Customs

CBSA eManifest Update

Thursday, 13 November 2008 19:00

Canada Border Services Agency has released its first issue of the eManifest Newsletter. eManifest is about getting the right information at the right time. The initiative will improve the CBSA's ability to detect goods, people and conveyances that pose the greatest risk to the security and prosperity of our nation. At the same time, low-risk shipments will be identified earlier and will be screened and processed as quickly and efficiently as possible. In the coming weeks and months, CBSA will prepare to release the following:

decisions on importer admissibility data (IAD) requirements;
sets of data elements consisting of conveyance, cargo and supplementary information that the CBSA will require or request from highway and rail carriers and freight forwarders; and
an Electronic Commerce Client Requirements Document (ECCRD) for rail and highway carriers.

The plenary meeting scheduled for December 3 and 4 in Ottawa has been postponed.

CBSA Marine Desk Changes - Vancouver

Tuesday, 30 September 2008 04:34

Effective October 20, 2008 Canada Border Services hours of operation for the Marine Front Counter located on the ground level of 333 Dunsmuir Street in Vancouver, BC will be Monday to Friday 8:00 to 16:30 hrs. This will coincide with the commercial release hours and personal effects clearance hours. Please attempt to conduct all marine business during the above hours.

For after hours emergency marine service only, such as ships stores, vessel inwards and outwards clearance, remanifesting and export B13’s please contact CBSA dispatch at 604-713-9840 for further assistance. For any enquiries regarding the above changes, contact CBSA at 604-666-7644.

CBSA Message on Container Exams

Friday, 11 July 2008 07:42

The purpose of this message is to outline the situation of fumigant / solvent testing of marine containers for your Association and its members. The CBSA shares your concerns and is taking immediate action to address the current state of our operations, while still ensuring the health and safety of our employees.

As you may be aware, chemical fumigants are widely used in the shipping industry to kill invasive alien species in cargo loads. Historically, the CBSA has relied on a risk-management approach to minimize the risk of exposure to these fumigants. Following an incident of exposure the CBSA was directed by HRSDC to undertake an extensive study to determine the risk of exposure to its employees with regards to fumigants in marine containers. The study indicated the risk of exposure to various fumigants and solvents commonly used within marine containers. As a result of this study, the CBSA now tests all marine containers for the presence of fumigants/solvents prior to examination.

CBSA Deploys Officers to Japan

Thursday, 19 June 2008 03:38

Canada Border Services Agency has announced that Canada and Japan will be placing border officers at key strategic locations in each other's country by the end of this year. This initiative is aimed at increasing marine security while ensuring the smooth flow of legitimate trade.

Under the Container Security Initiative (CSI) partnership, border officers from Japan and Canada will work in each other's country to coordinate the examination of high-risk containers before they leave the foreign port, to share information about any potential security threats and to promote data quality, which will improve each country's overall risk-assessment abilities.

View News Release.

Delays at Container Examination Facilities

Friday, 13 June 2008 08:22

Significant delays are occurring and expected to continue at the container examination facilities located in the Lower Mainland and Prince Rupert following the implementation of new testing procedures performed by the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) inspectors prior to examination. CBSA has received new equipment to test containers for a total of 10 toxic substances, including methyl bromide, phosphine, viacane, benzenes, toluene and now formaldehyde. There has been a spike in positive test results as the number of substances tested has doubled. Containers that test positive for these substances need to be properly vented before the examination can be conducted by CBSA.