The Canada Border Services Agency initiated the Advance Commercial Information (ACI) program back in 2004 with Phase 1 which concerned Marine ACI. Then in 2006, they added Phase 2 for Air ACI. And finally in 2010, Phase 3 for Truck and Rail ACI started. Since that date, the CBSA has accomplished the following deployment steps:
- Highway Cargo and Conveyance Reporting
- Rail Reporting
- EManifest portal
- Freight Forwarder Reporting
- Manifest Forward
- Data Warehouse
- Business Intelligence Trade mart Reporting Tool
- Core Information Business Model
Here are some of the Implementation Highlights so far:
- More than 11,500 highway carriers engaged representing 96% of highway volumes
- 7 of the 11 rail carriers engaged representing 97% of rail volumes
- More the 230 freight forwarders engaged
Although all the above mentioned engagements, the actual filing of information remains minimal at this point probably due to the fact that there is no mandatory date announced yet. The CBSA would like to see this number grow before it becomes mandatory. If testing of the new requirements was done a few years ago by your company, maybe it’s time for a little refresh session to make sure that you are still up-to-date and ready to transmit. The CBSA advised that it will announce the mandatory date at least 45 days before the implementation. This might look as sufficient time to engage and meet all the requirements including testing but in fact time goes by quickly and you might be in a vulnerable situation when it all starts. If all goes according to plan, it should be announced in the first half of 2015.
eManifest modernizes the commercial customs process in Canada from paper to electronic pre-arrival information.
What information needs to be transmitted?
- Cargo
- Conveyance
- House Bill
- Importer Advance Trade Data
Benefits to the Trade Community:
- eManifest eliminates unused or redundant submission options, simplifying the choices
- Improvements in the functionality and information requirements as a result of collaboration with the trade community
- New regulations requiring trade information to be submitted prior to arrival, will allow quicker processing at the border
- Shipments will already have a recommendation to authorize or refer. Border Service Officers (BSO) can focus on expedited processing and examinations.
eManifest for Highway and Rails carriers: Be proactive to avoid surprises!
Why not start the process now and avoid delays and additional costs when eManifest will become mandatory? The CBSA offers 3 options for electronic data transmission:
- Electronic Data Interchange (EDI): recommended for high-volume clients
- A list of CBSA-authorized service providers
- eManifest Portal: a free option designed primarily for small to medium size businesses.
For additional information regarding registration, requirements and testing, please visit the following sites:
