Newsletter – September 29, 2025

Advocacy

Notice to Importers: Import restrictions on pistachios and pistachio products from the Islamic Republic of Iran and changes to CFIA requirements for Import of pistachios and pistachio products from other origins – inspection.canada.ca
Imported pistachios and pistachio-containing products originating from the Islamic Republic of Iran are currently implicated in several illnesses and recalls in Canada due to contamination with Salmonella.
 
Your obligations as an importer of these products:
As a licence holder under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, you are responsible for ensuring that the pistachios and pistachio-containing products you import are not contaminated with Salmonella.
 
Key changes to CFIA oversight of these products:
Temporary Import Restriction for products from Islamic Republic of Iran
As of September 27, 2025 CFIA will refuse entry of Iranian pistachios and pistachio products that leave Iran after this date. This will be reflected in the CFIA’s Automated Import Reference System (AIRS). All shipments of pistachios and pistachio products from Iran will be referred to CFIA’s National Import Service Centre and CFIA will validate the date of export before a decision on import admissibility is made by CFIA. Shipments of pistachios and pistachio products that are exported (left Iran) before this date will be subject to hold and test requirements before the shipments are released to commerce.
 
Licence Condition for products from all other origins:
The CFIA will implement a condition under the Safe Food for Canadians licence for all shipments of pistachios and pistachio products originating from all countries other than the Islamic Republic of Iran. The licence condition will have two elements:
 
Importers will have to provide a proof of origin demonstrating non-Iranian origin of the shipment OR
If a proof of origin is not provided, the shipment will be subject to the hold and test requirements.
Should you have any questions, please contact your local CFIA office.

Federal

National feed inspection program: Results from 1989 to 2022 for the Salmonella monitoring program for livestock feeds – inspection.canada.ca
This random sampling program is part of the National Feed Inspection Program and was implemented for the purposes of monitoring the prevalence of Salmonella bacteria in all feeds and feed ingredients. Data are available from domestic and imported feed samples collected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) from feed mills, farms and retail establishments, over a period of 33 years from April 1, 1989 to March 31, 2022.

Animal Feed – Policy and Procedure Updates
Please be advised that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has updated the Compendium of Non-Feed Products (CNFP).
Six new veterinary health products (VHPs) have been added to the CNFP.

Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) program
Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) program is sharing the following Risk Assessment Publication Plan to inform stakeholders and interested parties of upcoming publications. The targeted publication dates are subject to change. The program anticipates sharing the Risk Assessment Publications Plan for January to March 2026 by Winter 2025.

Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada recognize the importance of stakeholder engagement. If you anticipate any challenges with providing comments within 60-day public comment periods, if applicable, please inform the program at the earliest opportunity.

Canadian Feed Ingredients Table (CFIT) – inspection.canada.ca
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has updated the Canadian Feed Ingredients Table (CFIT). This update reflects all changes from January to August 2025.

Focus on Food Safety: Safe foraging of traditional plants for commercial use – Food In CanadaFood In Canada
It’s quintessentially Canadian to link our food systems to the land. First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples crafted foodways that nourished their communities based on a vast knowledge of the food and medicinal uses of foraged plants. Entire Canadian industries are based on foraged products. Maple syrup, wild rice, and wild blueberries are produced using carefully managed forests, lakes, and lands, combined with modern food processing methodologies. There is a significant industry for harvesting wild mushrooms across Northern Canada, with both fresh distribution and dried products. Distilleries and breweries are looking for unique flavours and are working with traditional foragers to source plants for botanical extracts.

PMRA Recent postings of consultations and decisions
The Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is responsible for pesticide regulation in Canada. The public registry is where you can learn more about all pest control products registered for use in Canada.

• Iron (present as Ferric Sodium EDTA Trihydrate) (PRVD2025-08)  Open Consultation Posted: September 26, 2025
• Trichoderma asperellum strain T34 and Asperello T34 Biocontrol (PRD2025-10)  Open Consultation Posted: September 26, 2025
• Isofetamid 400SC Fungicide, containing isofetamid (PRD2025-09)  Open Consultation Posted: September 26, 2025

Provincial

BC Gov News
Expanded BC Timber Sales mandate builds stronger forestry sector
B.C.’s forestry sector is experiencing significant change – a changing climate, a changing market and changing trade relationships,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “In this uncertain time, we’re giving BCTS the tools to meet this critical moment head on. This is about taking action to support a thriving forest economy and deliver on the public interest for workers, towns, families and companies throughout the province.
 
Ontario Investing An Additional $30 Million to Protect Forestry Workers | Ontario Newsroom
The Ontario government is investing a further $30 million to support businesses, workers and communities dependent on the province’s forest sector. This funding will build and maintain more forestry access roads and provide immediate support for Ontario sawmills to find new markets for their woodchips. As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario, these investments will strengthen Ontario’s forestry sector, create jobs and increase the sector’s competitiveness in the face of increased U.S. softwood lumber duties and the threat of tariffs.
 
Consultations begin to update Environmental Trust Fund
The Environmental Trust Fund supports grassroots projects with locally driven efforts aimed at protecting our water, air and environment, and which lead to lasting change for their communities,” said Environment and Climate Change Minister Gilles LePage. “In order to keep supporting these vital projects, we are looking for insight to strengthen the delivery of the program and ensure its sustainability.

