The Single Window Initiative means several changes for importers:
Our goal is to help you understand what is expected for the new “how, when, and what” of SWI requirements relating to the items you ship. These updates guide importers through specific commodities or categories of commodities, and the Participating Government Agencies (PGAs) that are affected.
Under the new SWI, it’s important that you understand which Participating Government Agencies (PGAs) are regulating your products. Some products are regulated by multiple PGAs, and the PGAs regulating your products may have changed under SWI.
Additionally, each PGA and the CBSA can issue penalties for incorrect and missing documents. Understanding what information and documentation is needed for clearance will make the clearance process into Canada smoother and more efficient.
The CBSA assists the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) with the administration and enforcement of acts and regulations governing the import of nuclear substances, prescribed nuclear equipment, and prescribed nuclear information.
The SWI data elements required for release include:
Commercial descriptions, and their essential description elements, vary depending on the categorization of the import.
Radiation device: device name (e.g., Gamma beam X200)
Nuclear substance: physical form of the substance (sealed, granules, powder etc.)
Controlled nuclear substance: brief description of the substance being imported
Nuclear equipment: brief description of the equipment being imported
Chemical specifications, and their essential description elements, vary depending on the categorization of the import.
Radiation device: chemical specification of the intended material to contain (e.g., Cs-137)
Nuclear substance: chemical specification (e.g., Y-90)
Controlled nuclear substance: the specification that corresponds to the controlled nuclear substance (e.g., Plutonium) to be imported
Nuclear equipment: nuclear non-proliferation import and export control regulations (NNIECR) schedule part number as it appears on your import license (e.g., A.2.1.10)
The United Nations dangerous good (UNDG) code.
Radiation device: UNDG is mandatory
Nuclear substance: UNDG is mandatory
Controlled nuclear substance: UNDG is not required
Nuclear equipment: UNDG is not required
The count of packages for each retail package level
Package certification: any regulatory-related marks (e.g. certifications) present on the retail packaging
The total quantity of the commodities present in this commodity line must be provided
The quantity of the chemical specifications present in this commodity line must be provided using a compatible unit of measure of the item as presented in the CNSC license.
Radiation device: the activity of the source per device must be provided. Additional occurrences of this segment may be required.
Nuclear substance: the total activity/activity concentration, per isotope, of the sources must be provided
Controlled nuclear substance: total mass of the controlled nuclear substance must be provided
The quantity unit count or unit of measure.
Radiation device: the unit count of radiation devices, per model
Nuclear substance: the unit count of sources, per isotope
Nuclear equipment: the unit count, per equipment
Needed to provide information on licenses and certificates to regulate the import. Multiple document types may be required to be provided depending on the commodity.
7000 CNSC license: enter the exact license number as it appears on Section 1 of the CNSC license
7001 CNSC device certificate: enter the exact device certificate number as it appears on the CNSC device certificate
Importer name, telephone number, or email address is required.
The party identifier used for identification purposes (i.e., Business Number) must belong to the licensee on the CNSC license.
Provide information about the party named in the license, permit, certificate, or other (LPCO).
Manufacturer name, telephone number, or email address is required.
The delivery destination must be provided.
For SWI, being proactive is your best strategy—gather all your information and documentation as far in advance as possible. Importers who know the requirements for the products they’re importing, and understand the new processes under SWI, will have a much smoother import experience.