Oilseeds and Food Oils

Oilseeds exported in seed form require a USDA APHIS phytosanitary certificate because they are propagative or potentially pest-harboring agricultural commodities. Refined food oils, being processed products, do not require phytosanitary certification but may require FDA food facility registration documentation, certificates of free sale, or destination-country-specific quality certificates (such as Codex-aligned specifications for fatty acid composition). The applicable Schedule B code also differs between seed and oil forms, affecting export reporting.

Canola (rapeseed) is predominantly grown from GE varieties in the US and Canada, and several importing regions — including the EU and some Asian markets — require disclosure or prior approval of specific GE events. Exporters should obtain identity-preservation documentation from their supplier confirming which GE events are present and cross-check against the destination country's approved event list. Where non-GE canola is required, a full identity-preservation and segregation protocol must be in place from farm through loading.