The following products are eligible for shipment at the postage rate applicable to Nutritious Perishable Food:

• dairy products (e.g., fresh milk, UHT milk, buttermilk, chocolate milk, cheese, processed cheese, cottage cheese, butter, yogurt, yogurt drinks, powdered milk), excluding canned milk, cream, sour cream, ice cream, ice milk, sherbet, frozen yogurt, processed cheese spreads and cream cheese
• non-hydrogenated soft margarine
• meat, fish and poultry products (fresh or frozen, including cured and smoked products, fish sticks and fish cakes), excluding bacon
• fruits and vegetables (fresh or frozen), excluding whole pumpkins
• fresh juice (pure or reconstituted), frozen juice concentrate, juice in Tetra Paks and similar containers, all of which must be without sugar added
• bread and bread products without sweetened filling or coating (e.g., bagels, English muffins, bread rolls, raisin bread, hamburger buns, hot dog buns, pizza crusts, frozen bread dough, tortillas), excluding croissants and garlic bread
• eggs and egg substitutes
• selected semi-perishable food products (unsweetened seeds and nuts, cook-type cereals, whole wheat and rye flour, peanut butter, salad dressing, mayonnaise, yeast)
• tofu, vegetable patties, similar vegetable-based meat substitutes, soybean-based milk substitutes
• infant formula, infant cereals, other foods prepared specifically for infants
• combinations of the above products (e.g., pizza, frozen dinners)
• non-prescription drugs

with the exception of products identified as Convenience Perishable Foods.

The Food Mail Program does not apply to the following Convenience Perishable Foods:

• sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, prepared salads and other prepared foods for immediate consumption which are subject to the Goods and Services Tax
• fresh or frozen products consisting of meat, poultry, fish, vegetables or eggs which are breaded or battered or in pastry
• dips (e.g., chip dip, hummus, salsa, tzatziki)
• combinations containing any of the products described above

with the exception of fish sticks, fish cakes, and reduced-fat products, of the type described above, which have been specifically approved as eligible for the Food Mail Program by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.

The following are examples of Convenience Perishable Foods that are not eligible: fried chicken, sausage rolls, fish in batter, fish and chips, chicken and chips, breaded onion rings, poutine, meat pies, quiche, frozen dinners containing breaded chicken or a sweetened baked good.

Destinations Without Marine Service (Sealift, Barge, or Ferry)

The following products are among those eligible for shipment to destinations without marine service at the postage rates applicable to Non-perishable Food until March 31, 2011. The list is not intended to be comprehensive, but confirms the eligibility of certain items.

• canned products such as milk, unsweetened juice, fruit, vegetables, soup, meat, fish, poultry, stew
• unsweetened juice in bottles or cans
• dry beans, peas and lentils
• dried fruit and vegetables, dried soup mixes
• crackers, crispbread, hard bread, Pilot biscuits, melba toast
• arrowroot and social tea cookies
• all purpose flour, cake and pastry flour
• rice, other grains, popping corn (unpopped) [Note 1]
• pasta (macaroni, spaghetti, noodles, macaroni and cheese dinners) [Note 1]
• ready-to-eat breakfast cereals
• cake mixes, pancake mixes, muffin mixes, bread and roll mixes, bannock mixes, pizza mixes, jelly powders, pudding mixes, puddings (canned or ready-to-eat)
• lard, shortening, cooking oils
• sugar, salt, baking powder, cornstarch
• spreads, syrups, sauces, condiments, toppings (excluding artificial cream products), ketchup, vinegar, relish, pickles, jam, honey
• coffee, tea
• fruit drink crystals with vitamin C added
• artificial sweeteners

Destinations With Marine Service (Sealift, Barge, or Ferry)

The following products are the only ones eligible for shipment to destinations with marine service at the postage rates applicable to Non-perishable Food until March 31, 2011:

• canned evaporated milk
• dried fruit and vegetables
• crackers, crispbread, hard bread, Pilot biscuits, melba toast
• arrowroot and social tea cookies
• non-perishable flour, excluding cake and pastry flour
• fresh and frozen pasta
• fresh and frozen combination food containing rice or pasta
• ready-to-eat breakfast cereals
• lard, shortening, cooking oils
• artificial sweeteners

The Food Mail Program does not apply to the following food and beverage products:

• beer, wine and spirits
• soft drinks
• energy drinks
• plain, carbonated and flavoured mineral water
• all fruit-flavoured drinks and sweetened juice
• fruit drink crystals without vitamin C added [Note 2]
• iced tea, iced tea mixes, cordials, cocktail mixes
• instant hot chocolate mixes
• sweets and snack foods:
  • candies, confectionery, chewing gum, chocolate bars, granola bars
  • fruit, seeds and nuts when coated or treated with candy, chocolate, honey, molasses, sugar, syrup or artificial sweeteners
  • fruit bars, rolls, or similar fruit-based snack foods
  • potato chips, corn chips, tortilla chips, pretzels, popped corn products, cheese puffs, and similar products
  • snack mixtures (e.g., "nuts 'n bolts")
• sweetened baked goods (e.g., cakes, muffins, pies, pastries, tarts, cookies, doughnuts, brownies, croissants with sweetened fillings or coatings, waffles and similar products), excluding arrowroot and social tea cookies [Note 3]
• croissants, garlic bread
• pie shells and other frozen pastry products
• frozen flavoured ice (e.g., Popsicles)
• ice cream, ice milk, sherbet, frozen yogurt
• cream
• imitation cream products (e.g. non-dairy coffee whiteners, non-dairy whipped dessert toppings)
• sour cream
• cream cheese
• processed cheese spreads
• regular (side) bacon
• hydrogenated margarine (hard or soft)
• meal replacements for weight reduction

All non-food items, with the exception of tobacco, dangerous goods and other prohibited mail as defined in the Canada Postal Guide, are eligible for shipment until March 31, 2011, and only to destinations without marine service, at the rates applicable to Non-food Items.

