Importation of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables with Sulphites

ARGO Vancouver Customs Brokers: Ottawa, January, 29, 2016: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is
reminding importers that fresh fruit and vegetables intended to be
consumed raw and that are treated with sulphites are not permitted for
sale in Canada. Only grapes are exempt from this restriction.

Canadian importers are encouraged to:

  • communicate to foreign suppliers that fresh fruit and vegetables
    entering Canada must meet regulatory requirements, including those for
    safety;
  • implement processes to verify that their suppliers have and can
    provide documentation to demonstrate that fresh fruit and vegetables are
    compliant with the Canadian food safety requirements;
  • verify the absence of sulphites (for example, by means of a letter of guarantee or certificate of analysis);
  • source fresh fruit and vegetables from foreign suppliers who do not use sulphites.