CARM: What all importers need to know about CARM

Route Article

Single Window Initiative (SWI) becomes mandatory August 17, 2020

Single Window Initiative Compliance

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has announced that the Single Window Initiative (SWI), scheduled to become mandatory as of April 1, 2020 but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will become effective August 17, 2020.

As of this date, the existing OGD PARS and RMD service options will be decommissioned and any import declarations submitted via OGD PARS and RMD will be rejected.

CBSA created the SWI in order to electronically communicate with Participating Government Agencies (PGAs) to better identify goods with import requirements, and exchange that information with the PGA at time of release.

Universal Logistics has continued to use SWI for all PGA release requests since October 2018, however, because the program was not mandatory during that period CBSA did not require complete information for all areas.  Effective August 17, 2020 importers will be required to provide all required information at time of import.

As noted in our February 2020 issue of Route, additional fees will be implemented once SWI becomes mandatory.

For more information, contact Brian Rowe, Director – Customs Compliance & Regulatory Affairs.

Quick Tip #22
Put delivery and handling instructions in more than one place

Increase your chances of completing a successful delivery of a package by putting handling and delivery instructions on at least three of the surfaces.

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