Safe Food for Canadians licence (SFC licence)

A buyer of a food processor, importer or exporter may need to check this licence, because the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says that under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations certain food businesses require a licence to conduct one or more activities. Section 20 of the Act lets the Minister issue a licence to a person for those activities.

What the rules say about it

• Section 20(5) of the Act: the registration or licence is not transferable.
• Section 31 of the Regulations: a licence holder conducts the activities in its licence in the establishment identified in it, other than importing and exporting.
• Section 33: a licence expires two years after the date of issuance or renewal specified in it, unless cancelled earlier.
• Section 30: the Minister may refuse to issue, renew or amend a licence if, in the five years before the application, the applicant or any of its directors or officers had a licence suspended or cancelled or was convicted of an offence under the Act or the Food and Drugs Act, or if a licence fee is in default on a renewal or amendment.

What to ask

Because the licence is not transferable, ask whether the buyer will need its own licence or whether the existing holder continues, and what the agency requires for changes. Ask for the licence, its activities and categories, and the written preventive control plan. See what a food and beverage processor is worth.