10.2.4 Exempted Products
Certain categories of meat products are exempt from the requirements of section 9 of the Meat Inspection Act and do not have to be dealt with in the manner described in this manual. These are specified in sub-sections 3(1) and 3(4) of the MIR and Chapter 1 of the Meat Hygiene Manual of Procedures (MOP). AHPD import requirements may still apply.
Section (3) of Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990: Meat products exempted from the application of the Act
3. (1) Sections 7 to 9 of the Act do not apply in respect of:
1. a shipment of meat products weighing 20 kg or less that is intended to be used for non-commercial purposes;
2. a shipment of meat products that is part of an immigrant's or emigrant's effects;
3. a meat product derived from a marine mammal;
4. a prepared pet food;
(d -1) feed, as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Feeds Regulations, 1983;
5. a meat product carried on any vessel, train, motor vehicle, aircraft or other means of transportation for use as food for the crew or passengers thereof;
6. a carcass of a game animal or a part of a carcass of a game animal, including the carcass or part of the carcass of the animal that is considered to be a game animal in another country, that is to be used for non-commercial purposes;
7. gelatin, bone meal, collagen casing, hydrolyzed animal protein, monoglyceride, diglyceride, fatty acid and the products resulting from the rendering of inedible meat products;
8. a meat product, the total amount of which does not weigh more than 100 kg, destined and used for analysis, evaluation, testing, research or an international food exhibition;
9. a food in which the meat product is of insignificant quantity having regard to the nature of the food and the nature of the meat product therein;
10. animal skins not intended for use as human or animal food, hooves, horns, feathers, hair, wool and pharmaceuticals containing products of animal origin;
11. a meat product that is destined for inedible rendering; and
12. a food that meets the following specifications, namely;
1. the food is a mixture of a fish product and a meat product;
2. the food is commonly recognized as a fish product, having regard to:
1. the relative proportions and type of the fish and meat ingredients present in the food;
2. the common name of the food;
3. the type of processing applied to the fish and meat ingredients; and
4. the historical recognition of the food as a fish product;
3. the food is processed in an establishment registered in accordance with the Fish Inspection Regulations or has been imported into Canada in compliance with those Regulations; and
4. the meat product used in the preparation of the food originates from an establishment registered in accordance with these Regulations or a foreign establishment authorized to export meat products to Canada in accordance with these Regulations.
3. (4) Subsection 9(1) of the Act does not apply in respect of a meat product that has been exported from Canada and is thereafter imported into Canada in the state in which it was exported.
Interpretation:
MIR 3.(1)(a) is interpreted as allowing a shipment, non commercial purposes, up to 20 kg total weight of various meat products from abroad to Canada, without those products having to satisfy the provisions of MIA and MIR. These meat products will be allowed to enter Canada only if they comply with the provisions of the Health of Animals Act and Regulations.
For more information on travellers programs, contact your local Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) office at:
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-eng.html
MIR 3.(1)(c) exempts meat and meat products derived from marine mammals from application of the Section 9 of the MIA. Meat and meat products derived from marine mammals are regulated by the Fish Inspection Act and Regulations.
MIR 3.(1)(e) is interpreted to exempt meat and meat products for use as food for crew or passengers only when placed on board a mode of transport outside the Canadian territory, and kept on board. Storage, transportation and disposal of these meat products are subject to Health of Animals Act and Regulations.
Meat and meat products placed on board of vessels, or other means of international transport, from anywhere on Canadian territory, are not exempt, regardless whether or not they are under Customs bond.
Meat products offered for sale in duty free stores located anywhere on Canadian territory and also to deliveries of meat products, from foreign destinations, to vessels docked or anchored in Canadian ports are not exempt from Canadian import requirements.
MIR 3.(1)(h) is interpreted as allowing a person, or a company, to bring into Canada, from abroad, up to 100 kg total weight of a meat product for sample purpose, without that product having to satisfy the provisions of MIA and MIR. These meat products will be allowed to enter Canada only if they comply with the provisions of the Health of Animals Act and Regulations.
MIR 3.(1)(i) is interpreted by the policy outlined in the
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/meavia/man/ch1/1.1-5e.shtml
MIR 3.(1)(l) exempts meat products containing both meat and fish, when the product is classified as a fish product in accordance with CFIA policy. Refer to:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/fispoi/manman/fpimip/chap2su8e.shtml
MIR 3.(4) allows entry into Canada of meat products legally exported out of Canada and being returned, either for commercial reasons or due to being refused entry by the importing country's competent authority for having failed import inspection. These shipments may enter Canada providing they meet all provisions of the Meat Inspection Act and Regulations with the exception of section 9(1) of the MIA. Exported meat products returning to Canada must comply with the provisions of the Health of Animals Act and Regulations.
Detailed procedures for handling of returned exported meat products can be found in Annex V of this Chapter.
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/meavia/man/ch10/10-1e.shtml#10.2
