Trade News

The minutes of the C V & S Committee meeting that took place on 3 June 2010 are now available on the members site. To access, please login, click on the Regions tab, and then Toronto Region link.

CBSA has reissued Form BSF266 to show the new name of the Penalty Reduction Agreement (PRA). This agreement is now called the Penalty Reinvestment Agreement (PRA). This agreement allows, under certain conditions, full or partial reduction of AMPS penalties. The form is available here: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/bsf266-eng.pdf Additional information on the PRA is available in D22-1-1.

The following is excerpted from the 4 September 2010 edition of "montrealgazette.com". Opposition is growing to the Canadian Border Security Agency's (CBSA's) recent decision to close two Canadian border stations south of Montreal next spring. The mayor of Franklin, Suzanne Blair, will be holding a news conference next week to launch a petition drive. And the largest employer in the region, Les Vergers Leahy, has written federal authorities a strong letter of protest.

CFIA have advised that they have extended their hours of service for the availability of the toll-free number for requesting MCAP Import Inspection Reports. Their message follows. Questions on this subject can be sent to the CSCB at [email protected]

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) today announced the prescribed annual interest rates that will apply to any amounts owed to the CRA and to any amounts the CRA owes to individuals and corporations. These rates are calculated quarterly in accordance with applicable legislation and will be in effect from October 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. These are available on their web site, at: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/nwsrm/rlss/2010/m09/nr100907-eng.html?eml

The CSCB has been made aware of three new documents from Health Canada regarding their import and export requirements. These are:

Members are advised that two policies on animal health have been amended: Veterinary Health Certificates - Pets http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/export/exporte.shtml Amended: Israel - Dogs, Cats and Ferrets http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/export/petcom/israele…

The following meat hygiene directives are now available in HTML and PDF versions at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/meavia/man/direct/directe.shtml MHD 2010-40 Chapter 11, section 11.7.3 - European Union The PDF version of directives should be used for maintaining print copies of the meat hygiene manual of procedures.

The CSCB has had several questions from members regarding D17-1-22, Accounting for the Harmonized Sales Tax, Provincial Sales Tax......and have forwarded these questions to CBSA for response. Please note that information in D17-1-22 should not be confused with information in D2-3-6. D2-3-6 covers the tax treatment of goods entering Canada and accompany a traveler, whereas D17-1-22 covers casual goods that are imported in the courier and commercial streams. Following are comments from CBSA that clarifies information in D17-1-22.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will introduce security gates in the Primary Inspection Lanes at the interim port of entry in the City of Cornwall effective September 7, 2010. The security gates, along with previously installed speed bumps, will assist with traffic control and the safety and security of officers and pedestrians in the general vicinity of the port of entry.

a) Chapter 01 was published to add new OGD extensions. 01.06.90.2110.01 Animal pathogens - parasites - Level 1 - Anoplocephala. 01.06.90.2110.02 Blastocystis. 01.06.90.2110.03 Ceratophyllus. 01.06.90.2110.04 Cittotaenia. 01.06.90.2110.05 Cyclospora. 01.06.90.2110.06 Didinium. 01.06.90.2110.07 Moniezia. 01.06.90.2110.08 Oxyuris. 01.06.90.2111.01 Animal pathogens - parasites - Level 2 - Parasites (A-E) 01.06.90.2111.02 Parasites (F-O) 01.06.90.2111.03 Parasites (P-T)

Travellers have spoken and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is listening. Since launching border wait times on Twitter this summer, the CBSA continues to receive positive feedback. Thanks to your comments and suggestions, we have upgraded the postings of our border wait times (BWT) on Twitter. The CBSA now offers travellers individual accounts for each of the 22 border crossings that report BWT information. Users can follow one or more accounts specific to their travel plans.

The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today announced the coming into force of regulations to protect Canadians who use credit cards. “Our Government has taken action to make financial products more transparent for consumers,” said Minister Flaherty. “The regulations that take effect today will protect Canadians and their families from unexpected costs and provide clear information to help them make better financial decisions.” Originally announced on September 30, 2009, the new regulations will:

a) Chapter 06 was published to change the release recommendation from "Refuse entry" to "Refer to CFIA-ISC" for all origins except the United States for the following HS Codes. 06.02.10.0013.01 - Ginseng - Unrooted plants (Panax spp.) 06.02.90.0025.03 - Ginseng - plants (Panax spp.) b) Chapter 06 was also published to add a new OGD extension. 06.02.90.0040 - Landscape and/or roof-top rolls, covers, mats or blankets other than grass sod This created requirement version changes for the following HS Codes.

CBSA has advised that the September 2010 launch of eManifest in the highway mode will be delayed. Following are details: The purpose of this communiqué is to update you on the status of eManifest implementation. As you are aware, implementation of eManifest in the highway mode was scheduled to begin in September 2010 with carriers transmitting their advance cargo and conveyance data to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) using one of the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) options.

A recent exchange between the CSCB and the CBSA prompted the following reminder to members: Inquiries regarding acknowledgement and rejections of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) transmissions should be directed to the Electronic Commerce Unit hotline. Should a port be asked to provide this information, they have been directed to refer such calls to the Electronic Commerce Unit (ECU).

The following message is from CBSA (EDI10-077): Notice to all clients transmitting B3 entries. The CBSA will no longer require a $25 minimum on the 1/60th and 1/120th type entries that have a minimum duty amount and partial GST remission, when the goods are subject to both duties and taxes. Please note it isunlikely that clients are encountering these particular scenarios, therefore this change is effective immediately. Should you have any questions in this regard, please contact the ECU at 1-888-957-7224. Thank you for your cooperation.

CFIA has advised that they will be implementing phase 3 of the changes to import notification requirements for products in the non-federally registered food sector, effective November 8, 2010. This is further to the CSCB's messages to members, posted on April 20, 2010 and July 14, 2010. CFIA's complete message can be seen here: