Canada Border Services Agency

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) ensures the security and prosperity of Canada by managing the access of people and goods to and from Canada. Since December 2003, the CBSA has been a part of the Public Safety Portfolio and is responsible for a broad range of legislation, regulations and related programs that affect both imports and exports. The Customs Act, the Customs Tariff, the Excise Act and the Excise Tax Act are the primary acts it administers.

The CBSA is also responsible for enforcing remedies against unfair trade practices under the Special Import Measures Act  and it plays an important role in meeting Canada's international commitments under trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement and the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement. It also administers a number of acts and regulations on behalf of other government departments and agencies.

The CBSA’s legislative, regulatory and partnership responsibilities include the following:

• Administering legislation that governs admissibility of people, goods, plants and animals into and out of Canada
• Detaining those people who may pose a threat to Canada
• Removing people who are inadmissible to Canada, including those involved in terrorism, organized crime, war crimes or crimes against humanity
• Interdicting illegal goods entering or leaving the country
• Protecting food safety, plant and animal health, and Canada's resource base
• Promoting Canadian business and economic benefits by administering trade legislation and trade agreements
• Enforcing trade remedies to protect industry from the injurious effects of dumped and subsidized imported goods
• Administering a fair and impartial redress mechanism
• Promoting Canadian interests in various international forums and with international organizations
• Collecting applicable duties and taxes on imported goods