Market
Dried apricots in Canada are primarily an import-dependent retail and ingredient market, with imports dominated by Turkey in recent UN Comtrade data (via World Bank WITS). The product is sold mainly through supermarkets/online grocery and bulk-food retail, often as private-label or packaged snack formats, and is commonly formulated/handled with sulphites as a preservative/color-stabilizer (which triggers specific Canadian additive and labelling compliance). Canada’s MFN tariff classification for dried apricots (tariff item 0813.10.00) is duty-free under the Customs Tariff schedule. For market access, the main constraints are Canadian SFCR importer obligations (licensing, preventive controls, traceability) and sulphite/additive compliance under Health Canada/CFIA requirements.
Market RoleImport-dependent consumer market (net importer)
Domestic RoleRetail snack and baking/food-manufacturing ingredient market; limited domestic drying/primary production with some repacking/private-label packing and distribution
SeasonalityYear-round availability in Canada due to shelf-stable imports and continuous retail replenishment.
Risks
Food Safety HighSulphites are commonly used in dried apricots and are a priority labelling/compliance issue in Canada: CFIA guidance indicates sulphites must be declared for dried apricots in ingredient lists, and Health Canada’s permitted preservative lists specify maximum levels for sulphiting agents in dried fruits and vegetables. Non-compliance (undeclared sulphites and/or preservative limit deviations) can trigger border actions, recalls, and immediate customer delisting in Canadian retail channels.Contractually lock supplier specs for residual SO2 and labelling language; run pre-shipment COA + periodic verification testing; perform label/legal review against CFIA guidance before first shipment and whenever formulation/origin changes.
Regulatory Compliance HighSFCR importer obligations (licensing in most cases, preventive controls/PCP expectations, and meeting Canadian consumer protection requirements such as labelling) can block or delay import if not in place before shipment arrival.Confirm SFCR licensing status early; implement and maintain a product-specific PCP covering foreign supplier controls, chemical hazards (sulphites), and labelling verification; keep records audit-ready.
Traceability MediumTraceability documentation requirements apply broadly to importers; gaps in lot coding or one-step-back/one-step-forward records can expand recall scope, increase enforcement exposure, and disrupt customer supply continuity.Standardize lot code capture from origin through repacking; maintain supplier/customer trace links and retain records per SFCR guidance; test mock-recall retrieval times.
Logistics MediumSea-freight delays, container humidity excursions, and packaging failures can cause moisture uptake, caking, and quality loss (texture/color), increasing rejection risk and shrink at retail.Specify moisture-barrier packaging, container desiccants and loading practices; use arrival QA checks (moisture/activity where feasible) and defined acceptance tolerances with suppliers.
Supply Concentration MediumRecent HS 081310 trade data indicates Canada’s dried-apricot imports are highly concentrated in Turkish origin supply, creating disruption risk from origin-side shocks (crop, logistics, policy) and supplier-side quality incidents.Qualify at least one alternate origin/supplier and keep validated labels/specs ready to switch sourcing without rework delays.
FAQ
What import duty rate applies to dried apricots entering Canada?CBSA’s published Customs Tariff schedule lists tariff item 0813.10.00 (dried apricots) as MFN duty-free (“Free”).
Do sulphites in dried apricots have to be declared on Canadian labels?Yes. CFIA labelling guidance uses dried apricots as an explicit example: sulphites must be declared along with the other components of dried apricots in ingredient lists. CFIA also notes added sulphites at 10 ppm or more must be declared in certain cases via the ingredient list or a ‘Contains’ statement when not otherwise already required.
What are the key compliance expectations for importing dried apricots into Canada?CFIA guidance for SFCR highlights that importers, in most cases, require a licence to import food into Canada and must ensure imported food meets Canadian requirements through preventive controls (including, where applicable, a written preventive control plan) and traceability records.