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The short answer
A commercial food shipment from Nigeria is usually held because its declaration does not meet CFIA requirements: a missing or invalid licence number, a licence not issued for that commodity, a wrong HS code or extension, or a condition from AIRS not met. The CFIA says the shipment will be denied entry until the error is corrected and the declaration resubmitted, so the first step is to find out which agency raised the issue and exactly why.
The broker calls: your container or air shipment of garri, palm oil and crayfish is on hold. Storage fees start building. What matters now is speed and precision: knowing who is holding the goods, for what reason, and what document or correction releases them.
Two agencies, two roles
The CFIA's step-by-step food import guide (modified 17 September 2026) says the CBSA handles duties and admissibility at arrival, while the CFIA sets and enforces food import requirements. Food shipments destined for sale are declared to both on an Integrated Import Declaration, which can be filed up to 90 days before arrival. The CFIA's guide states that all import requirements must be met before the shipment's import declaration can be accepted. A hold can therefore be a CBSA matter (duty, value, classification, documents) or a CFIA matter (licence, food requirements), or both.
The most common reasons
The CFIA lists the reasons a declaration is rejected because of the licence. A declaration is rejected if the licence number is:
- missing or in the wrong format;
- not in the CFIA's database;
- suspended, cancelled or expired;
- not issued for importing food;
- not issued for the commodity being imported.
In each case, the CFIA says the shipment will be denied entry until the error is corrected and the declaration resubmitted. Other reasons a food shipment is held include an HS code or CFIA extension that does not match the product, a certificate or condition required by AIRS not in hand, and an inspection, for example when the CFIA wants to examine or sample the goods.
What to do, step by step
- Get the exact reason in writing. Ask your broker for the reject message or hold notice. "CFIA hold" is not enough.
- Check your licence in My CFIA. Is it active, issued for importing food, and does it cover this commodity? Is the number on the declaration exactly as issued?
- Re-run AIRS for each product on the invoice, origin Nigeria, and compare the HS codes and extensions with what was declared.
- Correct and resubmit the declaration through your broker once the error is fixed.
- If the goods are selected for inspection, make your traceability and supplier documents available, and agree with your broker how access to the goods will be arranged.
- If the goods cannot meet requirements, ask what options exist under the decision you have been given, and act within any time limit it sets.
Not a licensed importer?
If you shipped food for sale without a Safe Food for Canadians licence, the declaration cannot be accepted: the CFIA's guide says a licence is required to import food, including ingredients. A foreign supplier also cannot fill the gap: the CFIA's non-resident importer page says foreign suppliers must export through a licensed Canadian importer, and outside the US a non-resident importer can import only meat and live or raw shellfish. Talk to your broker about the options for the goods already at the border, and read do you need an SFC licence before the next order.
Costs while goods are held
The CFIA's pages do not deal with storage charges; these come from the warehouse, airline or terminal holding the goods, and your broker can tell you the daily rate. Ask early, because perishable or semi-perishable goods such as palm oil and smoked fish lose value with every day in storage. Keep a record of the costs: if a supplier's paperwork caused the hold, your contract may let you recover them.
Talking to your supplier
Many holds trace back to the invoice. If the supplier described "foodstuffs" instead of each product, or the product names differ from what you declared, ask for a corrected commercial invoice quickly. Agree a standard invoice format with every Nigerian supplier for future orders.
Preventing the next hold
- Check the licence covers every commodity on the invoice before each order.
- Keep a product register with the AIRS result, HS code and extension for each item.
- Ask suppliers to describe products on invoices exactly as declared.
- Ship only once any certificate or condition AIRS lists is in hand.
- Review your preventive control plan when you add a new product or supplier.
For product-level guidance see using AIRS and importing Nigerian beans.
Where Pryme fits
When a supplier must reissue documents or a lot is replaced, clear payment records help. A Pryme Business Account pays Nigerian suppliers in naira with the rate and fee shown before you approve, and the Compliance agent can keep import documents organised for a person to review.
Questions people ask
Why is my food shipment from Nigeria on hold at CBSA?
Most often the declaration does not meet CFIA requirements, such as an invalid licence number or the wrong HS code. Ask your broker for the exact reject message.
Can CBSA release food without an SFC licence?
Not for food imported for sale. The CFIA says a licence is required and declarations without a valid licence are rejected.
How do I fix a CFIA reject on my import declaration?
Correct the error, for example the licence number, commodity or HS code, and have your broker resubmit the declaration.
Who holds food at the border, CBSA or CFIA?
The CBSA handles admissibility and duties at the border; the CFIA sets food import requirements. A hold can involve either or both.
Sources
- CFIA: Importing food to Canada, a step-by-step guide (modified 17 Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- CFIA: Non-resident importers of food (modified 4 Nov 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- CFIA: Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) (modified 14 Nov 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.