Frozen fish export from Bangladesh to Canada
Frozen hilsa, rui, katla, pangas and koi, block or IQF at minus twenty-five, shipped in reefer for buyers serving South Asian retail and foodservice. On the Canada lane, clearance runs through SFCR licence and My CFIA.
| HS code | 0303.19 |
|---|---|
| Freight mode | Sea (reefer) |
| Transit time | 32-40 days |
| Gateways | Toronto (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR) and Montreal (YUL) air; Montreal and Vancouver sea |
| Temperature | -25 C core, unbroken cold chain |
| Packing | 10 kg or 20 kg master carton with inner poly liner |
| Minimum order | 1 x 20 ft reefer, approximately 20 MT |
| Season | Year round; hilsa peaks July to October |
| Entry system | SFCR licence and My CFIA |
| Regulator | Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) |
Compliance route into Canada
SFC licence
The Canadian importer must hold a Safe Food for Canadians licence covering the commodity. We will not load until the licence number is on file.
Preventive control plan
CFIA expects documented preventive controls behind the shipment. Our packing records, lot traceability and temperature logs are shared for your file.
Bilingual labelling
Retail packs need English and French. We produce bilingual artwork and return a digital proof before the print run.
Plant protection conditions
Some fresh lines require an import permit or carry specific pest conditions. We confirm the position line by line before the contract is signed.
Why this lane works for frozen fish
Canada buyers on this line are typically south asian grocery chains, produce distributors, halal retail groups, private-label packers. On the sea (reefer) route the consignment is 32-40 days from Dhaka, which for a product with a shelf life of 18 months at -18 c or colder leaves ample selling time on arrival. Supply runs year round, so a standing weekly or fortnightly booking is straightforward to hold.
Full grading, packing and variety detail is on the Frozen fish product page; the entry rules and document set for every line into this country are on the Canada market page.
Documents that travel with the consignment
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Air waybill or bill of lading
- Certificate of origin
- Phytosanitary certificate
- SFC licence number
Questions on this lane
What paperwork does frozen fish need to enter Canada?
Commercial invoice, Packing list, Air waybill or bill of lading, Certificate of origin, Phytosanitary certificate, SFC licence number. Clearance runs through SFCR licence and My CFIA, administered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
What is the minimum order on this lane?
1 x 20 ft reefer, approximately 20 MT. First orders are often mixed with other lines so you can test several products in one consignment.
How long does the shipment take?
32-40 days on the sea (reefer) route, plus clearance at Toronto (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR) and Montreal (YUL) air.
Import rules change without much notice. Use this as a working checklist and confirm the live position with us and your customs broker before contracting.