Information Notice

Offload Policy for Highway Examinations

The Canada Border Services Agency's (CBSA) offload policy applies to commercial highway shipments.

Under the Customs Act, carriers must present their goods to an officer for examination if requested. As part of this process, carriers must, as appropriate, remove any covering from goods, unload any conveyance or open any part of the conveyance, and unpack any package or container that the officer wishes to examine.

Carriers can perform the offload themselves or engage another service provider of their choice to do this. However, for the convenience of carriers, the CBSA has arranged for a pre-approved offload service provider to be available at designated commercial offices. At the request of the carrier, this service provider will offload and reload cargo that has been selected for examination.

Why is my shipment being examined?

Border services officers target shipments for further examination to ensure that shipments entering Canada are safe and secure. If a shipment is examined, this does not necessarily mean that criminal activity is involved.

The CBSA may choose to examine your shipment for several reasons:

• to detect prohibited or restricted items (e.g. pornography, narcotics) or smuggled goods;
• to fulfill the requirements of other government departments (e.g. meat inspections, import permits); or
• to ensure that the goods comply with customs legislation (e.g. to verify that the description, value, quantity and markings of the goods match the information on the invoice).

When requested by an officer, the person reporting the goods must present them for examination. Under the CBSA's time standard, goods must be presented for examination within two hours.

If you do not present your goods within this time frame, you may be assessed under the Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) for failing to report your goods (administrative monetary penalty C026).

Details on administrative monetary penalties can be found in the AMPS Master Penalty Document.

How do I present my goods?

The CBSA is committed to processing commercial shipments as quickly and as efficiently as possible. An offload service provider can ensure that carriers have their shipments offloaded and reloaded in a routine fashion and meet their obligations in a timely manner.

Carriers can perform the offload themselves or engage another service provider of their choice to do this. CBSA pre-approved offload service providers are available at designated commercial offices. These service providers are bonded and carry the appropriate liability insurance.

CBSA pre-approved offload service providers will undertake the following:

• hire security-cleared labourers;
• guarantee that a minimum of one labourer per offload has the valid licences/certificates and proper training designation to operate offloading equipment;
• provide all equipment and supplies required for conducting offloads and reloads, including forklifts;
• be on site during core hours and at all other times report to the site within two hours (in this case, the carrier's requirement to finalize arrangements with a service provider and present goods for examination within two hours will only start once the CBSA pre-approved service provider reports to the designated commercial office); and
• offer competitive fixed pricing for offload services and payment options (e.g. cash, credit card, debit, standing account).

Who is responsible for any possible damage to my goods?

Any damage issues resulting from offloading and reloading should be directed to the offload service provider. Any issues that arise during an examination should be directed to the border services officer.

Who is responsible for any possible damage to CBSA installations?

The carrier is responsible for any damage to CBSA installations resulting from offloading unless the carrier used the services of the CBSA pre-approved offload service provider.

What legal authority does the CBSA have to examine my shipments?

Section 99 of the Customs Act authorizes the CBSA to conduct examinations of commercial shipments.

Why is there a cost for offloading shipments?

Carriers are responsible for all costs related to meeting their obligation to report and present goods for examination.

Where can I get more information?

Canada: 1-800-461-9999
Outside Canada: 204-983-3500 or 506-636-5064
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