The Government of Canada continues to take action to prevent the importation of unauthorized or illegal health products at border crossings across Canada.
On Thursday, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Health Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced the results of a Government of Canada initiative to combat unauthorized or counterfeit goods attempting to enter Canada through British Columbia.
Project Purify is a multi-departmental partnership between the CBSA, Health Canada and the RCMP, which was established to enhance the identification, interception and tracking of unauthorized or counterfeit COVID-19 health-related products in B.C between March 20 and June 30.
According to a news release from the CBSA, during this period, more than 380 shipments of unauthorized content or counterfeit COVID-19-related goods were detained at the border, including: 48,000 COVID-19 test kits, 4.5 million units of personal protective equipment, 33,000 prescription tablets and pills and more than 1,500 other intercepts of fraudulent and potentially dangerous products.
The CBSA seized mislabelled or improperly declared goods, and referred others to Health Canada, who then seized or refused entry.
When the CBSA detects unauthorized or counterfeit goods, these goods are referred to the RCMP to address safety and security concerns or Health Canada to address potential health risks.
“While some importers genuinely did not recognize that certain health products require specific permits and licenses, others tried to take advantage of the circumstances during the height of the pandemic and attempted to import potentially dangerous products into Canada for financial gains, said Yvette-Monique Gray, Director, Enforcement and Intelligence Division, Pacific Region, Canada Border Services Agency. “To prevent these goods from entering our communities, the CBSA partnered with Health Canada and the RCMP on Project Purify and this has proven to be extremely beneficial for British Columbians and all Canadians. The CBSA remains diligent and continues to screen all goods entering Canada.”
Supt. Brent Taylor, Officer in Charge, E Division Financial Integrity Program, RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime said products entering Canada that do not meet required standards can lead to serious injury or harm, mental and physical.
“Project Purify was an opportunity to work together to keep these potentially unsafe products out of our communities,” said Taylor. “By partnering with the CBSA and Health Canada, the RCMP continues to help keep British Columbians safe through this global pandemic.”
