Exporting Premium Makhana (Fox Nuts) to Canada

Canadian Export Experience

Short answer: National Makhana Udyog exports handpicked makhana (fox nuts) from Katihar, Bihar to Canadian importers in 4 Sutta+ to 6 Sutta+ grades. Air trials start from 8 kg, and a 20 ft container carries about 2–2.5 tonnes. Each lot comes with a Certificate of Analysis. Prices are quoted on request.

National Makhana Udyog has dispatched commercial samples from Katihar to Canadian importers in Ontario and British Columbia. We work to the food safety rules of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR).

Our fox nuts are sorted into handpicked (HP) export grades from 4 Sutta+ (12.7–24 mm) to 6 Sutta+ (19–24 mm). Each lot is moisture-tested, and customised moisture of 5% is available on request to reduce mould risk during ocean transit to Vancouver or Montreal.

Canada Trade Specifications

What Canadian importers should confirm before ordering

• SFC licence: most businesses that import food into Canada need a Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licence from the CFIA. Your importer should confirm this in the CFIA importing guide.
• Preventive controls and traceability: the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) ask importers to keep preventive controls and traceability records. We supply batch codes, lab reports and supplier documents to support them.
• Labelling: prepackaged food sold in Canada generally needs bilingual English and French text and a Nutrition Facts table. Private-label packs are printed to your approved artwork.

Rules change. Your importer or customs broker should confirm current CFIA requirements before ordering. The CFIA publishes a step-by-step guide to importing food to Canada.

Roasted & flavoured makhana for Canadian brands

Canadian grocery chains and health-snack brands can source roasted makhana ready to pack, or roast and season plain kernels locally.

• Process: the makhana is first roasted in an air fryer. Then, on customer demand, seasoning is added for flavouring with avocado oil, olive oil or pure ghee.
• Flavours: Peri Peri, Salt & Pepper and Lemon & Mint.
• Packs: 50 g retail pouches, bulk packs, or your own brand. English and French label text can be printed to your artwork.
• Other seasonings can be discussed for private label. HSN code 20081929.

Roasted makhana packaging

1. Pillow pouch, 10–100 g. Rollstock format is custom-printed laminated film formed, filled and sealed on a fully automatic machine with nitrogen flushing. Preformed pouch format is filled and sealed on semi-automatic equipment with nitrogen flushing.
2. Stand-up zipper pouch, 25–100 g. Resealable, filled and sealed on semi-automatic equipment and nitrogen flushed before final sealing.
3. Composite can or PET jar, 40 g, 50 g, 70 g and 80 g. Oxygen absorbers and/or desiccant sachets may be used as per the packaging specification.
4. Transparent bulk pouch, 250 g, 400 g, 500 g and 1 kg. Supplied for repacking and food-service use.
5. Secondary packaging. Corrugated master cartons.

Full details are on the makhana packaging page.

Makhana powder (fox nut flour)

Bulk makhana powder (HSN 20081922) is also available for food and nutrition manufacturers. See makhana powder.

A practical sequence for a first Canadian import

Most Canadian importers follow this order, and we plan around it.

1. Licence first. Your company checks whether it needs an SFC licence and a preventive control plan in the CFIA guide, before the first order.
2. Specification. We share grade sizes, moisture limits and packing options so your plan can describe the product correctly.
3. Label artwork. English and French text and the Nutrition Facts table are prepared by your brand, and we print to the approved artwork.
4. Trial. An air trial from 8 kg, or a sample as in our Katihar to Canada story, lets you test before a container.
5. Container order. EXW, FOB or CIF as agreed, 50% advance and 50% against the commercial invoice (LC accepted). Lead time is 2 to 15 working days, with ocean transit additional.

Tested & Dispatched Consignments

Importers receive pre-shipment inspection photos, a laboratory CoA for each container and shipment tracking from the Indian port to arrival. Read how we sent samples on our Katihar to Canada blog post.