<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>1</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001653821</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CEN BIOTECH INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CENBF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001736937</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Tarrabain Alex</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>300-3295 QUALITY WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CANADA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A6</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>N8T 3R9</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ONTARIO, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
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                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>L</value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1250000</value>
                </transactionShares>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-06-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
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                    <value>1421942</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-07-16</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-08-16</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                    <value>3000</value>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <value>L</value>
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                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-12-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <value>L</value>
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                    <value>3000</value>
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                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                    <value>1421942</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">36,000 shares of common stock of the issuer were issued as consideration for extending the maturity date of a promissory note dated January 14, 2018 and were acquired in increments of 3,000 shares on the following dates: 01/16/2019; 02/16/2019; 03/16/2019; 04/16/2019; 05/16/2019; 06/16/2019; 07/16/2019; 08/16/2019; 09/16/2019; 10/16/2019; 11/16/2019 and 12/16/2019.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 30,000 shares issuable upon conversion of a convertible promissory note held by the reporting person which was issued on October 26, 2016 in the amount of $48,000.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">1,250,000 shares of common stock of the issuer were granted by the issuer on May 16, 2019, pursuant to a restricted stock agreement pursuant to the issuer's equity compensation plan and the issuance was approved by the issuer's full board of directors.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Alex Tarrabain</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-04-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
