COMPLIANCE ALERT: As of 2026, you must have a written PCP in place before you are eligible to receive an SFCR licence. This is no longer a post-licensing compliance item. It is a pre-licensing requirement. 

A Preventive Control Plan is a written document that outlines how your food business ensures the food it imports, manufactures, or distributes is safe and meets Canadian requirements under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations. It is the core compliance document that CFIA verifies when it inspects your business and when it reviews your licence application. 

Whether you need a written PCP depends on your business activities, the food commodities you handle, and your scale of trade. Most businesses that import food commercially, manufacture food for interprovincial trade or export, or process food across provincial borders require a written PCP. Some small businesses in certain sectors may be exempt from the written plan requirement but are still required to comply with the preventive control requirements in practice. 

For importers, the PCP must demonstrate that you have identified the hazards reasonably expected to occur in the foods you import, that your foreign suppliers have effective controls in place to address those hazards, and that you have procedures for verifying supplier compliance, handling complaints, and executing a recall if required. 

The PCP is a living document. It must be updated whenever your import operations change, when you add new commodities, new suppliers, or new activities. CFIA does not approve PCPs. The agency verifies that your documented controls are implemented and effective during inspections and licence reviews. 

INSIDER INTELLIGENCE: The most common misconception is that a PCP is a one-time document produced for the licence application and filed away. CFIA inspectors verify implementation, not just documentation. A PCP that exists on paper but is not reflected in actual operations is a compliance failure waiting to be identified.