The Market Access section is meant to stimulate your planning when preparing to enter a foreign market. This section will not only answer questions, but also prompt you to ask more; the more information and answers you gather, the stronger the likelihood for successful exporting.
The following resources were assembled to make information gathering on market access issues as straightforward as possible for clients. It is assumed that at this stage of information gathering, the exporter has taken the measures to become exporter ready according to Canadian standards.
General Assistance and Exporting Guidelines
These resources span helpful guides and tips, to timely industry alerts addressing regulation changes. Each resource should be consulted to ensure a well rounded comprehension of the process of exporting to the United States (U.S.).
- Exporting to the United States: A Guide for Canadian Businesses - whether you're a new or established exporter to the U.S., this guide will provide you with practical information that will make your export business to the U.S. easier to start, maintain and expand (The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Tips for New Importers and Exporters - to avoid potential problems in the clearance of your merchandise through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), familiarize yourself with CBP policies and procedures prior to actually exporting your goods
- Status Reports on Quotas - weekly commodity status reports for imported agriculture, food products, textile products, and other merchandise subject to Tariff Rate Quotas
The Embassy of the United States of America
- Border Issues - what you need to know before crossing the border, compiled by the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa Canada
Canadian Border Services Agency
- Exporting Goods From Canada: A Handy Guide for Exporters - understand the reporting requirements which must be fulfilled in order to meet your obligations under the Customs Act
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Import Alerts - access current import alerts issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to better understand what they are looking for and what they reprimand
United States Department of Agriculture
- Importing Goods – import regulations, procedures, checklists etc. for meat, poultry, egg, plant and animal imports into the U.S.
Bioterrorism Act and Requirements
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration as well as Customs and Border Protection are responsible for carrying out certain provisions of the Bioterrorism Act; particularly those pertaining to the protection of the food and drug supply. As an exporter, this Act influences the measures you take towards exporting your goods successfully and securely to the U.S. market.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
FDA Develops New Tools to Further Improve the Security of Food - As part of the FDA's comprehensive Food Protection Plan initiative, the agency has released self-assessment tools for industry to minimize the risk of intentional contamination of food and cosmetics. The tools are companion pieces designed to make previously issued industry guidance documents more user-friendly and practical.
- Overview: Importation of Food and Cosmetics
- The Bioterrorism Act of 2002 – consult the Act, the plans for implementing the Act and what are required of you as a food exporter under this Act
- Registration and Prior Notice Small Entity Compliance Guides - What You Need to Know About Registration of Food Facilities and What You Need to Know About Prior Notice of Imported Food Shipments; guides which cover the key points of the two new interim final regulations for manufacturing/processing, packing and holding facilities, and for importers, filers, and brokers of imported food
- Sending Food through International Mail - what to do when sending your product samples into the U.S.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Trade Guidance for Bioterrorism Act – guidance on the Act from a Customs and Border Protection perspective
- Partnerships to Secure the Supply Chain – information on the Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Free and Secure Trade (FAST) programs
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and its Implications
Foreign Affaires, Trade and Development Canada
- Doing Business in the NAFTA Region - No matter the size of your business the NAFTA offers opportunities that can give you an export advantage that you can use. The NAFTA parties have committed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) reap the benefits of our integration and regional supply chains.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- NAFTA: A Guide to Customs Procedures
- Requirements for Electronic Ruling Requests - procedures under this rulings program apply to requests for binding classification rulings under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) and certain marking, origin, NAFTA and applicability of Trade Program rulings
Other Considerations and Resources
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Food Ingredients and Packaging Terms
- Colour Additives
- Information about Food Allergens
- A Food Labelling Guide