Important Integrated Import Declaration (IID) deadline coming

All those who declare plant, animal or food imports to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) need to be aware of an important deadline coming in the new year.

By January 1, 2019, those who declare imports electronically to the CBSA should complete testing and be certified to transmit their import declarations through the Integrated Import Declaration (IID). The IID provides commercial importers/brokers with a single portal to submit all import information and documents required to meet federal government import regulations, and obtain an admissibility decision electronically. The new process also allows importers to transmit their declarations up to 90 days in advance and reduces processing time.

To become certified, clients must contact the CBSA‘s Technical Commercial Client Unit:

Those who use a service provider should contact their provider to discuss the testing process and how to get involved.

It is also important to note that on January 15, 2019, the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) will come into force. The import process will remain the same; however, the CFIA-issued permit needed for food imports will change. Find out if your business requires a licence, by visiting http://www.inspection.gc.ca/safefood. To ensure that you can easily apply for the new SFCR licence when it becomes available, sign up for My CFIA today by visiting www.inspection.gc.ca/MyCFIA. Signing up today will ensure that you can easily apply for the new SFCR licences when they become available.

Visit the fall edition of the CFIA Chronicle to learn more about changes to the import declaration process.