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Memorandum to Importers/Brokers/Carriers/Inspection Facility Operators/Associations

Subject: Discontinuation of the practice of advance notification of inspection of US meat imports.

The following is to inform you that as of January 4, 2010, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will discontinue the practice of providing advance notification of  inspection of US meat imports.  This change in procedure is in line with the Government of Canada Food Safety Action Plan.  Canada has full confidence in the safety of food imported from the USA. This change will make Canada’s food safety system stronger and will move Canada a step closer to full harmonization with US meat import controls.

All meat shipments from the USA are inspected and certified by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) authorities prior to exportation to Canada.  Importers/Brokers can submit their import requests to the CFIA Import Service Centres (ISC) for documentation review up to 72 hours in advance of the actual shipment arrival.  This procedure will continue to apply.

Starting January 4, 2010, when a meat shipment is presented for electronic release, the CFIA Import Service Centre (ISC) will transmit a message to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) indicating if the shipment has been selected for an inland CFIA inspection.  If the shipment is identified as a “skip lot” it will be allowed to proceed to its manifested destination.

It should be noted that ALL meat shipments that are presented on a paper release will be directed to report to a CFIA approved facility inland for inspection.

If an inland CFIA inspection is required, the CBSA Border Services Officer (BSO) at the Primary Inspection Line (PIL) will affix a special CFIA stamp (similar to the attached specimen) on the import documentation which will serve as notice to the Carrier to report to a CFIA approved inspection facility for CFIA inspection.

As all US meat shipments must be released by the CBSA at the border, the BSO will continue to stamp the import documents with a customs release stamp.

The onus will be on Importers/Brokers to ensure that their Carriers are aware of this new procedure and that they know where to report in the event that their shipment has been selected for CFIA inspection.  The Importers/Brokers are to provide the Carriers with the location and directions to the meat inspection facility that has been pre-selected by the importer prior to crossing the border.

Should you have questions regarding these new procedures, I invite you to contact a CFIA Import Service Centre or one of the following CFIA Import Control Division Managers in Ottawa:

National Import Service Centre

(Toronto) : 1-800-835-4486

Eastern Import Service Centre

(Montréal) : (514) 493-0468

Western Import Service Centre

(Vancouver) : (604) 666-9240

Sylvie Bruneau: (613) 773-5333

Wayne Snider: (613) 773-5327

Michel LaBrosse
Director,
Import Control Division
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Ottawa