Trade News

IC Monthly Headlines - April 2010 Industry Canada has released its April Newsletter, it is available at: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ich-epi.nsf/eng/h_02025.html.

Seventeenth Annual Report to the Prime Minister on the Public Service of Canada The Seventeenth Annual Report to the Prime Minister on the Public Service of Canada has been posted on the Privy Council Office website and is available at: http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/index.asp?lang=eng&page=information&sub=public….

Work Begins On Peace Bridge Plaza Improvements The following is excerpted from the 1 April 2010 news release by Transport Canada. The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and Mr. Ken Schoetz, chairman of the board of the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, participated in a groundbreaking ceremony … to mark the start of construction on the Peace Bridge Commercial Lane Traffic Improvements project.

1. The purpose of this customs notice is to advise that effective April 1, 2010, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will no longer require Advance Commercial Information (ACI) for goods on board of a conveyance that enters Canadian waters while it is proceeding directly from one place outside of Canada to another place outside of Canada. 2. This includes situations such as vessels traveling through the locks in Welland, Ontario Canada.

1. The purpose of this customs notice is to notify industry that Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) will further extend the grace period for Advance Commercial Information (ACI) notification requirements for US-loaded FROB cargo until September 30, 2010. 2. During this time, carriers will not be required to provide cargo information on US-loaded FROB. Marine carriers who are able to report US-loaded FROB cargo are encouraged to do so.

Delays in processing EDI transactions The CFIA is experiencing some delays in processing EDI transactions due to the recent transfer of responsibilities between the former Western Import Service Centre and the National Import Service Centre. CFIA is working quickly to resolve issues and improve the response times. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience. Also please find a list of the business hours for the two Import Service Centres currently in operation: Business hours: Eastern ISC - 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM ET National ISC - 7:00 AM to 3:00 AM ET

CBSA Message: Exchange rate for Myanmar (Burma) Kyat (MMK) The following message is from CBSA (EDI10-034). The exchange rate, effective May 4, 2010, for Myanmar (Burma) Kyat (MMK), has been revised. The correct rate should have read 0.1792 for May 4, 2010. Using the incorrect exchange rate will cause an error in the value for duty. The CCS system has been updated to show the correct exchange rate for this period.

CBSA Publications on Returning or Settling in Canada BSF5114, Settling in Canada http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5114-eng.html BSF5113, Immigrating or Returning to Live in Canada http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5113-eng.html BSF5087, Moving Back to Canada http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5087-eng.html

A Unique Networking Opportunity! At the IFCBA 2010 conference - the only global conference dedicated to the business interests of customs brokers - you can share concerns and questions with others who truly understand your business and hear directly from speakers with a wide variety of experience and expertise directly related to your operations. Speakers such as Mr. Sergio Mujica, WCO Deputy Secretary General will add their perspective to the sessions as well.

Fort Erie Customs Meeting Minutes, 22 March 2010 The minutes of the Fort Erie customs meeting that took place on 22 March 2010 are available on the Ontario Region page of the members site. To access, please login, click on the Regions tab, and then Ontario Region link.

Consultation on the Proposed Revisions to the Policy on Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-To-Eat Foods The following message is for all importers and processors of ready-to-eat fish and seafood. Health Canada's Bureau of Microbial Hazards is seeking comments (deadline: May 3, 2010) on proposed revisions to the 2004 policy on Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods.

This memorandum refers to the application of anti-dumping duty pursuant to section 3 of the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA) to importations of certain carbon steel plate and high strength low alloy steel plate originating in or exported from Ukraine. This duty is applied as a result of the finding of injury by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal. Application of anti-dumping duties:

1. The purpose of this customs notice is to advise that effective April 1, 2010, the processing of B2 adjustment requests, with certain exceptions, will be centralized at two locations for all of Canada. As of that time, the Quebec and Greater Toronto Area (GTA) regions will be responsible for processing all B2 adjustment requests from across Canada, with the following exceptions:

REMINDER: Western Import Service Centre Closure Please be advised that the Western Import Service Centre (WISC) located in Vancouver (BC) will be closing as of 31 March 2010. All operations of the WISC will be performed at the National Import Service Centre (NISC) in Toronto, Ontario. Business hours: Eastern ISC - 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM ET National ISC - 7:00 AM to 3:00 AM ET In order to avoid any confusion, we would like to clarify a couple of points from our Fact Sheet (September 22, 2009) and subsequent Addendum (October 5, 2009).

Update to Plant Protection Policy Directives The following directives have been revised: D--5-03 "Asian Gypsy Moth (Lymantria Dispar L.) - Plant Protection Policy for Marine Vessels" This directive has been revised to add recognized third party inspection bodies in Japan for issuance of Pre-departure Inspection Certificates to verify vessels are free from all life stages of the Asian Gypsy Moth (Appendix 4).

The following is a CBSA message (EDI10-023). The Electronic Commerce Unit will be closed for the Easter holiday from Thursday April 1, 2010 at 5:00 pm (Eastern Time) until Monday April 5, 2010 at 8:00 am (ET). On Monday, April 5, between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm (ET), officers will be available at 1-888-957-7224 to deal with production issues only. At all other times during the long weekend, clients with EDI emergencies are asked to call the EDI pager at 613-239-5880 for assistance with CADEX, ACROSS, ACI and other EDI systems.

The following is a CBSA message (EDI10-023). The Electronic Commerce Unit will be closed for the Easter holiday from Thursday April 1, 2010 at 5:00 pm (Eastern Time) until Monday April 5, 2010 at 8:00 am (ET). On Monday, April 5, between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm (ET), officers will be available at 1-888-957-7224 to deal with production issues only. At all other times during the long weekend, clients with EDI emergencies are asked to call the EDI pager at 613-239-5880 for assistance with CADEX, ACROSS, ACI and other EDI systems.

The Import Control Division will be closed for the Easter holiday from Thursday April 1, 2010 at 4:00 pm (ET) until Tuesday April 6, 2010 at 8:00 am. If you require assistance please contact the Import Service Centres located in Toronto (ON) or Montreal (QC). EISC - Montreal: 1-877-493-0468, 514-493-2468, FAX 514-493-4103 NISC - Toronto: 1-800-835-4486, 905-795-7834, FAX 905-795-9658 Please note: Ottawa Meat Import Control Centre (1-877-682-5191) will be opened Friday 2 April 2010 and Monday 5 April 2010 from the hours of 8 AM to 6 PM.

CFIA Message: Easter Holiday Schedule The Import Control Division will be closed for the Easter holiday from Thursday April 1, 2010 at 4:00 pm (ET) until Tuesday April 6, 2010 at 8:00 am. If you require assistance please contact the Import Service Centres located in Toronto (ON) or Montreal (QC). EISC - Montreal: 1-877-493-0468, 514-493-2468, FAX 514-493-4103 NISC - Toronto: 1-800-835-4486, 905-795-7834, FAX 905-795-9658