ARCHIVED - Ship Sanitation Certificate Program

Under International Health Regulations (2005), international vessels are required to obtain either a Ship Sanitation Control Certificate, or a Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate, every six (6) months. The Ship Sanitation Certificates replace the Deratification Certificate required by the International Health Regulations (1969).

The aim of the Ship Sanitation Certificates is to provide internationally recognized documentation to vessels, reducing the need for further inspections of the ship during the period for which the certificate is valid.

Through its Ship Sanitation Certificate Program, Health Canada protects public health by ensuring that international vessels that come to our ports are free of contamination and infection, which could introduce communicable diseases.

The Ship Sanitation Certificates are available at any port authorized and listed by the World Health Organization. A list of WHO  IHR Authorized Ports (PDF Version) can be accessed at the WHO Web site.

The certificate may be issued upon completion of a full inspection of the ship by a qualified Environmental Health Officer (EHO) as assigned by Health Canada. If the EHO is satisfied that procedures necessary to rid an inspected ship of infection, contamination and/or their vectors/reservoirs have been effectively carried out, a Ship Sanitation Control Certificate may be issued. Where the EHO has inspected a ship and found no evidence of infection or contamination, a Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate may be issued.

Resources

For more information on the issuance of Ship Sanitation Certificates, please e-mail phb_bsp@hc-sc.gc.ca to request a copy of the Ship Sanitation Certificate Program Inspection Policy and Procedures Manual.

The World Health Organization has stated that the intention of the International Health Regulations is to strengthen procedures internationally to detect, reduce or eliminate the sources from which infections spread and to improve sanitation in and around ports. Health Canada is committed to fulfilling its role in meeting this objective for the benefit of the Canadian public and the global community.