Cheddar Cheese: export from Canada to Southeast Asia
Cheddar is specified by age and colour, and colour expectation varies sharply by market in a way that catches exporters: white and annatto-coloured cheddar are the same cheese, but a buyer expecting one and receiving the other will treat it as a wrong shipment.
Age determines sharpness, texture and how the cheese behaves in cooking: young cheddar melts smoothly, aged cheddar is sharper and more prone to oiling off.
The formats are blocks for further cutting, retail packs, shreds and slices, each with different handling and shelf-life implications. Shredded and sliced product carries anti-caking agents that need to clear destination requirements.
Cold chain integrity end to end is the operational risk and the usual cause of quality claims, and it is generally a last-mile problem, not an ocean one. Confirm destination capability before the first shipment.
Cheese classifies by type and sometimes by fat and moisture content, and dairy lines frequently carry quota arrangements, not a flat rate. Send the specification and destination and we will confirm the position with its source.
Canadian export requirements
- HS classification
- 0406.90: Cheese other than fresh, grated or powdered, processed, or blue-veined
- CFIA certificates
- Health certificate for the export of dairy products and dairy based products for human consumption (CFIA/ACIA 5813)
Six-market position
| Market | MFN duty | Preferential | Registration category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | On request | On request | On request |
| Thailand | On request | On request | On request |
| Philippines | On request | On request | On request |
| Indonesia | On request | On request | On request |
| Malaysia | On request | On request | On request |
| Singapore | On request | On request | On request |
MFN duty is the destination's applied general rate for this tariff line. Preferential is the rate under an agreement in force between Canada and that market.
Both are customs duty only: destination excise, value-added tax and local levies are additional and are not shown here.
Available on request: send your specification and destination and we'll confirm within five working days.
Commercial terms
- Producing provinces
- Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba
- Seasonality
- Year-round production
- Pack formats
- 20 kg blocks, Retail packs, Shredded bags
- Container configuration
- On request
- Indicative MOQ
- On request
Common questions
- What is the HS code for cheddar cheese?
- 0406.90: Cheese other than fresh, grated or powdered, processed, or blue-veined. This was read from Canada Border Services Agency on 2026-09-18. The first six digits are the same in every country that uses the Harmonised System; digits beyond that are set by the destination.
Sources
- Customs Tariff (T2026), Chapter 4 · Canada Border Services Agency, retrieved September 18, 2026
- Vietnam: export requirements for milk and dairy products · Canadian Food Inspection Agency, retrieved September 19, 2026
- Thailand: export requirements for milk and dairy products · Canadian Food Inspection Agency, retrieved September 19, 2026
- the Philippines: export requirements for milk and dairy products · Canadian Food Inspection Agency, retrieved September 19, 2026
- Indonesia: export requirements for milk and dairy products · Canadian Food Inspection Agency, retrieved September 19, 2026
- Malaysia: export requirements for milk and dairy products · Canadian Food Inspection Agency, retrieved September 19, 2026
- Singapore: export requirements for milk and dairy products · Canadian Food Inspection Agency, retrieved September 19, 2026
Last reviewed: September 1, 2026