WTO: Broiler Hatching Eggs and Chicks TRQ - Serial No. 985

Date: October 1, 2020

This Notice replaces Notice to Importers No. 952 dated October 1, 2019, and sets out the policies and practices pertaining to the administration of Canada’s tariff rate quota (TRQ) for broiler hatching eggs and chicks for chicken production under the World Trade Organization (WTO). 

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.

1. Definitions

Chicks for chicken production means a product that is included in Item 94 on the Import Control List (ICL), namely live broilers for domestic production, being fowls of the species Gallus domesticus, weighing not more than 185 grams, falling  under tariff items 0105.11.21 or 0105.11.22 in the list of tariff provisions set out in the Schedule to the Customs Tariff.

Hatchery means a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) licensed facility that receives hatching eggs from poultry breeder operations and cares for them by engaging in all of the following activities: storing, incubating, hatching, processing, and holding.

Hatching eggs means a product that is included in Item 95 on the ICL, namely hatching eggs, for broilers, of fowls of the species Gallus domesticus, falling under tariff items 0407.11.11 or 0407.11.12 in the list of tariff provisions set out in the Schedule to the Customs Tariff.

Hatching eggs other than for broiler means a product that is included in Item 135 on the ICL, namely hatching eggs other than for broiler, of fowls of the species Gallus domesticus, falling under tariff items 0407.11.91 or 0407.11.92 in the list of tariff provisions set out in the Schedule to the Customs Tariff.

List of EIPA commodity codes for broiler hatching eggs.

List of EIPA commodity codes for chicks for chicken production.

2. Allocation policy

• All applicants must provide a list of related persons.
• If you received an allocation in the previous year and have submitted a complete application for the new quota year, you may receive an advance of up to 30% of your initial allocation in the previous year, subject to any under-utilization penalty that may apply.
• Allocations are issued separately for broiler hatching eggs and for chicks.
• If you receive an allocation for broiler hatching eggs you may convert any portion of this allocation into an egg-equivalent (EE) allocation for chick imports at a conversion rate of 1.27 broiler hatching eggs for one chick. You are not permitted to convert chick import allocations into hatching egg import allocations.
• There are no quantitative restrictions on imports of hatching eggs other than for broiler, and permits for these products are issued on demand.

3. Eligibility criteria

You are eligible to apply for an allocation if you are a:

• Hatchery as defined in the Notice.
• Note: You must exclude the following from your application:
  • any chick that was not hatched in your own hatchery in the reference period; or
  • any chick hatched in another hatchery for you under a subcontract in the reference period, and which is included in the application of the hatchery that hatched the egg.

4. Calculation of allocations

Hatcheries:

• 100% is allocated to hatcheries on a market share basis based on the total number of chicks hatched by the hatchery during the reference period.

5. Transfer and under-utilization of allocations

• If you wish to transfer any portion of your allocation, you must submit a transfer request form.
• You may use up to 95% of your allocation prior to August 1 of the quota year.
  • Note: You will be informed in writing regarding the remaining 5%, with any adjustments, after the import access quantity is finalized in August.
• If you use less than 90% of either your chick or your hatching egg allocation in one year, you may have your allocation adjusted downward by an under-utilization penalty in the following year.
  • Note: The calculation will normally take into account the weight of your eggs and chicks (in egg equivalents) import allocation relative to your overall total allocation.
  • Note: Any portion of your allocation that you transfer in accordance with the present policy is considered to have been used.

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 broiler hatching eggs
  • List of EIPA commodity codes for chicks for chicken production
• How to apply for an import permit
• Allocation transfer request form
• Contact us