Distributed by The Ontario Produce Marketing Association
As a result of ongoing concerns brought forward by the produce industry regarding damage to produce during inspections and off-loading at Canadian border crossings, a working group was established to investigate the process at the border. As a result, a best practices document was developed for both industry and government.
For over 2½ years, the Ontario Produce Marketing Association contributed to the writing of this best practices document to help industry understand the policy and procedures used by Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) when produce loads are ordered for secondary examination.
The Industry Best Practices – CBSA Import Requirements and Produce Examinations (Highway Mode) is available here for your information. A similar document is being prepared by CBSA for internal distribution to their border inspectors to ensure proper handling of produce during examinations at border crossings and to provide more consistent application of the rules and procedures at the border.
Some of the major components of the document include:
- what is CBSA doing to facilitate the import process?
- what can industry do to facilitate the process and reduce their risk?
- CBSA examination processes
- why is my shipment being examined?
- why is there a cost for offloading shipments?
- what is this cost?
- what is a CBSA offload report?
- who is responsible for any damages to my goods?
- how do I make a claim?
Working closely with CBSA officials has also enabled our industry to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining the cold chain when handling very perishable product like fresh produce. This will hopefully result in the eventual construction of temperature controlled warehouse space where inspections can take place.
The next step in the process is to assist CBSA in the wording of the next contract CBSA will be signing shortly with the off-loading company, Interport Border Service, so that some of these best practices can be realized.
The CBSA information provided in this document is subject to change. It is accurate as of January 2014. Please consult the CBSA website for the most current information.
For further information, please contact Ian MacKenzie at 416-519-9390, ext. 231 or ian@theopma.ca
