Nine new materials are now exempt from pre-market registration, following the first update to the CFIA's List of Primary Fertilizer and Supplement Materials since 2020.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has revised the List of Primary Fertilizer and Supplement Materials, which identifies certain materials that can be imported or sold in Canada without pre-market registration.
For importers, suppliers, and distributors, the update expands the group of fertilizers and supplement materials that may qualify for that exemption.
However, exemption from registration does not remove other compliance obligations. Products must continue to meet applicable safety standards and labelling requirements.
Published on March 30, 2026, the update is the first revision to the list since it was incorporated into the Fertilizers Regulations in October 2020.
The CFIA says the changes were submitted through the formal request process and prioritized by the List of Materials Steering Committee, with support from the fertilizer sector.
The update adds nine materials to the list, revises seven existing definitions, and includes editorial updates intended to improve clarity.
The newly added materials are:
Products that now qualify for exemption will remain registered until the end of their current registration cycle. No action is required from registrants at this time.
The CFIA is also allowing a transition period for existing labels. For five years after a registration expires, affected products, and mixtures containing them, may continue to be sold with labels that still show the expired registration number.
Before that transition period ends, businesses must update labels by removing expired registration numbers and adding any required exemption-related statements, where applicable.
At Cole International, we offer trade consulting and customs brokerage services to help businesses stay compliant with Canadian import requirements and product regulations.
Reach out to one of our trade professionals to help you assess how CFIA’s updated fertilizer and supplement materials list may affect your import obligations.