The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced important updates to the Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licensing process, introducing additional information requirements, enhanced pre-issuance review procedures, and significantly longer processing timelines.
These changes affect all new SFC licence applications, renewals, and amendments related to domestic activities, and will require food businesses to adjust how they plan and manage licence renewals and regulatory compliance.
Because an SFC licence is required for many activities such as manufacturing, processing, packaging, labelling, and interprovincial trade of food products, disruptions in the licensing process can have immediate operational impacts for affected businesses.
Scope and Purpose of the SFC Licensing Framework
The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) establish the regulatory framework governing food safety and licensing in Canada. Businesses that manufacture, process, treat, preserve, grade, package, label, or export food typically require an SFC licence.
The regulations also require food businesses to implement preventive controls and, in many cases, a written Preventive Control Plan (PCP) that identifies hazards and outlines measures to prevent contamination and ensure food safety.
Preventive control requirements under the SFCR are based on internationally recognized food safety principles, including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP). These requirements are designed to reduce the likelihood of contaminated food entering the Canadian marketplace.
The recent update does not change the underlying regulatory requirements, but it changes how licence applications are evaluated and processed by CFIA, which may significantly affect application timelines and renewal planning.
Key Changes to the SFC Licensing Process
Several operational changes have been introduced that will affect how businesses apply for, renew, or amend an SFC licence.
1. New Requirement: Food Safety Supplemental Information (FSSI) Questionnaire
One of the most significant updates is the introduction of the Food Safety Supplemental Information (FSSI) questionnaire, which is now required as part of the licensing process.
The FSSI questionnaire is part of CFIA’s Establishment Risk Assessment (ERA) model and replaces the previous Additional Establishment Information (AEI) questionnaire.
Completion of the FSSI questionnaire is now required for:
Import and export activities do not require completion of the FSSI questionnaire.
The purpose of the ERA model is to help CFIA evaluate potential food safety risks associated with an establishment’s operations. The additional information allows regulators to better understand operational activities, hazards, and risk controls before issuing or renewing a licence.
For industry, this means more detailed information will be required during the application process, which may extend preparation time for submissions.
2. Expanded Pre-Issuance Review of Licence Applications
All SFC licence applications, renewals, and amendments will now undergo pre-issuance review by CFIA before a licence is granted.
This review may include:
In some cases, CFIA may require a meeting with a Case Management Officer to confirm that preventive controls are in place and that the applicant understands their regulatory responsibilities.
If potential issues are identified, the application may also be referred to an Area Inspector for a pre-issuance inspection before the licence is approved.
This expanded review process is intended to strengthen oversight and ensure that licensed establishments have appropriate food safety systems in place prior to receiving authorization.
3. Significantly Longer Processing Timelines
Historically, SFC licence applications were often processed quickly—sometimes within 48 hours.
Under the updated process, this is no longer the case.
CFIA has introduced a service standard of 70 business days for processing SFC licence applications.
Processing times may be extended further if:
For businesses accustomed to rapid licence issuance, this represents a major operational shift and underscores the importance of submitting complete and accurate applications.
4. Earlier Renewal Planning Is Now Critical
To help avoid operational disruptions, CFIA now recommends that businesses apply for licence renewal well in advance of the expiry date.
Companies may submit renewal applications up to 120 days before the licence expires.
If a licence expires before the renewal application is processed:
This change introduces a clear compliance risk for companies that previously relied on quick renewal turnaround times.
5. Licence Information Must Accurately Reflect Operations
CFIA also emphasized that the activities listed on a licence must accurately reflect the company’s current operations.
Businesses should review their licences to ensure that:
Importantly, licence amendments cannot be processed while a renewal application is under review.
If updates are required, they must be completed either:
This sequencing requirement makes early planning even more important.
6. Reinforcement of Preventive Control Requirements
The update also reinforces CFIA expectations regarding preventive controls and food safety systems.
Most businesses holding an SFC licence must:
Preventive controls cover areas such as hazard identification, sanitation, equipment design, facility conditions, employee hygiene, pest control, and recall procedures.
These controls form the foundation of the regulatory framework and are central to CFIA’s risk-based oversight approach.
How to Be Prepared
Because the updated licensing procedures may significantly extend processing timelines, food businesses should adjust their regulatory planning accordingly.
Recommended preparation steps include:
Companies should also be prepared for potential follow-up questions or meetings with CFIA Case Management Officers as part of the pre-issuance review process.
Get Expert Advice
The updates to the SFC licensing process reflect CFIA’s continued shift toward risk-based oversight and enhanced verification of food safety controls before licences are issued or renewed.
While these changes improve regulatory transparency and food safety oversight, they also introduce longer timelines and additional administrative requirements that companies must manage carefully to avoid disruptions.
dicentra supports food and beverage companies with Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licensing, Preventive Control Plan (PCP) development, regulatory strategy, and ongoing compliance under the SFCR.
Our team helps organizations navigate regulatory updates, prepare licensing submissions, and implement food safety systems that meet CFIA expectations.
If you would like to understand how the updated SFC licensing process may affect your operations or licence renewal timeline, connect with dicentra today.