Letter from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency concerning importation laws in Canada

See also: [ Turtle importation laws ] [ Traveling with turtles ]

As I have written earlier the importation of turtles to a country is regulated by laws on three different levels: international, federal and regional.
The laws change and should always be checked for updates.The federal laws regulate the trade as a whole, but there are always some differences between one region and another.
Below is a list of all the places which will assist anyone in obtaining an importation permit when bringing a turtle to Canada.This information came to me from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as a reply to my letter requesting such information.

Mr. Stan Gielewski:

Thank you for your email of January 3, 2000.  I will respond to your
questions in the order they were asked:

Please be advised that we presently only allow the import of turtles
and tortoises for educational use, scientific use (research), display
in a zoo, or as personal pets.  With each of the end uses, an import
permit is required and may be obtain from the CFIA import office in the
province in which you reside.  If you contac the relevant import
office, they would be pleased to go over the procedures with your. 
Please note that one of the conditions states that these animals are
for use of the importer only and may not be sold, distributed or used
for other commercial purposes.

The following is a list of the import offices of the CFIA:

Atlantic Provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, 
Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island)
	Dr. Al McLean
	Import/Export, Animal Health
	CFIA
	P.O. Box 6088
	5th Floor
	1081 Main Street
	Moncton, New Brunswick
	E1C 8R2
	Tel: (506) 851-7651
	Fax: (506) 851-2689
	Email:	mcleanaw@em.agr.ca

Québec
	Dr. Alain Moreau/Donata Fazio
	Import/Export, Animal Health
	CFIA
	Room 746-S
	2001 University Avenue
	Montréal, Québec
	H3A 3N2
	Tel: (514) 283-8888
	Fax: (514) 283-6214
	Email:	moreaua@em.agr.ca
                        faziod@em.agr.ca
		
Ontario
	Dr. Charlene Harradine/Kelly Brown
	Import, Animal Health
	CFIA
	174 Stone Road West
	Guelph, Ontario
	N1G 4S9
	Tel: (519) 837-9400
	Fax: (519) 837-9773
	Email:	harradinec@em.agr.ca
	            brownkl@em.agr.ca
		
Mid-West Region (Manitoba and Saskatchewan)
	Dr. Blaine Thompson
	Import/Export, Animal Health
	CFIA
	613 -269 Main Street
	Winnipeg, Manitoba
	R3C 1B2
	Tel: (204) 983-7441
	Fax: (204) 983-8022	
	Email:	 bthompson@em.agr.ca

Alberta
	Dr. Ken Orchard/Mr. Peter Szarkowicz
	Import/Export, Animal Health
	CFIA
	Harry Hays Bldg.
	220 -4th Ave. S.E.
	Calgary, Alberta
	T2G 4X3
	Tel: (403) 292-5825/292-5828
	Fax: (403) 292-6629
	Email:	 orchardk@em.agr.ca
	             pszarkowicz@em.agr.ca
		
British Columbia
	Dr. Don Olson/Ms. Lucia Hunter 
	Animal Health
	CFIA
	202 -620 Royal Avenue
	New Westminster, British Columbia
	V3L 5A8
	Tel: (604) 666-8900/541-3364
	Fax: (604) 666-1963/541-3368
	Email:	 olsond@em.agr.ca
	             lhunter@em.agr.ca

On your request for bylaws which apply region to region, unfortunately
since this is not under federal jurisdiction, we do not track this
information at this level.  You would have to contact the relevant
regions or provincial governments on your own.

For CITES information, please contact them and enquire about the status
of these animals and any permits that would be required from them to
allow for such an import.  They can be reached at the following
particulars:
	Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
	Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada
	Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3
	Tel: (819)997-1840 
	Fax: (613)953-6283

Thanks again.

Christine Quinlan
Client Relations Officer
International Trade
Animal Health and Production 
Canadian Food Inspection Agency