QAI acts as a Compliance Specialist working with Transport Canada by mitigating risk for direct imports of vehicles from foreign manufacturers, without RIV (Registrar of Imported Vehicles) inspections and fees. The purpose of the program is to ensure that all vehicles imported into Canada meet Canadian Safety standards. Visit Transport Canada’s website to learn more: https://www.tc.gc.ca/

The Transport Canada Pre-clearance Program for importing vehicles works with QAI as a Compliance Specialist, to ensure that Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards are met. It shifts the burden of ensuring compliance to the Standards from dealers. This makes the process more efficient and the environment more conducive for foreign manufacturers to enter Canadian markets.

a) QAI ensures that the foreign manufacturer complies with the CMVSS through a special process.

b) QAI liaisons with import/export brokers and vehicle dealers to ensure that the appropriate documentation is available for each vehicle.  QAI oversees the process but is not directly involved in obtaining correct documents and paying the taxes. The responsibility for correct documentation and custom tariffs continues to reside with brokers and dealers. 

QAI has been acting as the Compliance Specialist for foreign manufacturers based outside of Canada since early 2010. 

a) Foreign manufacturers: Receive an opportunity to expand their markets and sell more vehicles in Canada; they have the benefit of dealing with only one company (QAI) to handle vehicle compliance documentation.

b) Brokers: Experience an Increased volume of business due to the simplified process for exporting vehicles into Canada. A single source for handling compliance documentation means that more foreign products can arrive in Canada.

c) Dealers: Can now offer more choices to customers, as they no longer have to register each manufacturer on the Transport Canada (Appendix G) Pre-clearance List.

Dealers can import from any manufacturer for which QAI has proven vehicle compliance.

All foreign vehicle manufacturers must meet the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS). Choosing QAI as your Compliance Specialist means you have chosen an agency that is willing to collect and review documentation to help ensure that compliance with the CMVSS is maintained.

a) QAI carries out an evaluation of the vehicles by documenting materials and method of construction used, and assessing the capacity of the manufacturer to comply with the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) regulated by Transport Canada.

b) QAI represents the manufacturer, working with Transport Canada, the Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) and with Canadian vehicle dealers on issues relating to compliance.  

c) After successfully completing the compliance process, QAI compiles a compliance package and applies to Transport Canada to act as the Compliance Specialist for the vehicle manufacturer.  When Transport Canada approves this, the manufacturer appears on the Transport Canada Pre-clearance List of manufacturers.

d) Once the manufacturer is added on the Transport Canada Pre-clearance List, any Canadian dealer is able to import vehicles using QAI as the Compliance Specialist. This helps to expand their client base and their readiness to serve them. 

QAI is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) as a certification body for recreational vehicles.

QAI evaluates and inspects recreational vehicles for compliance with the Canadian recognized standard CSA Z240 RV Series, which includes requirements for safety features, plumbing, gas and electrical systems.

Certification and listing are required by vehicle manufacturers to show compliance with provincial gas and electrical regulations. Listing in the QAI directory means that the manufacturer is compliant with the relevant certification/inspection compliance standards.

There are certain other requirements for initiating and maintaining list/certification and if you are interested in this, please contact QAI directly.

Certification means that the QAI label is placed on the side of a vehicle, indicating compliance with the CSA Z240 RV standard. Certified clients are listed in a special directory on the QAI website.  

QAI has templates and instructions set up to make it easy for manufacturers to submit the required information in an organized manner.  Please contact QAI for more information.

When Transport Canada approves the QAI application on behalf of the foreign manufacturer, they will appear on the Transport Canada (Appendix G) Pre-clearance List.

A full compliance package must be prepared for all foreign manufacturers that are not currently registered.  This time frame is dependent on the ability of the manufacturer to provide the required documentation.  Transport Canada can take 4 – 6 weeks depending on the complexity of the application and their current workload to add the manufacturer to the Pre-clearance List.

At minimum the following documents are required at the start of the relationship:

a) Transport Canada Pre-clearance application documents

b) Standard agreement letter between QAI and the manufacturer (TC01, TC03)

c) Vehicle information showing compliance to the CMVSA and its regulations.

QAI continues to work with the manufacturer to prepare the compliance documentation within a specified timeframe.

Only foreign vehicle manufacturers can be added to the Transport Canada Pre-clearance List. The list implies that implies that the manufacturer is capable of meeting safety and quality standards. QAI needs to have a direct contract with the manufacturer in order to collect confidential compliance information.

QAI refers to the documents required to demonstrate compliance.  It is a set of documents that demonstrate compliance of all vehicles imported into Canada with the CMVSS requirements.

A compliance package contains detailed documentation that can be sent to Transport Canada upon request, to demonstrate compliance of vehicles to the CMVSS. The compliance package must be representative of all vehicles that the manufacturer sells to Canada where QAI is used as the Compliance Specialist. Package size can range from a dozen pages to hundreds of pages depending on vehicle complexity.

For every vehicle exported to Canada, the foreign manufacturer creates a Canada Customs Invoice naming the Canadian dealer as the consignee and the purchaser. The broker will charge the vehicle dealer for brokerage fees and taxes. The foreign manufacturer must also complete an NVIS (New Vehicle Information Statement) for each vehicle they export into Canada. Once per year, the vehicle manufacturer should also provide QAI with a completed copy of their NAFTA B232 ‘Certificate of Origin’ document. This document allows Canadian dealers to import vehicles produced by foreign manufacturers without paying duties, (however, taxes must be paid).

The main benefit to brokers is that QAI does not force the dealer to use only one designated broker, which means that multiple brokers can work with us.  The brokers share information and documents with us about the import of the vehicles. This is kept confidential.

As the Compliance Specialist, QAI keeps the following records on file for the importer and foreign manufacturer:

a) Transport Canada Form 1

b) Canada Customs Invoice 

You can pass the foreign manufacturer’s contact information along to QAI and we will be happy to have a member of our sales team contact them to explain the benefits of our program.  You may also contact the manufacturer directly and explain the benefits of our program.  A QAI representative will then assist the manufacturer in demonstrating compliance with Canadian regulations, and act as their Compliance Specialist.

Please visit:

Transport Canada

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/safevehicles-importation-Pre-clearance-index-447.htm

CBSA

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5048-eng.html 

Dealer Association:

http://www.rvda.ca/intro.htm

For general inquiries please contact QAI at 604-527-8378 or tcadmin@qai.org

Technical and vehicle compliance inquiries can be addressed to Kevin Tsumura. ktsumura@qai.org