The Canada Border Services Agency has announced its compliance verification priorities for 2013. For tariff classification purposes, they include a number of consumer goods (pet toys, fresh cut flowers, coconut milk, pickles, golf club covers, curling irons, aluminum foil, wheel rims and spokes, and spectacle lenses), and commercial/industrial products (steel T-Posts, safety headgear, disposable and protective gloves, and certain vehicles used by the mining industry). The CBSA will be looking at the customs appraisal/value of the following consumer goods: apparel, footwear, yachts for pleasure or sport, fresh cut flowers, and preparations and pastry cooks’ products. Finally, origin targets will include bedding and drapery, cocoa powder, mattress upholstery, frozen crab, and cotton pants.

Verification targets are based on risk analysis. Additional, random verifications are based on a number of factors, including risk assessment, client service activities/feedback, revenue assessment, and promotion of voluntary compliance. While it is impossible for the CBSA to ensure 100% customs compliance, its verification practices are intended to promote widespread Canadian import/export compliant behavior. Importers/exporters  into and out of Canada, and in particular those who deal in the targeted goods, should review their own customs practices to ensure they are compliant in advance of receipt of notice of a trade verification in order to establish the scope of non-compliance and to self correct/disclose, as the case may be, to avoid penalties and cumbersome retroactive analysis when time is limited.