USA

NOP Import Certificate Rule Update 2025
The Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule requires that all organic imports to the United States are associated with a valid NOP Import Certificate. Shipments that arrive in the United States without a NOP Import Certificate may not be sold as organic in the United States. Previously, certified importers had the option to recondition the product. Reconditioning is the process of relabeling and reinvoicing the product to remove all organic claims.

Effective October 1, 2025, reconditioning will not be allowed for shipments arriving in the United States without a valid NOP Import Certificate. Certified importers may only re-export, donate, or destroy products without a valid NOP Import Certificate. Uncertified importers may only re-export or destroy these products.

FDA Takes Action to Make a Treatment Available for Autism Symptoms | FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today initiated the approval of leucovorin calcium tablets for patients with cerebral folate deficiency (CFD), a neurological condition that affects folate (a vitamin essential for brain health) transport into the brain. Individuals with cerebral folate deficiency have been observed to have developmental delays with autistic features (e.g., challenges with social communication, sensory processing, and repetitive behaviors), seizures, and problems with movement and coordination.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Reveals Three-Point Plan to Support U.S. Agricultural Farmers, Ranchers, Producers, and Exporters | USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
Last week, Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke L. Rollins and Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Luke J. Lindberg, announced an aggressive three-point plan that will support American agricultural producers and exporters.

USDA Purchases 417,000 Metric Tons of U.S. Grown Commodities for America First International Food Assistance Programs | USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide $480 million to make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous and strengthen global food security through its two premier international food assistance programs, McGovern-Dole and Food for Progress. These programs rely on and support American farmers, ranchers, and producers, who generously share their bounty with the world, and open key markets for American businesses.

Study Identifies Chemicals of Concern for Food Packaging | Food Safety
A new study from the Polymer and Food Protection Consortium at Iowa State University provides insights that make it easier for producers to minimize risks from chemical contaminants in food packaging and other Food Contact Materials (FCMs). The project was supported by the Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS).

International

All news – ECHAHighlights from September RAC and SEAC meetings
In their September meetings, RAC and SEAC continued evaluating the EU-wide proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). SEAC reached provisional conclusions for PFAS uses in energy and lubricants while RAC reached provisional conclusions for electronics and semiconductors. Both committees started discussing PFAS manufacturing and continued examining horizontal issues such as concentration limits, above which PFAS could be restricted, hazard assessments and general risk management measures to monitor and reduce environmental emissions. Additionally, SEAC started discussing electronics and semiconductors.

EU Commission aims to simplify food safety rules | Food Safety News
The European Commission has opened a call for evidence relating to food and feed safety legislation.
The move is in response to stakeholders and member states asking for reduced administrative burdens, improved legal clarity and increased efficiency of regulatory procedures, while still ensuring a high level of food safety in Europe.
The aim is to simplify, clarify and modernize legislation in areas such as plant protection products, biocidal products, feed additives, hygiene requirements and official controls at EU borders.

Safety Share

Overseas fraud: an increasing threat to the safety of Canadians – Travel.gc.ca
Many Canadians are still being victimized and cheated out of merchandise, services and money by fraudulent activity in another country. The information on this page will help you recognize overseas scams and take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Events

CEPA-ICG Technical Workshops  October 22 and 23, 2025
Please find below a registration and information link for the ICG’s collaborative Workshops with Health Canada and Environment & Climate Change Canada on October 22 afternoon (Streamlining Surveys) and October 23 morning (Building Confidence in NAMs and Next-Gen risk assessment in regulatory decision-making).
We hope you will attend and request that you share the link with company colleagues and Association staff and Committee members likely to be interested.
“In person” space is limited so, if you intend to travel to Ottawa, we suggest you register at your earliest convenience. On-line participation is also an option (and is in fact encouraged for non-Canadians due to the non-trivial security clearance process for the Health Canada facility we will use).

Save the Date – FDA Virtual Public Meeting on Food Allergen Thresholds and Their Potential Applications
Dates:
• Virtual Presentations and Panel Discussions – November 18, 2025
• Virtual Listening Sessions – November 19-20, 2025
Event Overview:
The FDA will host a three-day, virtual public meeting from November 18-20, 2025, to discuss food allergen thresholds and their potential applications.
Additional meeting details and registration information will be provided in September 2025.

Registration | Register for E-Commerce 101: Best Practices in the USA Webinar  Thursday, October 23, 2025 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM EDT
Join the Government of Ontario, Solimpex and Walmart.com for a free webinar to learn about E-Commerce opportunities and considerations. E-Commerce is transforming the export landscape for Ontario food suppliers, allowing them to reach a more diverse audience
 
Webinar Registration – Zoom   Learn how AI is changing F&B processing  Oct 8, 2025 01:00 PM
This webinar explores the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform Canada’s F&B processing industry by enhancing operational efficiency, streamlining processes, and improving food safety.
The Oct. 8th session will highlight how AI is being deployed across supply chains, production lines, and quality control systems with real-world examples.  

Fully Funded Marketing Training for AgriFood & Innovation Sectors
You have another opportunity to access award-winning professional development—fully funded—through Growclass with its September 16, 2025, cohort. This 6-week online course is your chance to upskill, grow your business, and finish 2025 on a high note with support from Upskill Canada, powered by Palette Skills and the Government of Canada.

Navigating the Transition – BRCGS Packaging Materials Issue 7  FREE WEBINAR from NSF  October 14, 10:30 AM — 12:00 PM EDT

Big changes are coming to BRCGS Packaging — are you prepared?

NSF invites you to a free webinar designed to help packaging professionals understand and adapt to the new Version 7 of the BRCGS Packaging Standard.