Trade News

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Brampton office will close effective April 1, 2011 The CBSA will continue to provide service to the public Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at:

This is a reminder that a full database backup of the production database (PROD) is scheduled for Saturday, April 2nd, 2011. CFIA systems will be unavailable from 3am to 7am EST. Please note that full database backups of the production database (PROD) are scheduled for the first Saturday of every month between 3am and 7am EST.

CSCB wishes to remind all designates that a new Job Posting Service recently became available on our website. When a CSCB member company has a job available, they can post it on our website. CCS Designates have exclusive access to these online postings.

The first quiz for CCS designates will be available between 31 March and 28 April. As always, the quiz is worth ten professional development points toward maintenance of the CCS designation, and is FREE of charge. Mark your calendar! Don't miss out on this opportunity to obtain ten points!

The first ocean shipments from Japan since the earthquake will begin to arrive in Vancouver shortly. For goods on these vessels that must meet CFIA requirements, CBSA and CFIA have confirmed that these goods are not exempt from EDI, unless of course one of the usual exceptions to EDI apply.

The following is from the 28 March 2011 edition of the "American Shipper". A project to test whether to create a voluntary program for approved customs brokers to self-monitor and report compliance with trade regulations has been terminated, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a report earlier this month.

WTO members risk failing to deliver the breakthrough needed in April in order to conclude the Doha Round negotiations this year, jeopardizing the world economy and the most vulnerable countries, Director-General Pascal Lamy told ambassadors on 29 March 2011. The news story with audio and Lamy's statement is available on the WTO website at:

The following is excerpted from a 29 March 2011 news release by the International Chamber of Commerce. Bosnia and Herzegovina will implement the ATA Carnet System starting 18 April, bringing to 70 the number of countries accepting this international system, reducing paperwork and costs for businesses travelling with goods.

Validating Animal Health Import Permits As per our 17 February 2011 message, CFIA provided the following reminder:

a) Chapter 07 was published to modify the import conditions for the following HS Codes from the Japanese Prefectures of Fukushima, Ibaraki, Gunma and Tochigi. This created requirement version changes for all countries except the Continental USA. 07.03.10.3001 - Onion (fresh or chilled)

Minutes of the Blue Water Bridge Customs meeting held on 9 March 2011 are now available on the Ontario Region page of the CSCB members site. To access, please go to our website at new.cscb.ca, login, and look under “Regional Activity”.

Members may be interested in the following, published on 26 March 2011 in Part I of the Canada Gazette.

The following is excerpted from the 24 March 2011 edition of The Journal of Commerce ”joc.com”. All 15 ports along devastated Pacific coast usable for all purposes

The following is excerpted from the 25 March 2011 edition of Canadian Transportation & Logistics ”ctl.ca”.

The following is excerpted from a 25 March 2011 news release by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.

The following is from the 25 March 2011 edition of The Journal of Commerce ”joc.com”. APL Korea discharged 355 containers at Port of Los Angeles Tuesday

The following is excerpted from a 25 March 2011 news release by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is preparing to update the Feeds Regulations, specifically Schedules IV and V and sections of the Regulations referring to these Schedules.