Dear Member,
CBSA has announced that full implementation of its new electronic revenue assessment and management system (also known as CARM) has been postponed from October 2023 to May 2024. Please click HERE to read CBSA’s press release announcing the revised implementation schedule.
Despite this postponement, CBSA is strongly urging all commercial businesses which import goods into Canada to register in the CARM Client Portal as soon as possible in order to facilitate the transition to the new system and minimize possible delays and glitches.
Although CARM is designed primarily for importers and their representatives, marine carriers who perform the actions of an importer (i.e. marine carriers who are listed as the importer of record on the import documentation accompanying a shipment) will have to register in CARM and obtain their own bond in order to obtain release of their goods once the system is fully effective in May 2024.
CBSA recently published a What We Heard report summarizing stakeholder comments on the regulatory amendments that will support the transition to CARM, which provides an good general overview of CARM and the key changes it will introduce (including the fact that importers will no longer be able to use a broker’s bond as financial security).
Additional information about CARM and how to register for the CARM portal can be found at this LINK.
Sincerely,
Karen Kancens
Vice President