Delays in Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) import approvals are adding hundreds of millions of dollars to Canada's food costs each year, according to Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University. In a recent analysis, Charlebois highlights that bureaucratic inefficiencies—not just global factors—are a major driver of rising grocery prices.
Hidden Costs in Meat Imports
Canada imported approximately $6.7 billion worth of meat products in 2025. Charlebois notes that the Agri-Food Analytics Lab reviewed several cases where imported meat faced lengthy delays despite being pre-approved and physically present in Canada. In one instance, a shipment was detained for over five weeks due to permit issues, generating thousands of dollars in extra costs while the product sat idle.
“Food products, unlike manufactured goods, lose value over time,” Charlebois writes. Refrigerated containers incur storage, refrigeration, financing, and demurrage fees, while shelf life declines. Industry estimates suggest delays can cost between $700 and $2,000 per day, with a single week often exceeding $10,000 in additional costs.
Ripple Effects Through the Supply Chain
These expenses do not stop with importers. They ripple through the entire supply chain, affecting processors, retailers, and foodservice operators. Processors face disruptions when ingredients fail to arrive on schedule; retailers encounter supply uncertainty; and foodservice operators pay more for alternatives. Ultimately, consumers absorb these costs through higher prices at the checkout.
“This is how inflation often manifests itself—not through one dramatic event, but through countless inefficiencies that quietly increase costs at every stage of the food chain,” Charlebois explains.
Self-Inflicted Costs
Charlebois argues that while external factors like U.S. President Donald Trump, climate change, and global supply chains are often blamed, many causes of Canada's food affordability problem are domestic. Administrative delays represent an inefficiency that governments have the ability to address. If only a modest share of shipments experience avoidable delays, annual costs to the industry could quickly reach tens of millions of dollars. More realistic assumptions suggest the burden could exceed $100 million annually.
“Unlike weather events, trade disputes, or global commodity shocks, these costs are largely self-inflicted,” he writes.
Balancing Safety and Efficiency
Charlebois emphasizes that the critique is not meant to diminish the CFIA's important work. The agency remains one of the world's most respected food safety regulators. However, he argues that food safety and administrative efficiency should not be competing objectives. A modern food system requires both.
“If governments are serious about improving productivity, reducing costs, and enhancing food affordability, they should pay closer attention to the hidden expenses created by bureaucratic delays,” he concludes.
For Canadians wondering why food remains so expensive, Charlebois calls this “Exhibit 4271” of the problem.
