Archive for the ‘Canada Customs’ Category

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You Asked… About PIP

Partners in Protection logoI was reading the blog about PIP and was wondering if you have to be a large company to register. I do cross border shipping with Pacific Customs Brokers now. But I have lots of inspection problems. Please give me more information. I can’ t attend seminars. I live in Victoria.

Thank you for your inquiry regarding our blog on The Value of Partners in Protection & C-TPAT Memberships.

The Partners in Protection Program is for companies of all sizes. Having said that, in order to become a PIP “Member” you must fall into one of the approved categories, a few of them being Importers / Exporters, Carriers and Warehouse Operators to name a few.

Our seminar attendees have traveled as far away as California and Maryland.  One of the benefits for ALL organizations for the PIP Seminar, is that it will be providing detailed information regarding membership benefits, and the application process. This seminar will be able to help you decide whether PIP membership is feasible for your organization.

Also, we are pleased to say Canada Border Services Agency will have a PIP Intelligence Officer at our seminar who will be able to assist in answering questions, particularly about where the PIP program is headed.

In the event you simple cannot make this seminar, we may be able to conduct an informative telephone conference, or private consultation, with one of our security team members.

On a personal note, inspection delays are expensive and time consuming. Becoming a trusted trader and using a trusted carrier may be able to help lessen some of those delays and inspection problems you are experiencing.

Additionally, at Pacific Customs Brokers, we offer a range of consulting services for small business to help improve your cross border experiences, including mini audits and document reviews. To help reduce inspection delays, one of our trade compliance experts would be more that happy to discuss the benefits of reviewing the customs clearance documents that are being provided to the carrier.

We hope this helps!

Posted on March 7th, 2012 by Yvette Fox
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Posted in Canada Customs, US Customs, Your Broker Knows

Update on Wood Packaging Materials Moving Between Canada & USA

Wooden palletsOver the past few weeks, Pacific Customs Brokers has noticed a marked increase in U. S. Customs and Border Protection demands for shipments to be “direct exported” back to Canada due to non-compliance with the Solid Wood Packaging Materials (SWPM) regulations.

While we have not receive any official U. S. notification of this increased enforcement, Customs officers have verbally advised us that they would prefer to see the SWPM statement with any shipment that contains pallets that may not be properly marked. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has provided us with the following information – Update on Wood Packaging (PDF).

Please note that no recent changes have been made to the regulations, however, we strongly advise that all shippers to the USA review the requirements and their internal practices to assure that you are in compliance. Should you have further questions, please contact Pacific Customs Brokers at 604.538.1566 and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Posted on March 6th, 2012 by April Collier
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Posted in Canada Customs, Carrier, Transportation, US Customs

Single Trip Authorization Bonds

InvoicesCarriers that haven’t posted security with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) are considered non-bonded highway carriers. Generally, these carrier codes start with the number 1 or 7.

Normally a non-bonded carrier must have the shipment released at the first point of arrival (ie. the border). However, if the non bonded carrier cannot obtain release of the shipment at the border and chooses to bring a shipment inland for release at another CBSA office, the carrier must post a single trip authorization bond at the Canadian border or be authorized to use the carrier code of a bonded carrier. Otherwise, the non-bonded carrier may be issued a penalty.

A single trip authorization may be acquired in one of two ways:

  • By posting security directly with CBSA using cash or a certified cheque
  • By engaging a customs broker, such as Pacific Customs Brokers, who provides this service

In order for Pacific Customs Brokers to assist you with this request, it’s helpful for you or your driver to notify us in advance so the documentation can be prepared before arrival at the border. The information that you or your drivers would need to provide is:

  • Power of attorney with method of payment
  • Invoice for the goods be transported
  • Truck & trailer registration
  • Copy of driver’s license
  • Carrier code
  • Specify the reason that the bond is required

Although there are some limitations with being a non-bonded carrier, there are options available to you.

If you are interested in our single trip bond service or becoming a bonded carrier, please contact our Carrier Help Desk for assistance.

