1. The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and/or the President of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) may activate certain tariff items and suspend others to give effect to seasonal rates of duty on the importation of fresh fruits and vegetables.
2. Each tariff item specifies the total time within each 12 month period, ending March 31, for which the tariff items may be activated or suspended.
3. Certain tariff items allow the total time to be divided and applied over two distinct periods of time.
4. An importer/owner or grower may petition for the suspension of the percentage rate of duty on specific vegetables by contacting the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) and providing the information to support the request. The CHC will, where warranted, obtain the agreement of the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and then forward the request for suspension of duty to the CBSA.