Exporting Fresh Produce from Turkey to Canada: What a Canadian Importer Needs From You
Most of the delay on a first shipment to Canada comes from missing paper, not from the fruit. This is the checklist we work through with a new Turkish supplier, in the order the shipment meets each step.
The checklist
1. Find an importer with a Canadian licence
Canada requires importers of fresh fruit and vegetables to hold a Safe Food for Canadians licence. Ask any buyer for their licence number before you ship.
2. Check the product and Turkey are allowed
Some commodities from some countries are prohibited, or need an import permit. The importer looks the product up in the CFIA's Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) and tells you the answer before you load.
3. Get the phytosanitary certificate
Some fresh fruit and vegetables need a phytosanitary certificate under Canada's Plant Protection Act. In Turkey it comes from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Some products carry an extra declaration on the certificate, so ask what it must say before you apply.
4. Meet the grade and residue rules
Many fruits and vegetables have a Canadian grade standard. Pesticide residues must stay under Canada's maximum residue limits. Check your spray records against the Health Canada limits for that product before you pack.
5. Print labels and cartons after the importer confirms them
Packaging and labelling rules apply to fresh produce. We send a label spec for each product. Print cartons after that, not before.
6. Code every carton
Canadian food rules require traceability records. Put a lot or packing date code on every carton, so any pallet can be traced to your packhouse and your grower.
7. Control the cold chain
Pre-cool the fruit, load at the set point you and the importer agreed, and put a temperature logger inside the load. If a pallet arrives warm, the claim depends on that record.
8. Send the shipping papers
A commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, the phytosanitary certificate, a certificate of origin when the importer asks, and the temperature file. Send scans before the goods leave, so customs entry is ready when they land.
This guide is an importer's working checklist, not legal advice. The rules change by product and by season. Confirm the current requirements on the CFIA pages for fresh fruit or vegetables and importing fresh fruits and vegetables before each season.
Do I need a licence to export fresh produce to Canada?
The Canadian importer needs the licence, not you. Canada requires importers of fresh fruit and vegetables to hold a Safe Food for Canadians licence. You supply the shipping papers and the product records.
Is every Turkish fruit allowed into Canada?
No. Some products from some countries are prohibited or need a permit. The importer checks the product and Turkey against the CFIA's Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) before any order is placed.
Who issues the phytosanitary certificate?
Turkey's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, through the authorised directorate for your area. Canada decides which products need one. Your importer tells you before you load.
What happens if a pallet arrives warm?
The claim depends on the temperature record. Load a data logger inside the pallet and send us the file with the shipping papers.