New regulations under the Safe Food for Canadians Act coming into effect this spring are going to have an affect on local importers and exporters.

The act requires more businesses to acquire federal licenses and have a food safety plan in place.

Laurie Tannous, vice-presidnet for government and industry relations with Russell Farrow customs brokerage, says this will have implications for many Canadian companies. “The major changes are that companies before who did not require a federal license will now require one. So let’s say if you were in, whether it was meat, whether it was eggs whether it was dairy they required licenses. Who did not require licenses was someone who was making snack foods or bringing in coffee.”

The Safe Food for Canadians Act was passed in late 2012.