There are several types of import controls which apply to certain types of goods. Failure to have the appropriate approvals, by way of an import permit or license, prior to the shipment being made, will result in the refusal of entry into Canada. It is possible that seizure, forfeiture and destruction will occur, depending on the type of good involved.

Import Permits cannot be obtained once a shipment reaches Canada

It is the responsibility of the end user of the controlled material to apply for most import permits. Often this is with the involvement of the Biosafety Office and the Customs Office. Please refer to the Biosafety website. https://biosafety.mcmaster.ca/

• Have the completed import permit on hand prior to shipment of your order. This will avoid shipments being destroyed or returned to sender upon arrival in Canada.
• If you are unsure your material requires CFIA or PHAC, please use the BUP Portal https://protocol.mcmaster.ca/ . This will notify Customs & The Biosafety Office who will advise the next steps before you purchase/request the material.
• Contact Health Physics if you are receiving radioactive material.
• Goods that are subject to Import Control,include but are not limited to;
  • Textiles
  • Agricultural Products
  • Steel Products
  • Weapons and Munitions

  For more information please refer to the Export and Import Permits Act

  If required, go to Import and Control Permits and review.

To ensure the correct parties are notified of your goods coming into Canada, no matter what location you are at in Canada, it is imperative to provide the correct address format to the party sending you the material.

If you are offsite:

Receiving Company: “McMaster University” (No exceptions)

Address: Your receiving address including: your building, room number, *name, phone number and extension.

For example, if you are located at St Joseph’s Hospital, your address format would be:

McMaster University

50 Charlton Ave East. 

Luke Wing RM 100

Hamilton, ON. L8N 4A6

Attn: John Bentley

PH# 905-522-1150 x123456

*Contact Name: Principal Investigator or Supervisor.  (Do not have orders addressed to a student. It is hard to find their contact information.)

• All couriers/carriers will deliver to the address as long as it matches the Postal Code. Indicating McMaster University indicates who the Importer of Record is, and the courier/carrier will notify our broker Thompson Ahern.

Please notify customs@mcmaster.ca of your order with the Chart Field that can be used for the customs charges. If possible, please provide a copy of the billing invoice or sales receipt.

• Please use the BUP Portal https://protocol.mcmaster.ca/
• Materials include, but not limited to, DNA, Antibody, Animal or Human Extract, Extract from a virus or the virus itself. You may think it is harmless, but CFIA and PHAC have restrictions in place for material from certain countries.

Expedite Customs Clearance

• FedEx shipments can often be released from customs overnight for next day delivery rather than the standard 48 hours.
• In order to expedite clearance within 24 hours, we require a copy of the shipper’s Commercial Invoice and FedEx waybill before 3pm EST the day it is shipped.
• Please note, expedited clearance is not guaranteed. If your product is perishable, the shipper must pack enough dry ice/cold packs to last at least 48 hours in transit if shipping from the USA, or 72 hours if shipping from overseas.
• If we are unable to get the shipment released within 24 hours, we can request to have the shipment placed in a cooler (4 – 8 degrees Celsius) if shipped via FedEx.

Expedite Delivery

• We can possibly provide expedited same day delivery (once the shipment has released customs). Rates are based on time of day and will be: $60 – $125 CAD.

Did the Vendor bill you HST?

• If you purchased a product and the vendor billed you HST, McMaster is not responsible for customs clearance into Canada, or you will end paying taxes twice.

Did you order from a Canadian Company?

• VWR and Cederlane are companies that often have the product you purchased shipped from a supplier in the USA directly to McMaster. Most of the time, McMaster is notified to release the shipment with customs.
• If you receive notification from the customs office asking for information about an order purchased from a Canadian company, please provide a copy of the billing invoice or sales receipt so McMaster Customs can notify the courier accordingly.

Why are you receiving e-mails from customs@mcmaster.ca or the Procurement Department?

When releasing/declaring your order/collaboration (shipment) to customs, there are mandatory requirements listed below we have to adhere to. If these are not met, a monetary penalty is assessed against the University and your help in the matter to avoid this is greatly appreciated.

• Detailed Description – we are required to classify every product with Canada customs. Classification is a highly detailed process.
  The more information we have about your product, the more accurate the classification and the less likely McMaster will be penalized for an inaccurate declaration to Canada customs.
• Additional Costs – handling fees, stocking fees, customization fees, admin fees, warranty fees, and some assembly fees must be declared to Canada customs.
• Value – All goods have a value, even if they were provided at no charge. Did the vendor create proper shipping documents with correct value? When you look at the attachment in the e-mail, please verify and if incorrect, please send a copy of the bill of sale or sales receipt.

No personal shipments are to be ordered from abroad and sent to McMaster. According to the CBSA, McMaster is responsible for the applicable customs charges on anything shipped to McMaster.

Instead, personal shipments must go to a personal address, or choose hold for pick up at the couriers depot.