Customs

WHTI Reminder - Effective June 1, 2009

Monday, 01 June 2009 08:04

Effective June 1, 2009, Canadian citizens will be required to present one of the following valid documents when entering the United States by land or water:

a passport; or
a NEXUS card; or
a Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card; or
an enhanced driver's licence/enhanced identification card (from a province where available) ; or
a Secure Certificate of Indian Status (when approved by the U.S. and when available) ; or
a Certificate of Indian Status (until fall 2009) .

Canadian Border Services Officers (BSOs) have been reminded that document requirements and traveller processing procedures for entry to Canada will not change when the U.S. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) is implemented. If the BSO is satisfied that the person is a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S., and is otherwise admissible to Canada, that person should be allowed to enter Canada regardless of whether or not they possess a WHTI-compliant document. Moreover, the U.S. Government has reiterated their policy that they will not, under any circumstance, deny admission to a U.S. citizen solely because they do not possess WHTI-compliant documents.

The enhanced driver’s licence/ enhanced identification cards denote both citizenship and identity for Canadian and U.S. citizens and these documents can be presented for entry into the United States and Canada. This information has been communicated to our BSOs.

Since June 2007, the United States has been accepting NEXUS/FAST membership cards in all lanes at all U.S. land and at water ports of entry.

Under current Canadian policy, NEXUS and FAST members are permitted to use their membership cards for expedited entry into Canada using NEXUS and FAST dedicated lanes only. NEXUS/FAST members are not allowed to use their membership cards as an indicator of identity and citizenship in regular, non-dedicated lanes.

CBSA is currently reviewing the Canadian policy for the use of NEXUS and FAST cards as an indicator of identity and citizenship in regular, non-dedicated lanes. We hope to have a final position shortly. We will report back to the BCCC as soon as possible.

Policy Change for Wood Packaging Material from China

Tuesday, 17 March 2009 11:56

Canada Border Services Agency has issued Customs Notice CN09-002 to reflect changes to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency policy on wood packaging material. Effective September 1, 2009 phytosanitary certificates from China for wood packaging material will no longer be accepted in Canada due to high rates of non-compliance from China. A valid International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) mark will be the only accepted treatment certification method.

Tariff Amendments on Imported Containers

Wednesday, 11 February 2009 13:36

The Department of Finance is seeking input on proposed changes to the treatment of temporarily imported cargo container under the Customs Tariff. The Customs Tariff allows for the duty-free and GST/HST-free importation of temporarily imported cargo containers under certain conditions. The key amendments extend the allowable period of stay from 30 to 365 days and removes the restriction of domestic moves only. View the posting in the Canada Gazette Part I - February 7, 2009.

CBSA Welcomes Japan Customs Officer

Wednesday, 28 January 2009 15:54

A border officer with Japan Customs is now working with CBSA’s Metro Vancouver District’s Export Division. He will work closely with CBSA Metro Vancouver District employees and may at times accompany CBSA employees into warehouse premises and terminal operations property.

This Japanese Officer is stationed in Canada under an innovative Canada-Japan Container Security Initiative partnership, which permits the CBSA and Japan Customs to place border officers at key strategic locations in each other’s country. The Container Security Initiative (CSI) is a multinational initiative that protects the main method of global trade-containerized shipping-from being exploited or disrupted by terrorists. By identifying high-risk shipments early in the process, CSI enables legitimate cargo containers to move faster and more efficiently through the supply chain.

US CBP 10+2 Rule Published

Tuesday, 25 November 2008 04:37

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued the interim rule regarding importer security filing and additional carrier requirements (better known as “10 + 2”) and comes into effect on January 26, 2009.

Carriers are currently required to submit advance cargo information for vessels no later than 24 hours before the cargo is laden aboard a vessel at a foreign port. This is commonly referred to as the "24-Hour Rule." Carriers are not currently required to submit vessel stow plans or container status messages to CBP.

Under existing requirements, importers of record are required to file entry information with CBP within 15 calendar days of the date of arrival of a shipment at a United States port of entry. Inaddition, within 10 working days of the entry of the merchandise, entry summary information must be submitted. Importers are not currently required to submit advance cargo information to CBP.