CBSA Target List – Are your goods on the list?

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) targets certain industries and products for audit each year to ensure compliance with tariff classification, product valuation and country of origin requirements.

 

CBSA’s list of “targeted verification priorities”is updated on an ongoing basis. The current list of priorities is provided on the CBSA website.

 

Having awareness of CBSA target lists, and your legal obligations as a Canadian importer, will speed up the clearance of your inbound shipments and avoid penalties and delays.

 

Make sure you understand the requirements for importing and know that there’s always a possibility of being audited by CBSA – whether you deal in items on the target list or not. Know, too, that non-compliance with tariff, valuation and country of origin requirements can result in significant monetary penalties to your organization.

 

Even if you’re an exemplary importer, CBSA may well still audit you – particularly if you’re dealing in items on the target list. Ensuring correct information on Customs documentation is imperative and can help your business remain competitive in today’s hypercompetitive marketplace.

 

Reduce risk and uncertainty

 

Ideally, importers will develop internal training programs to ensure key employees understand border requirements, including target priorities.  Strive to make importer compliance a ‘best practice’ in your organization. Stringent compliance policies protect your bottom line and your organization’s reputation.

 

If you don’t have the in-house resources and expertise to develop a bullet-proof training and compliance plan, consider enlisting the help of a reputable customs broker to remove any uncertainty around your compliance at the border.

 

Consider using our experienced professionals, knowledgable about CBSA auditing and target lists, to both help ensure your compliance in advance of an audit, and to guide you through the audit process when your turn comes. For more information, visit our website or...

 

 

Information provided by: Supply Chain Consultant - Cole International