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How to submit a paper declaration to the National Import Service Centre

In the event that the Integrated Import Declaration is not accessible, or if your documentation is larger than 150 MB, the documentation package can be submitted as a paper entry to the National Import Service Centre (NISC) via email or fax:

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is recommending importers/brokers adhere to the following guidelines when submitting documentation to the NISC. Adhering to the guidelines will help improve turnaround times for processing your shipment.

Submit your paper declaration using form CFIA/ACIA 5272 Request for documentation review:

Example for filling out form CFIA/ACIA 5272 – Request for documentation review

The example provided below, is for an importer shipping plants and not using the services of a broker.

Disclaimer

The company names and addresses used in this example are purely fictional for the purposes of outlining how the information should be presented and formatted in form CFIA/ACIA 5272. Any similarities to current or past importers or brokers are by coincidence only.

Form CFIA/ACIA 5272. Description follows.
Description of form CFIA/ACIA 5272 example, showing required fields to be filled out by importer shipping plants and not using the services of a broker example

Required fields

  • Number of pages including cover sheet – this number includes all required documentation
  • Driver waiting or estimated arrival time – indicate "Yes" only when the driver is at the border
  • Broker (or Importer) – the field has been left empty
  • CBSA release office – as defined by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Example: 009-Halifax, 395-Montreal, 495-Toronto, 821-Vanvouver. Contact name – person who sent the request and has details on the merchandise, transportation and destination
  • Email address – contact's email address for correspondence
  • Telephone Number – contact's telephone and the extension number
  • Facsimile number – Contact's facsimile number
  • Transaction number – a unique 14-digit transaction number
  • Importer – legal name of the company or the importer in Canada
  • Safe Food For Canadians licence number – Valid licence number issued by CFIA
  • Commodity – type of merchandise regulated by CFIA
    • A detailed description must appear on the commercial invoice submitted
  • Quantity – quantity of the full load
    • Number of units or total weight (for example: 500 bags or 20,000 kg)
  • Delivery address – first Canadian destination
    • If there are multiple delivery addresses, indicate multiple drop
    • Complete addresses must be clearly indicated on each invoice submitted
  • Meat shipment – name and registered reinspection establishment number (not applicable for this example)
  • Unmarked meat shipment – for unmarked meat, processing plant address and establishment number must be indicated (not applicable for this example)
  • Transportation – name of the vessel arriving at the Canadian seaport or the transportation company in other cases.Voyage number – vessel or flight number
  • Container number – container number must be clearly indicated. First Point of entry in Canada – first physical point of entry in Canada (for example: Port of Halifax, Port of Montreal, Toronto Airport, (LBPIA), Coutts, Emerson, Pacific Highway) Air way/bill of lading number  – number of the air, ship, train or truck waybill

Please note that commodities requiring NISC release must be cleared by CFIA at first point of entry before moving inland or to an inland CBSA bonded warehouse.

Comments (payment card industry security standards prohibits the inclusion of credit card information on this form)

  • list comments if any such as
    • system outage
    • CITES requirement
    • in-bond shipment, etc

Method of payment

  • Name of the payer – the person/ company who will receive and pay the invoice issued by CFIA (broker or importer).
  • CFIA client account number – a unique 8-digit client account number
    • To obtain a client account number, please contact accounts receivable
  • Pay by credit card – a checkbox followed by pay by credit card (see appendix – pay by credit card online)

Other import documents to include

Based on the results of your Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) search for your import product(s), there will be importer/broker instructions identifying the needed documentation to submit to the NISC as part of your paper declaration. You must include your import product(s) Harmonized System (HS) codes with your paper declaration.

Missing documentation results in unnecessary rejections prolonging the processing of your import shipment.

Example: AIRS search for fresh apples

Example of AIRS search for fresh apples. Description follows.
Description for example of AIRS search for fresh apples

Summary of requirements

HS Description : 080810

  • 08 Edible fruits and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons
  • 08 Apples, pears and quinces, fresh
  • 10 Apples (fresh)

OGD Extension : 400100

  • 4001 Apples (fresh) (Malus spp.)

Origin : UWA

  • U.S. United States
  • UWA Washington

Destination : BC

  • BC British Columbia

End Use : 46

  • 46 Travellers and Personal use and not for resale or distribution

Example: importer/broker instructions from AIRS search for fresh apples

Example of importer/broker instructions. Description follows.
Description for the example of importer/broker instructions from AIRS search for fresh apples

Importer / Broker Instructions

  • no additional text is found below Importer / broker instructions

Documentation instructions

  • Phytosanitary certificate
    • Obtain from Country of Export prior to importation

In this example for fresh apples for personal use and not for resale or distribution, NISC would require:

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