EDI PARS for CFIA Goods Traveling by CN
21 April 2005
EDI PARS for CFIA Goods Traveling by CN
Members have brought to our attention an issue involving CN and goods that require CFIA approval. If the PARS request was made in hard copy, the party that made the PARS request receives CFIA approval in hard copy. With this hard copy approval from CFIA, CN would proceed to load goods on a train for furtherance to Canada.
However, a problem arose when the PARS request was made electronically. With EDI, the party that submitted the PARS request does not receive a hard copy confirmation from CFIA indicating that the goods have been approved for delivery to Canada. And, because there is no hard copy confirmation from CFIA, CN refused to load these goods on a train.
The CSCB is pleased to advise that the CBSA has discussed this issue with both CN and CFIA, and the issue appears to have been resolved; a copy of a letter to the CSCB from CBSA outlining the procedures is available on the CSCB web site, at http://www.cscb.ca/listinfo/cncfialetterapril2005.pdf. CN has advised that they will require time to implement procedures at their Chicago location; however, it is CBSA's understanding that this should take place within a matter of weeks. It will be CN's responsibility to notify the importing community once these procedures are in effect.
Questions on this issue can be directed to the CSCB at [email protected].