CUSMA: Industrial Cheeses TRQ – Serial No. 1080

Date: May 16, 2022

This Notice replaces Notice to Importers No. 1031 dated October 1, 2020 and sets out the policies and practices pertaining to the administration of Canada’s tariff rate quota (TRQ) for industrial cheese under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

This Notice is provided pursuant to the authority of the Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA) and its corresponding regulations, and remains in effect until further notice.

Table of contents

1. Definitions
2. Allocation policy
3. Eligibility criteria
4. Calculation of allocations
5. Transfer, return and under-utilization of allocations
6. Related links

1. Definitions

Industrial cheeses means a product that is used as an ingredient for further processing (secondary manufacturing) imported in bulk (not for retail sale) and that is included in Items 141 to 157 on the Import Control List (ICL), namely cheese falling under tariff item Nos. 0406.10.10, 0406.20.11, 0406.20.91, 0406.30.10, 0406.40.10, 0406.90.11, 0406.90.21, 0406.90.31, 0406.90.41, 0406.90.51, 0406.90.61, 0406.90.71, 0406.90.81, 0406.90.91, 0406.90.93, 0406.90.95, and 0406.90.98 in the list of tariff provisions set out in the Schedule to the Customs Tariff.

See the List of EIPA commodity codes for industrial cheeses.

2. Allocation policy

• To be eligible, you must be active in the Canadian food or agriculture sector at the time of the application and must remain active regularly during the quota year.
• Note: You must, in addition, have been active regularly in the Canadian food or agriculture sector, during the reference period.
• Individual applicants and related persons applicants are eligible for only one allocation.
• Note: All applicants must provide a list of related persons.
• Note: In the case of separate applications from related persons involving a parent company and one or more subsidiaries, only the application nominated by the parent company is considered.
• You must specify in your application the minimum quantity of quota you will accept. If your calculated market share allocation is less than 20,000 kg, you are issued an allocation only if the quantity you have specified in your application is equal to or lower than your calculated market share allocation.
• The TRQ is allocated for the importation of goods in bulk (not for retail sale) to be used as ingredients for further food processing (secondary manufacturing).
• Note: Food service establishments (e.g. restaurants) are not considered further processors.

3. Eligibility criteria

You are eligible for an allocation if you are a:

Processor:

• that manufactures industrial cheese for use as an ingredient in the production of further processed food products, other than cheese, in your own provincially-licensed or federally-registered facility. 

Further Processor:

• that uses industrial cheese as an ingredient in the production of further processed food products, other than cheese, in your manufacturing operations and product formulation. 

Distributor:

• that buys industrial cheese and resells it to other businesses.
• Note: Companies that procure or sell industrial cheese on behalf of others without taking ownership of or financial responsibility for the product are not eligible for an allocation.
• Note: Retailers are not eligible for an allocation. A retailer is an establishment that is primarily engaged in retailing food, and which buys industrial cheese and sells it directly to final consumers.

4. Calculation of allocations

The Minister will allocate 100% of the TRQ to processors, further processors and distributors on a market share basis as follows:

• Processors: based on the kilograms of industrial cheese manufactured for use as an ingredient in the production of further processed food products, other than cheeses, by the processor during the reference period.
• Further Processors: based on the kilograms of industrial cheese used by the further processor in the manufacturing of further processed food products, other than cheese, during the reference period.
• Distributors: based on the kilograms of industrial cheese sold by the distributor during the reference period.
• Note: You must exclude the following products from your application:
• products sold to other distributors;
• products sold to related persons; and
• products sold at the retail level to consumers.

5. Transfer, return and under-utilization of allocations

• If you wish to transfer any portion of your allocation, you must submit a transfer request form.
  
  • Note: If you transfer any portion of your allocation, you are not eligible to receive transfers from other allocation holders during the year. If you receive a transfer, you are not eligible to transfer any portion of your allocation.
• You may return any portion of your allocation to the Department in writing by the prescribed return date.
  
  • Note: Returned quantities will normally be made available seven days after the return date to eligible allocation holders, who have not returned any portion of their allocation, in proportion to their initial allocation, or on demand if quantities still remain after the first offer.
• If you use less than 95% of your allocation in one year, you may have your allocation adjusted downward by an under-utilization penalty in the following year.
  
  • Note: Any portion of your allocation that you transfer or return in accordance with the present policy is considered to have been used. This applies to the administration of the under-utilization policy only.

6. Related links

• General Information on the Administration of TRQs for Supply-Managed Products
• Key dates and access quantities
• Information concerning related persons
• How to apply for an allocation
  • Application form
  • List of EIPA commodity codes for industrial cheese
• How to apply for an import permit
• Allocation transfer request form
• Contact us