Posted on February 29th, 2012 by Sonia Stanton
Posted in Canada Customs, Carrier, Your Broker Knows

The Value of Partners in Protection (PIP) & C-TPAT Memberships

Partners in Protection logoInterested in spending more time on shipping and less on border delays? In the age of global trading, your reputation as a company will be focused on security practices and getting your goods across the border with fewer inspections and expedited border clearances.

The recent Partners in Protection (PIP) Newsletter confirmed as at January 1, 2012, there were 1,449 PIP Members in Canada. With the recent announcements with the U.S. for a “shared vision for perimeter security”, PIP has also confirmed that 78% of all PIP Members are already C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) Certified as well.

Is it necessary? For some, yes! PIP Membership is a necessity for eligibility into certain programs. As a PIP Member you are committed to supply chain security, and the benefits include:

  • Eligibility to apply to the FAST Program;
  • Eligibility to the Low Value Shipment Program;
  • Enhanced reputation as being a low-risk company;
  • Fewer border delays; and
  • Expedited clearances

As the United States and Canada have agreed to a shared vision for perimeter security, we can expect that perimeter security to slowly become more harmonized.

What does that mean exactly? To start, an initiative has been announced for the C-TPAT and PIP Programs. Other programs will become more integrated such as the Trusted Trader Program and Partners in Compliance (under the Customs Self Assessment).

Of the 1,449 PIP Members in Canada, 62% of those are highway carriers. The benefits of expedited border clearances and fewer inspections combined with the enhanced reputation can provide you with a competitive advantage, as well as position your organization to be internationally recognized.

Pacific Customs Brokers is pleased to provide a PIP and C-TPAT informative seminar on March 29, 2012, which will provide you with details about the applications and the membership processes.  To register for the PIP Seminar. To register for the C-TPAT Seminar.

Posted on February 21st, 2012 by Jenny Hubbard
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Posted in Canada Customs, Carrier, Your Broker Knows

Crossing the Border with a Multi-Load Shipment?

Red truckIn a situation where a commodity is invoiced as a single transaction and it is an oversize shipment such as: a large building and or machinery that cannot physically be moved on one truck,   Canada Border Services Agency has a provision to handle multi-load moves with one invoice value. The industry terminology for this type of special entry is a Prime and Entered to Arrive (ETA) entry. In these cases, the entire quantity of goods will be accounted for when the first shipment arrives, and the remainder will be processed as paper release package for each load to follow.

This means drivers carrying any parts or components for goods previously accounted for on one invoice will need to clear Customs against the original declaration previously provided to CBSA at the same port of entry as approved.

Carrier documentation requirements:

Each driver should then have a bill of lading and a packing list indicating all goods on board. These documents should be noted with a specific reference number being used to identify the original entry. Common examples would be the serial#, Unit#, VIN#, PO#, Shippers# or any other number that is unique to the complete commodity.

In addition, the driver should note which load number   they are of the total number of trucks needed to complete the delivery. For example:   load 3 of 12.

Next step is to notify the customs broker of your intent to cross the border. Indicate the PORT (which can only be the CBSA port listed on the CBSA approval form), estimated time of arrival (ETA) and phone number for the driver in the event the driver needs to be reached. If a cargo control number (CCN) has not been provided, please ensure that the driver is aware of the carriers “carrier code”, as a manifest will be required upon arrival. Charges to generate a cargo control number/barcode for the driver may apply if not previously provided.

Do you have components on board for more than one prime entry OR extra parts not for a prime entry?

If so, the driver will need to generate a SEPARATE bill of lading (BOL), separate packing list & separate CCN for each list of items that will be specific to each prime entry.

Extra parts shipped with an ETA load that are not a part of an original transaction will also require a separate BOL, packing list, Canada Customs or commercial invoice indicating all information required for Customs & separate CCN.

Comments:

Please note that drivers generally will not be provided any “invoices” for their load because the master invoice for the complete transaction would have already been declared to CBSA   More than likely, the driver will have a packing list, BOL, indication of what unit they have parts for, load# & CCN#. If the drivers have parts for more than one unit, they need to provide a separate list. For more information on this blog, please feel free to contact the carrier help desk at 855.542.6644 or email carrierhelpdesk@pcb.ca.

 

Posted on February 8th, 2012 by Cherie Storms
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Posted in Canada Customs, Carrier, Transportation, Your Broker Knows

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