Understanding SWI

Understanding SWI and IID

The Single Window Initiative (SWI) – enables importers and customs brokers to use the Integrated Import Declaration (IID) with CBSA to address the requirements of the nine Participating Government Departments and Agencies (PGAs).

Those nine participating departments and agencies currently include:

Instead of collecting the essential data elements, licenses, permits, certificates and other information on regulated commodities post-importation, CBSA has decided instead to collect the information pre-importation, in other words, with the customs entry and prior to release.

Most goods being imported into Canada are regulated by one or more of the PGAs.

Some are obvious –

Cosmetics: health
Food for human or animal consumption: health
Transportation: safety, environment
Electrical apparatus and appliances: energy efficiency
Pumps, valves, engines, motors: energy efficiency

Others, less so –

Wooden furniture: health, environment
All commodities regulated by import permits such as wheat and wheat products, some steel, and fabrics

Several commodities require the handling and transmission of licenses, permits, certificates or other documentation. These documents or images thereof, need to be transmitted to, and approved by, the respective government department or agency before the customs release is granted.

While it is still currently possible to carry on the business of customs release and accounting under the legacy method (before SWI), CBSA has clearly stated that SWI submitted entries will be given preference in processing. That means goods will be released from customs control under SWI much sooner than those under the legacy method. Furthermore, the legacy method is expected to be decommissioned in the near future, essentially making SWI not only the preferred method of customs release, but also an inevitable requirement.

You may wish to refer to the CBSA website for further SWI/IID information. For a searchable list of HS tariff classification by PGA, visit the Regulated Commodities Data Element Matching Criteria Tables page.

Should any additional information be required, please contact us.

Understanding SWI and IID

The Single Window Initiative (SWI) – enables importers and customs brokers to use the Integrated Import Declaration (IID) with CBSA to address the requirements of the nine Participating Government Departments and Agencies (PGAs).

Those nine participating departments and agencies currently include:

Instead of collecting the essential data elements, licenses, permits, certificates and other information on regulated commodities post-importation, CBSA has decided instead to collect the information pre-importation, in other words, with the customs entry and prior to release.

Most goods being imported into Canada are regulated by one or more of the PGAs.

Some are obvious –

Cosmetics: health
Food for human or animal consumption: health
Transportation: safety, environment
Electrical apparatus and appliances: energy efficiency
Pumps, valves, engines, motors: energy efficiency

Others, less so –

Wooden furniture: health, environment
All commodities regulated by import permits such as wheat and wheat products, some steel, and fabrics

Several commodities require the handling and transmission of licenses, permits, certificates or other documentation. These documents or images thereof, need to be transmitted to, and approved by, the respective government department or agency before the customs release is granted.

While it is still currently possible to carry on the business of customs release and accounting under the legacy method (before SWI), CBSA has clearly stated that SWI submitted entries will be given preference in processing. That means goods will be released from customs control under SWI much sooner than those under the legacy method. Furthermore, the legacy method is expected to be decommissioned in the near future, essentially making SWI not only the preferred method of customs release, but also an inevitable requirement.

You may wish to refer to the CBSA website for further SWI/IID information. For a searchable list of HS tariff classification by PGA, visit the Regulated Commodities Data Element Matching Criteria Tables page.

Should any additional information be required, please contact us.