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Procedures for Settlers (Personal) Effects

AHPD-DSAE-IE-2001-13-1
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Legislation

Health of Animals Act Section 16 (1)

Definition

Settlers (personal) effects are shipments of goods or equipment imported from other countries that are the personal belongings and goods of individuals that are relocating to Canada, or returning after an extended absence from the country.

Commodity Characteristics

The goods are usually the furniture, household items, vehicles, clothing, footwear and personal effects that are transferred to Canada in a move or relocation. Agricultural vehicles and equipment may be included in these shipments.

Policy

Based on the following categories inspection should proceed as follows:

Risk Category 1 - Goods from outside the continental USA, originating from a rural location and destined for a rural or farm premises in Canada.

Procedure: Full inspection of goods and effects prior to arrival at rural destination.

Risk Category 2 - Goods from outside the continental USA, moving from a metropolitan location to a rural location in Canada.

Procedure: Enquiry to determine if there are any agricultural goods in the shipment and inspection where applicable.

Risk Category 3 - Goods from outside the continental USA, originating from a metropolitan location and destined for a metropolitan location in Canada.

Procedure: Examination by CFIA based on referral from Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) that the shipment contains agricultural goods not permitted entry to Canada or there is cause for concern with cleanliness of goods.

Risk Category 4 - Goods from the continental USA

Procedure: No examination unless referred by CBSA.

Movement of Goods to Canada

By virtue of the size or quantity of the goods, settlers effects are usually packed in large (cargo) containers which arrive in Canada by ship at a major seaports, or they may arrive at US seaports and enter Canada at land border crossings or by rail as an in-transit shipment. Container contents may be examined at the point of arrivals but are often sent inland to a CBSA warehouse or release point for examination (destuffing) and/or clearance.

Tracking of the Movement of Goods into Canada

Marine Containers

In cooperation with CBSA, manifests should be examined by CFIA staff at the point of arrival for containers with settlers’ effects. The CFIA inspector obtains a copy of the manifest and the inland location where the goods are to be forwarded for any Risk Category 1 or 2 shipments. The inspector transfers this information by fax to the Area Office Import Coordinator where the goods are to be released by CBSA. The Import Coordinator should immediately forward the information to the CFIA office covering the location where the goods are to arrive.

In-Transit Containers

Import Services Centres may be involved with the identification of shipments of Settlers’ effects from the United States, or in-transit shipments and should arrange for inspection as required or forward the information to destination location.

The following instructions have been provided by CBSA to their staff:

Inspection Requirements

Risk Category 1 - Full inspection of the goods at the point of entry or CBSA clearance point. The container may not move to a rural location for CFIA examination.

Risk Category 2 - Prior to release, a CFIA officer must verbally identify the goods in the shipment with the importer or their agent. Inspection should be conducted when agriculture goods or products are identified from enquiries. Random inspection should be undertaken on fifteen percent of shipments that do not declare agricultural goods.

Risk Category 3 - 4 - Inspection as required based on CBSA referral.

1. Movement to an Inland Location for Re-Inspection

   Containers may move forward for opening and inspection by CFIA at an inland location provided the following conditions are met:

   • Where Risk Category 1 containers can be discerned, a request to hold the container after unloading should be made. These containers should be examined by a CFIA inspector for exterior cleanliness. Containers showing evidence of exterior contamination (soil - organic material) must be cleaned before being allowed to proceed.
   • Ideally for Risk Category 1 containers, inspectors at frontier entry points should verify with CFIA at inland examination points that they are equipped to undertake the inspection and C&D as required before containers move forward.
   • Where Risk Category 1 shipments have been identified and are to proceed inland, they should move under CFIA licence and be sealed. An envelope should be attached near the seal containing the licence and instructions that contents must not be released to final destination without CFIA examination.
   • Risk Categories 2, 3 and 4 may move forward without seals and licence.

2. Guidelines for Inland Re-Inspection Facilities

   • Must be a CBSA bonded or sufferance warehouse in an urban location.
   • Must have drains in a designated wash area that are connected to a municipal sewage system.
   • Indoor facilities with satisfactory lighting and ventilation are recommended. Outdoor locations may be considered on a seasonal basis provided satisfactory drainage is available and weather conditions are such that potentially contaminated material will not become airborne.
   • Mobile wash services may be employed provided they come the inspection facilities.
   • Potentially contaminated equipment subject to pressure wash should have a wetting agent applied to visible soil - organic material prior to the wash to prevent aerosols from being formed. A wetting solution may be something as simple as a vinegar - water, a 50:50 solution or a detergent solution.

3. Inspection Procedures

   • Vehicles, mechanical implements, tools and equipment should be examined and determined to be free of organic material and soil, or cleaning and disinfection conducted.
   • Footwear and clothing should be examined and determined to be free of organic material and soil, or cleaning and disinfection conducted.
   • Agricultural products and by-products should be evaluated and only released after consulting the disease freedom recognition tables, plant protection directives and applicable regulations of both the Animal Health and Plant Protection programs.

Items of Concern

• Used vehicles, motorcycles, All terrain vehicles and bicycles;
• Farm vehicles, tractors and implements;
• Agricultural equipment, farm tools, garden tools and garden furniture;
• Animal equipment, saddles, halters, bridles, livestock blankets and feeding utensils;
• Footwear and farm clothing;
• Plant propagation equipment;
• Therapeutic agents, livestock medicines, vaccines and biologics;
• Untreated hides, feathers, bone, horns and tusks;
• Unprocessed wool, animal hair or straw packing material;
• Meat cutting and processing equipment;
• Meat, dairy and egg products;
• Plants, plant material and seeds.

The is not an all inclusive list. Inspectors should be aware that there both animal and plant diseases and pests may be imported on the above materials and inspection must be a joint effort.

Animal Health References

1. Procedures for Imported Vehicles and Equipment from Countries Infected with Foot and Mouth Disease
2. Evaluation of Disease Status by Countries/regions/zones

Plant Protection References

1. D-01-01, Interim Phytosanitary Requirements to Prevent the Entry of the Phytophthora Sp. Associated with Sudden Oak Death from the Netherlands, Germany and the State of California, United States
2. D-98-08, Import Requirements for Wood Dunnage, Pallets, Crating or Other Wood Packaging Materials
3. D-95-26, Phytosanitary Requirements for Soil and Related Matter, Alone or in Association With Plants