Recreation equipment and supplies [Note 4] including :

• sporting and athletic goods
• fitness equipment
• bicycles and tricycles
• toys, games, puzzles, models and hobby supplies
• playground equipment
• photographic equipment and supplies
• musical equipment
• computer equipment (hardware and software)
• kits intended for the production of alcoholic beverages

Entertainment equipment and supplies including Recreation equipment and supplies

• radios, audio and video components or combinations
• audio and video tapes, either blank or pre-recorded
• televisions
• other electronic equipment
• compact discs and records

Reading material including newspapers, magazines and books

All paper products with the exception of:

• disposable diapers
• disposable undergarments
• feminine hygiene products
• nursing pads
• toilet paper

Animal food and other animal supplies

Prescription drugs

The following products are classified as "priority perishable foods" for the purposes of the Kugaaruk, Kangiqsujuaq and Fort Severn pilot projects:

• fresh milk (excluding chocolate milk), UHT milk, buttermilk, cheese, processed cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, yogurt drinks, powdered milk
• fresh vegetables
• frozen vegetables, excluding French fries and similar potato products
• fresh fruit
• frozen fruit
• frozen juice concentrate
• eggs

For the purposes of the Fort Severn pilot project, 100% whole wheat bread and cook-type breakfast cereals are classified as priority perishable foods.

For the purposes of the Kugaaruk pilot project Cambridge Bay is designated as an entry point for country food shipped to Kugaaruk under the Food Mail Program, and country food shipped from Cambridge Bay to Kugaaruk is classified as a priority perishable food.

View the detailled table for more information on the changes to the list of eligible items.

Q. Why did Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) make changes to the eligibility list?

A. The food mail eligibility list was last reviewed in a comprehensive manner in the early 1990s. Input from AANDC's extensive public engagement sessions and advice from Health Canada prompted changes to the eligibility list.

The revised eligibility list places a greater focus on nutrition and excludes certain foods with high fat, sugar, sodium or low nutrient content.

Q. What's been removed from the eligibility list?

A. For communities with marine service, non-food items and most non-perishable food items were removed from the eligibility list as of October 3, 2010. For communities without marine service, these items will be removed from the eligibility list on April 1, 2011. This will promote the use of more cost efficient modes of transportation for these items, such as the sealift and winter roads.

Q. Why are certain foods like bacon, soup mixes, coffee, tea and cream being removed from the eligibility list?

A. The revised eligibility list has a greater focus on nutrition and excludes certain foods based on criteria such as fat, sugar, sodium, or low nutrient content. To promote the consumption of nutrient-rich foods (e.g., fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs), eligible foods will be separated into two categories as of April 1, 2011: the most nutritious foods and other nutritious foods. The most nutritious foods will receive a higher subsidy.

The revised eligibility list will better reflect key Health Canada nutrition policies such as Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide and Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide - First Nations, Inuit and Métis, which promote a pattern of healthy eating over a lifetime.

Q. Are all fish sticks and fish cakes eligible even if they are breaded?

A. Yes, provided that they are labelled specifically as "fish sticks" or "fish cakes". These are among the least expensive fish products, and normally have less fat than wieners, luncheon meats and regular ground beef.

Other breaded or battered fish products are not eligible, unless specifically approved by the department.

Q. What is the procedure for approving a specific food for shipment under the Food Mail Program?

A. Anyone who is uncertain about the eligibility of a specific food should provide details concerning the product, including the manufacturer, product name, ingredients, and nutritional information (if included on the packaging) to the Food Mail Program at AANDC (foodmail@aadnc-aandc.gc.ca).

AANDC will consult nutrition specialists in Health Canada and elsewhere and make a decision, taking into account the nutrient composition of the food concerned.

Q. Who decides if a product is in the recreation and entertainment categories, a paper product or an animal supply?

A. Those proposing to mail such products and employees of Canada Post will be responsible. Any questions of interpretation should be referred to the Food Mail Program at AANDC (foodmail@aadnc-aandc.gc.ca).

Q. What kinds of paper products are ineligible for the program?

A. Examples are facial tissues, paper napkins, paper towels, moist wipes, waxed paper, shelf paper, coffee filters, paper cups, stationery, file folders, newsprint, blank cheques, business forms, greeting cards, wrapping paper, wallpaper, empty packaging materials made from paper or cardboard, and reading materials.

Q. What kinds of animal supplies are ineligible for the program?

A. Examples are dog and cat food, fish food, bird seed, animal crates, bird cages, cat litter, toys for animals, leashes, harnesses, muzzles, collars, pet shampoos, aquariums, and veterinary supplies.

Footnotes:

1. All pasta products (dry, fresh, frozen or canned) and all rice products (dry or cooked) must be shipped at the rates applicable to non-perishable food. These rates also apply to fresh or frozen prepared foods that contain pasta or rice, such as lasagna, fried rice and perogies. (return to source paragraph)
2. Fruit drink crystals with vitamin C added are accepted at the rates for non-perishable food. (return to source paragraph)
3. Arrowroot and social tea cookies are accepted at the rates for non-perishable food. (return to source paragraph)
4. Camping equipment, snowmobile parts, all-terrain vehicle parts, outboard motor parts, snowshoes, binoculars and other equipment used for hunting, fishing and trapping are eligible, even if intended for recreational use. (return to source paragraph)