This useful information may help clear up some misconceptions and also verify what some people have been saying for years. It's nice to have it in writing in more clear terms from someone from the CFIA.
This is cut & pasted from Reptiles Canada with the permission of the original poster, member named: SeventyThree.

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Okay, so for years of hearing many assorted rumors on the legality issues surrounding keeping tropical species of cockroaches, I finally e-mailed the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to clarify what many of us thought (and were right about) being true. Here are the complete and un-altered e-mails I sent and received on the subject (my e-mails are italicized, and the responses from the CFIA are in bold) :


Date (mm/dd/yy) / Date (mm/jj/aa): 5/2/2009 2:12:16 PM
Subject / Objet : Keeping of Tropical Cockroaches.
Location / Lieu : Canada, Ontario
Language / Langue: English
URL : http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/reg/rege.shtml
Purpose / But : Website comment submission / Soumettre un commentaire
concernant le site Web


Hello, to whom this may concern:

I have a question regarding the legality issues of keeping tropical species of cockroaches. I have heard several statements regarding keeping of such species, such as they are completely illegal to own in Canada, to the idea that they are not illegal to own, but illegal to import and export. I would like clarification on the subject, covering at least the following species:
-Blaberus fusca (Dwarf Cave roach)
-Blaberus craniifer (True Death's Head roach)
-Gromphadorhina portentosa (Madagascar Hissing roach)
-Eublaberus prosticus (Orange-head roach)
-Blaberus discoidales (Fake Death's Head roach)
-Blaberus giganteus (Giant Cave roach)
-Archimandrita tesselata (Peppered roach)
-Blaptica dubia (South American Dubia roach)

Thank you for your consideration, I will be awaiting your response.
Best Regards.


Dear Sir or Madam,

Exotic cockroaches are only allowed into Canada for research or display in educational facilities like insectariums, butterfly houses and museums. Presently, we do not allow import of exotic cockroaches for commercial sale and distribution. We have the same policy for exotic stick insects and mantids as well as tropical butterflies.

If you wish to set up an insectarium or educational display, you will require an approved facility. Certain Canadian citizens with approved facilities do have colonies of exotic insects but they are not permitted to move, sell or distribute them.

If you require further information, please do not hesitate in contacting us.

Regards, DJP.

Douglas J. Parker, B.Sc., M.Sc.
(613) 759-6908 / / Facsimile/Télécopier: (613) 759-6938
Head, Entomology - Ottawa Plant Laboratories, C.F.I.A.
Chef, entomologie - laboratoires des plantes d'Ottawa, A.C.I.A.
Bldg. 18 / édif. 18
960 Carling Ave/ 960, avenue Carling/ Ottawa CANADA K1A 0C6


>>> Chanel S <***************@hotmail.com> 2009/05/05 4:53 pm >>>

Firstly I would like to thank you for your response. So, just to clarify, even if the insects in question are already in Canada, it is still illegal to sell them, or own them unless you are an approved institution? You are not allowed to be in the possession of any restricted species unless you are an approved facility? Thank you again for your time.


Dear Chanel,

As you know, there is a large underground system for the exchange and sale of exotic insects, diplopods, molluscs, reptiles, amphibians and almost anything that is prohibited. We realize this and our inspectors regularly seize these non-permitted species from pet stores and citizens --- anyone who is in possession of exotic arthropods without a permit or an approved facility is doing so against our regulations. Colonies of exotic sticks and mantids, cockroaches and millipedes that are held outside of approved facilities are illegal. And we will continue to seize these organisms until the regulations are changed. This country is plagued by exotic invasive organisms -- plants and animals. No exotic organisms should be introduced into Canada without a thorough risk assessment as to the impact on the Canadian environment and agriculture.

If you require further information, please do not hesitate in contacting us.

Regards, DJP.

Douglas J. Parker, B.Sc., M.Sc.
(613) 759-6908 / / Facsimile/Télécopier: (613) 759-6938
Head, Entomology - Ottawa Plant Laboratories, C.F.I.A.
Chef, entomologie - laboratoires des plantes d'Ottawa, A.C.I.A.
Bldg. 18 / édif. 18
960 Carling Ave/ 960, avenue Carling/ Ottawa CANADA K1A 0C6


I know many of us knew this already, but I have never seen anyone post a direct response from the CFIA, so I thought it would be helpful to anyone wondering. So technically it is illegal in any sense to own any restricted tropical species of cockroach (all of them).. so I'll pretend I don't condone it!

However, interestingly enough, it is legal to keep (without a 'plant' permit) German/Russian Cockroaches (Blatella germanica) in Canada, according to the CFIA site: Which can be seen here:

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/.../orglste.shtml