The National Marine Manufacturers Association said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Transport Canada to make it easier to import NMMA-certified boats into Canada. Transport Canada is the national government agency that regulates boating.

NMMA president Frank Hugelmeyer signed the MOU with Canadian officials at the Toronto International Boat Show. According to a story in today’s e-newsletter Currents, NMMA-certified boatbuilders will soon be able to provide an NMMA certificate for their certified model with an abbreviated declaration of conformity instead of the more comprehensive DOC required today. Canada will also now be accepting American Boat and Yacht Council standards as an alternative to parts of TP 1332, Construction Standards for Small Vessels.

“This is a tremendous recognition of NMMA-certified boatbuilders and their dedication to product safety,” said Robert Newsome, NMMA senior vice president, in the news report. “NMMA-certified builders are able to thoroughly demonstrate their compliance to ABYC standards, and this will soon mean an easier path to sales opportunities in Canada.”

U.S. builders that want to sell into Canada currently have to ensure that boats are built to TP 1332. They must also undertake an extensive DOC process that includes a description of the model and information to demonstrate its compliance with TP 1332. There is also a systematic review by Transport Canada before approval.

The MOU with Transport Canada will permit NMMA-certified boats to enter Canada with the submission of an NMMA model certificate confirming certification and a simplified DOC. Boats entering through the new process will not be subject to Transport Canada’s systematic review and will only need minor additions from their compliance to ABYC standards, such as bilingual labels.

U.S. boatbuilders will still be required to submit annual production reports to Canada.

“After working closely together for many years, we are very pleased to have reached this MOU with Transport Canada. The new process will provide a more harmonious transaction of boats and yachts across North America,” said NMMA Canada president Sara Anghel in the statement.

Implementation of this new process is expected to begin in the spring of 2020. More information will be announced in the coming months as NMMA and Transport Canada work to solidify the program.