CFIA National Import Service Center Announcement

(CFIA)

Fact Sheet:

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is modernizing its import control processes by consolidating its three import service centres (ISC) in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver into one National Import Service Centre (NISC), to be located in Toronto.

The NISC will be officially launched on October 5, 2009 and is expected to be fully functional by July 15, 2010. In the interim, you will continue to conduct business with the existing ISC in Montreal Toronto and Vancouver until further notice.

The CFIA will continue to provide front-line screening to ensure that imported products meet Canadian requirements. Regulatory compliance and the safety of food and agricultural commodities imported into Canada are a priority for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The creation of a National Import Service Centre will provide the following enhanced services:

• A single window for issues related to import transactions and documentation• Increased bilingual service to 24 hours, seven days a week from the existing 20 hours, seven days a week

• Increased consistency in the review of import documentation and verification of import admissibility

• Improved alignment with the services delivered by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

he CFIA is committed to maintaining established service standards with minimal disruption to clients during this transition and will be providing updates to stakeholders as work progresses.

Addendum:

In order to avoid any confusion, I would like to clarify a couple of points from our Fact Sheet.

1) The national Import Service Centre will not be offering 24 hour - 7 day a week service until July, 2010. 24 / 7 service will require major changes to our operations and we want to establish a fully-functioning Centre with sufficient staff and resources to ensure a smooth transition and to avoid any problems which may be encountered with an extended service.

2) Although the National Import Service Centre will be officially launched on October 5, 2009, it will not be fully functional until July, 2010. Until that time the existing Import Service Centres in Montreal and Vancouver will continue to operate. Until their closure (by July, 2010) you should continue to deal with whatever Import Service Centre you would have normally dealt with.

I hope that this serves to clarify any questions you may have had. If not please do not hesitate to contact me.

Michel LaBrosseDirector,
Import Control Division
Phone: 613.773.5325 • Fax: 613.773-5389
michel.labrosse@inspection.gc.ca