CALast reviewed 2026-07-22

Canada - Import & Export Regulatory Guide

Canada's border administration is the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), with export controls at Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The CARM (CBSA Assessment & Revenue Management) platform is now the system of record for commercial imports. Forced-labour import prohibition (Tariff item 9897.00.00) applies to any goods wholly or in part produced by forced or child labour.

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Regulatory authorities

CBSA ↗
Customs entry, CARM filings, valuation, SIMA administration.
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) ↗
Export controls, Area Control List, sanctions.
Health Canada / CFIA
Food, drugs, medical, pest, plant, animal admissibility.
ISED / IC-RSS
Radio equipment certification.

Licensing regimes

Licence	Scope	Issuer
GAC export permit	Export Control List items; military; strategic.	GAC
CARM registration	Business Number + import programme, RPP financial security.	CBSA
SFCR licence	Safe Food for Canadians - importers of food.	CFIA
Certificate of Origin (CUSMA / CETA / CPTPP)	Preferential FTA claims - self-certification.	Exporter/importer

Prohibited goods

· Goods produced by forced or child labour (Tariff item 9897.00.00).
· Certain used mattresses, obscene material.
· Firearms not compliant with the Firearms Act.
· Baby walkers, jequirity beans, kinder-egg style embedded candy.

Restricted goods

· Steel & aluminium - SIMA anti-dumping/countervail; Foreign Steel Melt & Pour reporting.
· Softwood lumber - export permits & US duties.
· Dairy, poultry, eggs - TRQ under supply management.
· Cannabis - Health Canada licensed only.

Labelling requirements

· Bilingual English & French labelling on consumer prepackaged goods (CPLA / Food Labelling).
· Textile Labelling Act - fibre content, dealer identification (CA number).
· Country of origin per Marking of Imported Goods Regulations.
· Consumer Chemicals & Containers Regulations (CCCR) hazard symbols.

Sanctions overlay

· Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA) - Russia, Belarus, Iran, Myanmar, DPRK, Syria, Venezuela, Haiti, others.
· Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Magnitsky-style) designations.
· UN Act - UNSC 1267/1373 lists.

Dispute resolution

CBSA request for re-determination within 90 days; CITT (Canadian International Trade Tribunal) appeal for SIMA and classification disputes. ADR Chambers / ICDR Canada common for commercial arbitration; NY Convention party since 1986.

Key official sources

Frequently asked questions (2)

What is CARM and what should importers prepare?

CARM is CBSA's cloud accounting platform, mandatory for commercial imports. Importers must register their Business Number + RM programme, delegate authority through the CARM Client Portal, and post their own financial security (RPP) - broker security no longer covers the importer of record.

How does Canada enforce forced-labour prohibitions?

Tariff 9897.00.00 lets CBSA detain goods with reasonable belief of forced- or child-labour content. Bill S-211 (Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act) requires annual reporting from covered entities. Traceability packages align well with US UFLPA rebuttal evidence.

These commodity hubs list Canada in their export or import lane. Cross-reference the regulatory rules above with grades, specs and HS chapters.

HS 2503 · Alberta sour gas belt

Templates & guides