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Importing Info-Guide

Last Verified: 2007-05-11

The following Info-Guide provides information on key organizations, regulations and processes that importers should be aware of when importing goods into Newfoundland and Labrador.

For additional details on any organization listed in this guide, visit the Web sites provided or contact the organization directly. For general information on starting a business, see our Business Start-Up Info-Guide.

The Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador Business Service Centre is your BEST source for FREE business information. For information on any of our services, contact our Centre, or visit one of our Network Sites

Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador Business Service Centre
90 O'Leary Avenue
P.O. Box 8687
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador  A1B 3T1
Telephone: 709-772-6022
Fax: 709-772-6090
Toll-free (information): 1-800-668-1010 (in the Atlantic region only)
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: info@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/nl
Hours of operation: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
- Step-by-Step Guide to Importing
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- Border Information Service - BIS
- Customs Information for New Importers seminar
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
- Business Number (BN)
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
- Export and Import Permits Act - Import Permits
- Regional and Bilateral Initiatives
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
- Importing food
- Importing plants or plant products
- Importing animal or animal products
Industry Canada (IC)
- Trade Data Online
- Canadian Importers Database
Competition Bureau
- Labelling Assessment Tools
Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters (I.E. Canada)
- Importing into Canada : a Step-By-Step Guide on How to Start an Import Business
Forum for International Trade Training (FITT)
- Going Global workshops
- FITTskills program
- Small Exporter Management (SEM) Certificate
- Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation


Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

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Step-by-Step Guide to Importing
This guide provides an overview of the commercial importing process. The following basic steps are discussed (see the Guide for details):

  • Obtain a Business Number
  • Prepare documentation on the goods you plan to import, ensuring the goods are not prohibited or restricted in any way from coming into Canada
  • Determine duties and taxes you are responsible for (rate of duty; GST; excise tax and duty; etc.)
  • Ensure that marking and labelling requirements are met
  • Prepare documents related to shipping of goods
  • Prepare documents related to receiving of goods 
  • Pay duties/taxes
  • Make any necessary adjustments to records (self-adjustments) or comply with any adjustments by CBSA
  • Retain records, submit appeals, settle penalties.

For more information from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), you can:

Canada Border Services Agency
165 Duckworth Street
6th floor
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador  A1C 1G4
Toll-free (information): 1-800-461-9999
Web site: http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/menu-eng.html

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

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Business Number (BN)

The Business Number is a numbering system that simplifies and streamlines the way businesses deal with the federal government. The BN includes the four major CRA business accounts:

  • corporate income tax
  • import/export
  • payroll deductions, and
  • goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST).

All Canadian individuals or businesses importing on a commercial basis have to obtain a Business Number in order to account for their goods. CRA uses this number to identify a business and to process customs accounting documents.

Newfoundland & Labrador Tax Services Office
Canada Revenue Agency
Sir Humphrey Gilbert Building
165 Duckworth Street
P.O. Box 12075
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador  A1B 4R5
Fax: 709-754-5928
Toll-free (information): 1-800-959-5525 (Business Enquiries and Registrations)
Toll-free (publications): 1-800-959-2221 (Forms and Publications)
Web site: http://www.cra.gc.ca/menu-e.html

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)

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Export and Import Controls Bureau  (EICB)
The Bureau authorizes the import and export of goods restricted by quotas and/or tariffs. Import permits are issued through an on-line automated system either (a) in the offices of customs brokers in major centres across Canada, or (b) in the offices of the EICB in Ottawa. A list of customs brokers having access to the on-line computer system may be obtained from the EICB.

Regional and Bilateral Initiatives
Canada establishes trade agreements to provide access to markets for our goods and services. Canada currently has free trade agreements in place with the following countries:

  • Chile
  • Costa Rica
  • Israel
  • United States
  • United States and Mexico (NAFTA).

