Import Control Measures for Romaine Lettuce In Effect

Trade Update • Sept 28, 2023

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has implemented temporary import conditions for U.S. romaine lettuce. This temporary measure is intended to mitigate the higher risk of E. coli O157 contamination of romaine lettuce grown in the Salinas Valley, California during the fall months.

In Effect

These temporary import conditions will be in effective from September 28 to December 20, 2023 for specific US locations. Importers of fresh fruit and vegetables should refer to the notification and guidance documents via their My CFIA portal.

Importers of romaine lettuce and/or salad mixes containing romaine lettuce from the U.S. must:

• Declare that the product does not originate from counties of Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Benito and Monterey in the Salinas Valley, California, U.S., or
• Submit an attestation form and Certificates of Analysis for each shipment to demonstrate that the romaine lettuce does not contain detectable levels of E. coli O157:H7
• Proof of Origin will be required for U.S. romaine lettuce products that are from areas outside of the Salinas Valley.

The complete details on the temporary SFC licence conditions and other existing import requirements can be found here.

The temporary SFC licence conditions are in addition to other existing import requirements.

Questions or concerns about if your goods are affected? We are here to help, contact us, or your Client Care Manager.