Service standards and performance :  Import permits for Wild Animal and Plant Trade Regulation

We issue permits to import protected species under the Wild Animal and Plant Trade Regulations (WAPTR). Our service standards tell you how long it will normally take us to process and respond to your permit application. We base these timelines on our resources and our experience.

Current service standards summary

When you apply for a WAPTR import permit, we give you a decision within 70 calendar days.^{Footnote 1}

If your application is incomplete, we will notify you and the time limit will be paused until we receive all missing information.

Background and detailed service standards

Service standards are necessary for good client service and important for managing performance because they:

• set out expectations (both internally and externally)
• drive improvement
• contribute to results-based management

Our service standards set the timeframe for the Minister to issue or refuse to issue a permit under the WAPTR. We regularly analyze performance data and review service standards for these permits.

Service standards and performance targets were reviewed in 2022 and no changes were made. The next review of service standards is scheduled for 2025.

Performance targets

We present performance targets in percentages of decisions provided for permit applications within a reporting timeframe (i.e. from April 1 of a year until March 31 of the following year).

For WAPTR import permits:

• 2017 to 2018 onwards: 90% of decisions made within the service standard

Performance reporting

ECCC measures service performance for permits issued under the WAPTR annually, beginning in fiscal year 2017 to 2018, and posts performance information online no later than June 1^st for the preceding reporting timeframe.

We did not meet the performance targets for all permits issued under the WAPTR in 2023 to 2024.

Statistics relating to processing times for the issuance of these permits are provided in the following table:

Service feedback

Any feedback on these service standards, or on any issue related to WAPTR import permits, should be directed to cites@ec.gc.ca.

Applying for a permit

• Permit application forms for species subject to import restrictions (or request by phone 1-855-869-8670)

For more information

• Government-wide forward regulatory plans
• The Cabinet Directive on Regulatory Management
• The Red Tape Reduction Action Plan
• The Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council

To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit the Canada Gazette and Consulting with Canadians websites.