Export and Import Controls Bureau (EICB)
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
4th Floor, Tower C
Lester B. Pearson Building
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0G2
Telephone: 613-995-8104
Fax: 613-996-0612
Toll-free (information): 1-800-267-8376 (in Canada)
TTY (hearing impaired): 613-944-9136
Web site: http://www.international.gc.ca/menu-en.asp

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

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The CFIA regulates the import of food, plant and animal products.

Food 
The Guide to Importing Food Products Commercially provides an overview of the federal regulatory and policy requirements for the commercial importation of food into Canada. The Good Importing Practices for Food (GIP) is a voluntary code of practice to be used as a guideline for Canadian importers.

Plant and Plant Product Imports
The CFIA regulates the imports of products such as:

  • forestry commodities
  • wood packaging material and dunnage
  • grains and field crops
  • horticulture commodities
  • insects
  • plants with novel traits
  • potatoes
  • seeds. 

Animal and Animal Products
The CFIA regulates the imports of products such as:

  • animal pathogens
  • live animals, semen and embryos
    pets
  • veterinary biologics.

Regional Director, Newfoundland
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
10 Barter's Hill Road
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador  A1C 5X1
Telephone: 709-772-4424
Fax: 709-772-2282
Toll-free (information): 1-800-442-2342
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-465-7735
Web site: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/toce.shtml

Industry Canada (IC)

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Trade Data Online
This database provides the ability to generate customized reports on Canada's and U.S. trade in goods with over 200 countries. The data is obtained from Statistics Canada and the U.S. Census Bureau.

Canadian Importers Database
This database provides lists of companies importing goods into Canada, by product, by city and by country of origin.

Competition Bureau

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Labelling Assessment Tools
These tools were developed by the Competition Bureau to assist businesses in meeting the labelling requirements of federal legislation.

  • Consumer Packaging and Labelling
  • Precious Metals Marking
  • Textile Labelling
  • Down and Feather Labelling.

Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters (I.E. Canada)

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Importing into Canada : a Step-By-Step Guide on How to Start an Import Business
This publication focuses on the basic concepts of international trade and how to set up a business. It contains three parts:

  • Establishing a Business Structure
  • Evaluating Feasibility
  • Closing the Deal.

The publication is available for sale from I.E.Canada, or it can be borrowed from the Library at the Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador Business Centre (CNLBSC).

Canadian Association of
Importers and Exporters
Suite 1618
160 Eglinton Avenue East
Toronto, Ontario  M4P 3B5
Telephone: 416-595-5333
Fax: 416-595-8226
E-mail: info@iecanada.com
Web site: http://www.caie.ca/

Forum for International Trade Training (FITT)

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FITT equips individuals and businesses with practical skills related to international trade best practices. FITT offers 3-hour Going Global workshops that will provide basic knowledge to do business abroad. There is also the FITTskills program  which consists of eight courses that can be taken as a series or individually:

  • Global Entrepreneurship
  • International Marketing
  • International Trade Finance
  • International Trade Logistics
  • International Market Entry and Distribution
  • International Trade Research
  • Legal Aspects of International Trade
  • International Trade Management.

FITT also offers the Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation - the highest level of professional accreditation available to international business and trade professionals. To qualify for the CITP designation, you must meet the educational requirements of the FITTskills program, have a minimum one year work experience in an international trade environment, and pass the CITP Professional Exam.

Ms. Kay Graham
College of the North Atlantic (CNA)
Burin Bay Arm Campus
Burin, Newfoundland and Labrador 
Telephone: 709-891-5606
Fax: 709-891-5675
E-mail: kay.graham@cna.nl.ca
Web site: http://www.fitt.ca/english/view.asp?x=1

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this document is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. Users concerned about the reliability of the information should consult directly with the source, or seek legal counsel.

Links Policy
Some of the hypertext links lead to non-federal government sites which are not subject to the Official Languages Act and the material is available in one language only.



Last Modified: 2007-05-11

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