The BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) is notifying importers regarding the 2026 Blanket Certificate of Origin Declaration for liquor products imported into British Columbia under various Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
Importers must submit a Blanket Certificate of Origin Declaration form to claim preferential tariff treatment under an FTA on an annual basis. While submission is voluntary, it is required to waive customs duties where applicable.
To ensure eligibility for preferential treatment for existing active products and avoid unnecessary duties for calendar year 2026 (January 1 to December 31), the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) must have the completed forms on file by December 1, 2025.
If a form is not submitted, the default tariff treatment will revert to Most Favoured Nation (MFN) as of January 2, 2026, and customs duties may apply. This may also impact the wholesale price for your product, which will automatically be adjusted effective as of January 25, 2026 (Period 11) to reflect the change of tariff treatment.
Products with "Free" duty status do not need declarations
Some liquor products may already qualify for “Free” duty status and do not require a Blanket Certificate of Origin Declaration form. To determine applicability, please consult Chapter 22 – Beverages, Spirits and Vinegar of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)’s Customs Tariff (2025).
If the MFN column for your product indicates "Free", no customs duty is payable, and submitting a Certificate of Origin Declaration form is not necessary for that product. Certificate of Origin Declaration forms are not required for products that already enter Canada duty-free, such as:
- Beer
- Champagne
- Sparkling wine
- Fortified wine
- Vermouth
- Brandy
- Cognac
- Grappa
- Whisky
- Tequila
Blanket Certificate of Origin forms for applicable Free Trade Agreements (FTA):
Blanket Certificate of Origin Declaration forms may be submitted under the following FTAs, as per the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Memorandum D11-4-14:
- Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)
Note: CUSMA tariff treatments must now be submitted by SKU, not by blanket product category. - Canada–European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
- Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
- Canada–United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (CUKTCA)
- Canada–Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA)
- Canada–Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA)
- Canada–Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA)
Forms are available on the LDB Vendor website under the Resources > Product Management section.
For further details, please refer to the attached Frequently Asked Question document, which outlines key considerations related to the Blanket Certificate of Origin Declaration and importation requirements. It also clarifies topics such as duty treatment for small-volume imports and provides access to tools that can assist with estimating potential duty exemptions.
If you have any questions related to the Blanket Certificate of Origin Declaration or tariff treatments, please email ldbta@bcldb.com.