You could find yourself in a specific country where you may have gone for vacation, and while you’re there, you encounter a remarkable product that you might be seeing for the first time. In such a case, what you’re looking at could an opportunity for great business. However, it is not very easy to be sure about such an opportunity. According to Joy Nott, a product could be highly successful in a country in Europe or Asia.
Still, you may find that the results you get are unsatisfactory when it comes to the Canadian market. Nott serves as the Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters President, which is a renowned non-profit establishment. She believes that such a scenario would require you to do some thorough research to verify whether there is a good market for your product before shipping it in bulk to the country. Here are a few factors that will help you make a much more informed decision for such a case.
Know the Category of Your Product Tariff
In the Canadian market, pharmaceutical products and foods are a very sensitive niche for the business. That means that for any given product in this category that may have been a success in a particular country, that may not necessarily translate to the Canadian market. A good example would be deodorant. In the United States, this product is classified under cosmetics.
However, in Canada, it is considered a drug, and therefore, it has to have an unforgettable DIN (Drug Identification Number) if it is to be recognized in this market. Classifying a product in Canada is done by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA). This body is tasked with ensuring that any product is classified accordingly.
The whole process is not overly complicated, but, in some cases, CBSA may want to perform tests on the products. This procedure is done to verify the product’s chemical components that will aid in giving the go-ahead.
Safety and Labelling Requirements
Labels in both French and English have to be included in every foreign product. Measurements need to be changed to metric. The food labels have to include detailed nutritional information. A consumer product may require to show if it meets the energy-efficiency standards set in Canada.
You may want to check the stipulated labeling guidelines on sites of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Competition Bureau, and Health Canada. A few goods cannot be sold legally in the state like a baby stroller that fails to meet the safety requirements.
End of Life Management
Importers are in charge of making sure there is safe product disposal of what they bring to Canada. In case you are importing high-tech commodities or pharmaceuticals having harmful content, you cannot make a drop at the landfill. There are severe fines and more stringent enforcement measures for those caught committing this act. Before importing, craft a strategy detailing how and where you dispose of any specialized commodities.
Final Thoughts
It is an exceptional concept to obtain professional help if you seek to release a foreign commodity in Canada, particularly given the considerable financial risk when your item is denied access. If you fail to engage a customs broker or trade attorney, you may spend substantial money and time discovering that you have products that cannot enter the market.
