Please be aware of the following adjustments to the Health of Animals Regulation – Schedule III.  What follows has been taken directly from the CFIA website and can be accessed online.

Title or Working Title of the Regulatory Initiative: Amendments to the Health of Animals Regulations, Schedule III (Aquatic animal imports)

Description of the Objective

Schedule III of the Health of Animals Regulations advises regulated parties which aquatic species need an import permit from CFIA. Schedule III is currently part of the Health of Animals Regulations and has not been updated since 2012. It is no longer consistent with the international standards set out by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

As a signatory to the WTO SPS Agreement, CFIA is expected to meet the requirements of the International Standard Setting Body; for aquatic animal health this is under the OIE.

This regulatory proposal would allow Schedule III of the Health of Animals Regulations to be incorporated by reference in order to allow for the list of aquatic species that require a permit to be easily updated to remain consistent with WTO OIE international standards updates. This regulatory amendment is required to reduce the risk of the introduction of disease by allowing the list to remain up to date in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

• This regulatory initiative is associated with the stock review plan

Enabling Act

Health of Animals Act

Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses

There may be business impacts. The “One-for-One” Rule and the Small Business Lens may apply. The CFIA is currently conducting these analyses.

Regulatory Cooperation Efforts (domestic, international)

These regulatory amendments are intended to align Schedule III of the Health of Animals Regulations with OIE international standards, which are updated annually. No direct impact on trade is expected because regulatory updates are intended to align the CFIA with the WTO SPS Agreement.

Public Consultation Opportunities

It is anticipated these proposed amendments will be pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I in spring 2020. A public comment period of 75 days will be available for Canadians and other interested parties to provide feedback on the regulatory proposal.

Departmental Contact

cfia.legislation-legislation.acia@canada.ca

Date the Regulatory Initiative was first included in the FRP

This initiative was first included in the 2019 to 2021 update

For more information

Consult CFIA’s acts and regulations web page for:

• a list of acts and regulations administered by CFIA
• further information on CFIA’s implementation of government-wide regulatory management initiatives

Consult the following for links to the Cabinet Directive on Regulation and supporting policies and guidance, and for information on government-wide regulatory initiatives implemented by departments and agencies across the Government of Canada:

• Federal regulatory management and modernization
• Learn more about regulatory cooperation

To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit:

• Consulting with Canadians
• Canada Gazette