AIRS Verification Service - Request for Participation

(Canadian Food Inspection Agency)

Canadian importers and brokers have been asking to simplify and speed up the process of requesting multiple AIRS commodities in a single request through ACROSS and EDI. In response to this request from industry, the CFIA has developed the AIRS Verification Service (AVS). AVS is a web service designed to verify and validate multiple AIRS commodities in a single request. Information is sent to the service in an XML format where it is validated and a response message is generated identifying which commodity requires review before submission.

Currently, AVS is only available in a Pilot Project Phase for testing by importers and brokers. To date, we have had limited participation however, the response from participants has been very positive and they have all noted that the web service is a valuable time saver for their respective organizations.

At this time, CFIA requires further participation in the pilot project in order to thoroughly test the service before it becomes available nationally. Additional participation is crucial to the success of this service and without it the project and its launch may need to be cancelled.

It would be greatly appreciated if you will take the time to communicate this to your members and invite them to contact me directly should they wish to participate.

Your partnership and support in this matter are very much appreciated. Please feel free to contact me anytime should you or your members have any questions.

Heather Donohoe
AVS Pilot Coordinator, Import Control Division
Canadian Food Inspection Agency, National Headquarters,
Ottawa, ON
Phone: 613.773.5326
heather.donohoe@inspection.gc.ca