CBSA has made an announcement today that CARM Release 2 has been pushed from October 2023 to May 2024.

The proposed regulatory amendments continue on schedule with a planned coming-into-force date of May 2024, when CARM becomes the official system of record. Further enhancements are expected to become available in fall 2024. A forum will be established with key stakeholders to discuss implementation of this phased approach and application of regulations in support of CARM.

All commercial businesses who import goods into Canada need to register to the CARM Client Portal (CCP) before May 2024 to minimize border delays and benefit from the Release Prior to Payment (RPP) transition period.

Specifically, all importers who onboard the CCP prior to the coming-into-force date in May 2024 will be assigned RPP qualifying status for a 180 day transition period allowing them to adapt to this new model, while ensuring that border disruptions are mitigated. Commercial importers will still be able to obtain release prior to payment of duties and taxes during the transition period as they proceed to meet the requirement for financial security.