OGD Single Window Interface

The OGD Single Window Interface is a joint initiative between the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and other government departments (OGDs) and agencies wishing to receive release information electronically on commercial import data.

Instead of presenting paper packages at the office of release, importers and brokers who have gone through the required testing can send transactions with OGD requirements electronically.

Participating OGDs

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Natural Resources Canada
• Transport Canada (Tires)

Registration and Testing

Importers and brokers can register to test the OGD Single Window Interface system.

You must be an existing release client with the CBSA to test the OGD service options. To become a release client, refer to the Procedures for Becoming an EDI Client.

Clients registered with the CBSA who are already set up to transmit EDI (electronic data interchange) releases are encouraged to test these OGD service options.

Resources

• Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System
  List of Harmonized System codes that are regulated by participating OGDs.
• Data Elements CADEX
  ACROSS map in CADEX format for OGD fields.
• Data Elements EDIFACT
  ACROSS map in EDIFACT format for OGD fields.
• OGD Test Package (PDF 26.4Kb) [help with PDF files]
  The CBSA´s test requirements for OGD entries.

CFIA/ACROSS Interface

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)/ACROSS interface allows importers and brokers to transmit release information on CFIA-regulated goods to the CBSA that in turn transmits this information to the CFIA. Once the CFIA has made its decision regarding the admissibility of the goods, the CFIA transmits its decision directly to the CBSA inspector. The CBSA then makes a final decision.

Benefits

Benefits of this interface include the following:

• Simplified release process for agricultural goods;
• Reduced paper burden;
• Increased accessibility to EDI for release of agricultural goods;
• Consistent treatment of imports with CFIA requirements;
• Increased focus on high-risk shipments; and
• Provision of timely release information for matching and tracking purposes.

Automated Import Reference System

The Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) is an important part of the CFIA/ACROSS interface. Through this system, importers and brokers have easy access to current information on agricultural import requirements. The system also allows them to quickly determine the additional data (codes) that must be included in the EDI release message.

CFIA Contacts

Inquiries regarding CFIA release requirements or requests for the AIRS tool can be sent to the following contacts:

Marilyn Ann Walker-Guindon
CFIA-EDI Coordinator
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
National Import Operations Division
1400 Merivale Road
Ottawa ON K1A 0Y9

Telephone: 613-773-5335
Fax: 613-773-5389
E-mail: guindonm@inspection.gc.ca

Mike Andrews
Business Analyst
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
National Import Operations Division
1400 Merivale Road
Ottawa, ON K1A 0Y9

Tel.: 613-773-5329
Fax: 613-773-5389
Email: andrewsm@inspection.gc.ca