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IMPORTANT: As of July 1st, 2011, functions once performed by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce have been moved to other state agencies and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The former Commerce web site will continue to exist for the next several months as resources are moved to new web site locations. We will make every attempt possible to direct our users to the new locations as web resources are moved.
Bureau of Export Development
PO Box 7970
Madison, WI 53707-7970
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Vol. 9 #1, September 2009
Updated Canadian Policies
 The
Canadian Government has recently updated a number of policies and
regulations affecting imports of a variety of products into the country.
NAFTA Rules of Origin
A series of amendments to the North American Free Trade Agreement Rules
of Origin Regulations were published on July 7, 2009, implementing
liberalized rules of origin for a range of products imported into
Canada from its NAFTA partners. The amendments specifically
liberalize rules of origin requirements for herbs and spices,
petroleum, leather, certain textiles and apparel, aluminum, diesel
engines, gas turbines and parts, valves, electric transformers, primary
cells and batteries, telephonics, televisions, locomotives and parts,
medical appliances and parts, and certain instruments. The
amendments are estimated to reduce duties paid by Canadian importers by
C$1 million (US$860,000) and involve additional savings to Canadian
industry by increasing access to duty-free treatment under the NAFTA
for their exports to the U.S. and Mexican markets.
Electrical Products
The implementation of a new set of rules to certify the safety of
electrical products being sold in the Province of Ontario that were
originally slated to go into effect on August 30, 2009, has been
postponed indefinitely. The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA),
which acts as a safety authority for electrical products on behalf of
the Ontario Government recently proposed new rules for manufacturers of
electrical products to demonstrate that their product meets a valid
Canadian Standard. While these rules were only intended for the
Province of Ontario, other provincial electrical authorities may adopt
similar regulations at a later date. The focus of the
registration is to enforce product safety and reduce the occurrence of
counterfeit goods. Updates on the status of the regulations can
be found at the ESA website.
Further information can also be obtained by contacting the General
Manager of Product Safety at the ESA, Mr. Norm Breton, product.safety@electricalsafety.on.ca, (905) 712-7813.
Pet Food
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will now require that
commercially prepared pet food and pet treats containing non-bovine
ingredients imported from the United States have an import permit
issued by CFIA, only after the successful completion of a risk
assessment questionnaire. In addition an importer statement of
compliance and Canada customs invoice or a commercial invoice must be
linked to the shipment and clearly describe the product(s) being
imported, indicating the country of origin and end use.
Pet food and pet treats which contain bovine ingredients from the
United States will also require the import permit and customs invoice
information as above but also require a Zoosanitary Export Certificate
and an original export health certificate, endorsed by a full-time,
salaried veterinarian of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS). More information on regulations affecting food
imports is available at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website.
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