The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has released an updated list of trade compliance verification priorities for 2023. The CBSA periodically sets verification priorities which reflect its evaluation of the risk of non-compliance with customs regulations concerning the importation of specific categories of goods or supply chains.
In July 2023, the CBSA's trade verification priorities have been updated to remove:
Freezers and other freezing equipment under Heading 84.18 and washers and dryers under Headings 84.50 and 84.51 are new additions to the CBSA's priorities.
Trade verification audits usually encompass three main areas: (1) tariff classification, (2) customs valuation, and (3) origin. These audits tend to concentrate on one of these customs programs, specifically targeting a specified "verification period," which is typically the last complete fiscal year. Based on the updated list of trade compliance verification priorities, an importer may be required to modify past import entry declarations that were non-compliant within a period of up to four years prior to the date of amendment.
All importers are at risk of random or compliance-based verifications. It is important to note that not all audits are based on verification priorities. Although the priorities identified in this list focus on risk in the three main customs areas of tariff classification, valuation and country of origin, verifications of import compliance can also include other customs programs. This includes, for example, trade incentives and compliance with areas of regulation administered by other government departments.
There are currently 15 active verification priorities, some of which are new while others have been in place for many years. This list contains 14 priorities for tariff classification and one for customs valuation. There are no origin verification priorities at this time.
The following summarizes the CBSA's current verification priorities:
|
Tariff Classification |
|
| Bicycle Parts | Heading 87.14 |
| Cell Phone Cases | Headings 39.26, 42.02 and 85.17 |
| Disposable And Protective Gloves | Subheadings 3926.20 and 4015.19 |
| Freezers And Other Freezing Equipment—New | Heading 84.18 |
| Furniture For Non-Domestic Purposes | Headings 94.01 and 94.03 |
| Indicator Panels And Light-Emitting Diodes (LED) | Headings 85.31 and 85.41 |
| LED Lamps | Heading 85.39 |
| Parts For Use With Machinery Of Chapter 84 | Heading 84.31 |
| Parts Of Lamps | Heading 94.05 |
| Parts Of Machines And Mechanical Appliances | Heading 84.79 |
| Pickled Vegetables | Heading 20.01 |
| Safety Headgear | Subheading 6506.10 |
| Spent Fowl | Headings 02.07, 16.01 and 16.02 |
| Washers And Dryers—New | Headings 84.50 and 84.51 |
|
Valuation |
|
| Apparel (Round 4) |
Chapters 61 and 62 |
|
Origin |
|
| No active origin verification priorities at this time. |
Greater detail regarding the list of all current verification priorities is available on the CBSA website.
Businesses that import goods listed as verification priority items should be prepared for the possibility of a CBSA trade compliance verification in the near future. If non-compliance is discovered, CBSA trade compliance verifications may result in payment of additional duties, GST, interest and penalties against businesses. Due to their retroactive nature, recovering these assessments through higher pricing tends to pose challenges.
Importers of goods not listed should still be mindful that the CBSA also carries out verifications based on complaints or through random selection. It is advised that importers remain vigilant in reviewing their customs compliance practices to ensure they adhere to current regulations and can withstand CBSA audits.
The Bennett Jones International Trade and Investment group is available to help client importers assess their compliance/non-compliance and to assist them in the steps that should be undertaken to correct errors resulting from past non-compliant practices and improve these practices going forward.