authorization to Import Eggs and Egg Products under Extraordinary or Unusual Circumstances

9.1. Other applications for authorization for supplemental imports due to extraordinary or unusual circumstances will be evaluated on their individual merits.

10. Import permits

10.1. Types of Permits

10.1.1.  An import permit issued by DFATD is required for every shipment of eggs and egg products covered by this Notice to enter Canada. For a given shipment, importers may either present a shipment-specific import permit or invoke the appropriate General Import Permit (GIP).

10.2. Shipment-specific import permits

10.2.1. Shipment-specific import permits are normally issued on demand to allocation holders up to the amount of their allocation under Canada’s eggs and egg products TRQ. Shipments entering Canada under a shipment-specific import permit can normally do so at the within access rate of duty.

10.2.2.  To claim the within access rate of duty for a shipment, the importer must present the shipment-specific import permit to CBSA at the time of final accounting.

10.2.3.  For a shipment-specific import permit to be considered valid, the name on the permit must match exactly the name of the importer on CBSA’s B3 Customs entry and related documents at time of final accounting. Furthermore, the quantity on the permit must be the same as the net quantity on the Customs invoice. It is incumbent on the recipient of the permit to ensure that a permit application is made in the name of the importer of record and includes the correct quantity. Questions about the proper procedures to fill out customs entry documents should be addressed to local CBSA officials.

10.3. General Import Permit

10.3.1. The GIP that applies for eggs and egg products is General Import Permit No. 100 – Eligible Agricultural Goods. There is no limit to the quantities of eggs and egg products that can enter Canada under the GIP; however, such imports will be subject to the higher over access rate of duty.

10.3.2. Shipment-specific import permits will not be issued for shipments already imported into Canada under the authority of the GIP, regardless of the importer's supplemental authorization.

10.4. How to Apply for a Permit

10.4.1. Information about the permit application process, including information about fees, the monthly billing system, and information required from applicants, is available on the DFATD website: Applying for an Import Permit

10.4.2. Importers that wish to apply for an import permit are required to submit Form EXT1466, "Application for Permit", which can be obtain on the DFATD website (a paper copy will be provided upon request): Application for Import/Export Permit

11. Contact Us

11.1. Names and direct phone numbers for quota manager(s), permit officer(s), and the Help Desk are available on the DFATD website: Contact us

11.2. For directory assistance, you may call 613-944-0773.

11.3. Questions concerning the sourcing of domestic product can be addressed to the EFC at:

Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC)
21 Florence Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0W6
Telephone: 613-238-2514
Facsimile: 613-238-1967