CFIA Import Licensing & Compliance

Build the compliance foundation you need to import food into Canada with confidence.

We help businesses establish the regulatory foundation required to import food into Canada, from licensing and preventive control plans to supplier verification and documentation.

First-time food importers Growing food importers Expanding into Canadian distribution International businesses entering Canada Importers organizing compliance documentation

What's Included

The components of a complete CFIA compliance engagement.

Every engagement is scoped to the client's products, suppliers, and business model. These are the components we draw from.

Import Requirement Assessment

Determine the regulatory and licensing requirements relevant to your business and products.

CFIA Licence Application Guidance

Guidance through the licensing process and application preparation.

Preventive Control Plan

A practical preventive control framework appropriate to your operation.

Foreign Supplier Verification

Processes for evaluating and verifying your foreign suppliers.

Traceability & Recall

Practical traceability, complaint, and recall documentation and processes.

Compliance Documentation

Development and organization of relevant SOPs, forms, records, and supporting documentation.

Application Review

Review of your documentation and application package before submission.

Compliance Readiness Review

Identify gaps and establish an action plan before you begin importing.

Intella Advisory does not guarantee CFIA approval. Final licensing and regulatory decisions remain with the applicable government authority.

Pricing

Straightforward packages. Scope that matches what you actually need.

Pricing shown is a starting point. Final scope depends on your products, suppliers, and current documentation.

Start Here

Import Readiness Assessment

From $750 CAD

For businesses that need to understand what is required before importing.

  • Business / import assessment
  • Product review
  • Regulatory pathway assessment
  • Licensing requirements
  • Documentation requirements
  • Compliance gap assessment
  • Action plan
Book an Assessment
Flagship Offer

CFIA Licensing & Compliance Setup

From $3,500 CAD

The complete path from application to a compliant, ready-to-operate import business.

  • Import licensing guidance
  • Required documentation
  • Preventive Control Plan development
  • Foreign supplier verification framework
  • Relevant SOPs and forms
  • Traceability / recall documentation
  • Application preparation & review
  • Compliance readiness review
Start My Application
Full Scope

Full Import Compliance Setup

From $6,000 CAD

For businesses requiring broader implementation support beyond licensing.

  • Everything in Licensing & Compliance Setup, plus:
  • Import process design
  • Supplier verification system
  • Documentation / recordkeeping structure
  • Import workflow
  • Logistics coordination framework
  • Compliance implementation support
  • Post-application advisory
Book a Consultation

Final pricing depends on product category, business structure, scope, and documentation requirements.

Deliverables

Your Compliance Toolkit

Depending on the scope of engagement, clients may receive:

CFIA licensing application guidance
Preventive Control Plan
Supplier verification documentation
Receiving procedures
Traceability procedures
Complaint procedures
Recall procedures
Verification records
Import compliance checklist
Document retention structure
Implementation roadmap

Your documentation package is tailored to your products, suppliers, business model, and applicable requirements.

Process

How It Works

A five-step process from first conversation to an operating, compliant import business.

01
Assess

We review your business, products, suppliers, and intended import activities.

02
Identify

We identify applicable licensing, regulatory, and documentation requirements.

03
Prepare

We develop and organize the required compliance documentation and processes.

04
Apply

We guide you through the application process and review your submission.

05
Implement

We help establish the processes and records required to operate your import business.

Get Started

Start Your Import Assessment

Tell us about your business and what you're trying to accomplish. This information helps us prepare before we talk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions

Do all food importers need a CFIA licence?
Requirements depend on the specific food commodity and import activity involved. Not every business or product falls under the same requirements. We assess your specific situation as part of the Import Readiness Assessment rather than applying a blanket answer.
Can Intella apply for my CFIA licence?
We guide you through the licensing process, help prepare your documentation, and review your application package before submission. The application itself is submitted by you as the licence holder, with our guidance throughout.
Will Intella guarantee that my licence is approved?
No. Final licensing and regulatory decisions rest entirely with CFIA. We help you build the strongest possible application and compliance foundation, but approval is not something any consultant can guarantee.
Do I need a Preventive Control Plan?
This depends on the applicable regulatory framework and your specific import activity. We determine whether a Preventive Control Plan is required for your business as part of the Import Requirement Assessment.
Can you help if I have already started importing?
Yes. Many of our clients are growing importers looking to formalize documentation, close compliance gaps, or fix processes that weren't set up correctly the first time.
Can you help me with suppliers outside Canada?
Yes, where foreign supplier verification and import compliance support fall within the scope of your engagement.
How long does the process take?
Timing varies depending on your application, documentation, business structure, and the applicable regulatory authority. We do not promise a fixed government processing timeline, but we will give you a realistic estimate based on your specific situation once we understand your business.
Do you work with first-time importers?
Yes. First-time importers are one of our primary audiences, and the Import Readiness Assessment is built specifically to help businesses that have never imported before understand what's required.

Talk To An Import Compliance Consultant

Ready to get compliant and ready to operate?

Start with an assessment or book a consultation directly. Either way, you'll walk away understanding exactly what your business needs.

Start Your Import Assessment Talk to an Import Compliance Consultant