Canadian traceability and retention

The federal traceability requirements do not apply to restaurants and similar enterprises when they sell meals or snacks. Other activities at the same business, including covered retail food sales, can fall within the rules. Determine the scope by activity and commodity rather than assigning one blanket status to the whole cafe.

• Covered retail businesses trace food one step back to the supplier; they do not identify each final consumer. Other covered businesses can also need the next business recipient.
• Keep the required common name, lot code or other identifier, responsible business identity, supplier, dates and supporting records. Retain covered retail documents for two years after the food was sold.
• Required documents must be accessible in Canada. Be ready to provide them to CFIA in English or French within 24 hours, or another period specified under the rules. Electronic material must meet the requested single-file, plain-text importable format.
• Keep provincial requirements as well. A federal restaurant exception does not remove an Ontario purchase-record requirement or an inspector's lawful direction.

Before relying on an export, verify the required fields, completeness, date range and ability to retrieve it promptly. Keep records through the applicable retention period and export what the business needs before cancelling the service.

• CFIA traceability requirements and exceptions ↗