importing koi to Canada

[swimmingelf]

Hi. VERY new here. I live in BC and I must say that importing fish from overseas is quite a hassle... or at least relative to the states or other provinces in Canada...
Anyways, out of curiosity, how do you become a dealer? (what kind of paperworks/exams/bureaucratic system) It would be really cool to import fish from Japan and be able to sell them locally in BC... any information/website/comments would be really apprciated!

[Eugeneg]

Quote: Originally Posted by swimmingelf Hi. VERY new here. I live in BC and I must say that importing fish from overseas is quite a hassle... or at least relative to the states or other provinces in Canada... Anyways, out of curiosity, how do you become a dealer? (what kind of paperworks/exams/bureaucratic system) It would be really cool to import fish from Japan and be able to sell them locally in BC... any information/website/comments would be really apprciated!

Double check before importing as regulations can change
You will get a reply and have the info ready at customs in case there is a hold up as most do not know the regulations when inspecting .
Here is typical response;

Dear Eugene:

As discussed, currently there are no permits or other license
requirements with respect to the importation and movement of tropical or
ornamental fish species(including Koi) into Canada. This does not
include British Columbia where koi importation permits are required.
However amendments are being made to the federal Health of Animals
regulations that will, in the future, require all aquatic animals (this
includes finfish, molluscs and crustaceans) to have an import permit to
enter Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is currently in
the process of consulting on the proposed regulatory changes that will
be required to establish an import/export program. It is anticipated
that these regulations will become law hopefully by the end of 2008.

So to answer your question in short, at this time ornamental species do
not require any permits for importation. Once the CFIA regulatory
amendments become law there will be permit requirements. Please note
there is a proposed list of susceptible finfish species which includes
Koi carp which will be specifically regulated.

For more information on the new National Aquatic Animal Health program
and to receive advisories and updates, please sign up to the list serve
address attached to the signature box. If you have any further questions
or would like to receive materials on the NAAHP please feel free to
contact me directly.

Sincerely,

Joanne

Dr. Joanne Constantine
Veterinary Program Specialist
Import/Export
Aquatic Animal Health Division
8 Colonnade Road
Ottawa Ontario
K1A 0Y9
(613) 221-1469

The other factor is that you need a retail licence to sell in ONT or you need to have over 10acres to qualify as a farm . Check your local regulations or you could be asked to close down . Then check your local market and prices to make sure you have a market to be large enough to be a dealer of imported Japanese KOI . You should get an import # which will cover all goods imported to Canada this does not cost anything
Regards
Eugene

[MatsubaGoi]

Good day folks, im new to this site and just wanted to comment on importing in to BC, so far i have imported 4 koi from washington state (Pan Intercorp) and have had No problems with import permitts at all. Mostly because i only brought in 4 fish, however, if your bring in 10,000 fish the things can be a hassle. Mark Higgins of Pacific Bio Centre in Nanaimo is very qiuck to put forth import permitts to those with certified quarantine systems, i use a aquarium.