The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) designed the eManifest initiative to modernize and improve cross-border commercial processes. When fully implemented, eManifest will require all carriers, freight forwarders and importers to electronically transmit advance commercial information about their shipments.
The CBSA believes that the collection and risk assessment of pre-arrival data will improve their ability to detect high-risk shipments before those shipments arrive at the border. At the same time, low-risk, legitimate trade will be able to cross the border more efficiently.
Under Section 12.1 of the Customs Act and the Reporting of Imported Goods Regulations, all carriers must transmit pre-arrival electronic cargo and conveyance data using EDI and all freight forwarders must transmit pre-arrival electronic house bill and house bill close data using EDI for consolidated shipments. Highway carriers and freight forwarders also have the option of using the eManifest Portal.
CBSA issued Customs Notice 16-17 regarding the eManifest implementation timeline for freight forwarders to electronically transmit advance house bill data on consolidated freight within the prescribed mode-specific time frames for goods being imported to, or transiting through Canada. The following implementation timeline applies to eManifest requirements for freight forwarders:
- From November 7, 2016, to January 10, 2017, the CBSA will provide freight forwarders with a period of transition during which penalties for non-compliance will not be issued and the CBSA will work closely with freight forwarders on corrective measures.
- From January 11, 2017, to July 11, 2017, freight forwarders deemed to be non-compliant with eManifest requirements may be issued zero-rated penalties (non-monetary) under the CBSA’s Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS).
- Beginning July 12, 2017, freight forwarders deemed to be non-compliant with eManifest requirements may be issued monetary AMPS penalties.
The house bill, house bill close message and supplementary data must be electronically transmitted to the CBSA within the timeframes as described in the chart below (by mode), unless exempt from this requirement by the CBSA.
| Time frames | Marine | Air | Rail | Highway |
| For providing electronic house bill, and house bill close message data for import, in bond and in-transit shipments | 24-hours before loading or arrival depending on type and loading origin of the goods* | 4 hours prior to arrival or before time of departure if the flight is less than 4 hours* | 2 hours prior to arrival | 1 hour prior to arrival |
| For providing electronic supplementary cargo data for freight remaining on board shipments (FROB) | 24-hours before loading or arrival depending on type and loading origin of the goods* | 4 hours prior to arrival or before time of departure if the flight is less than 4 hours* | n/a | n/a |
For more information regarding these mandatory reporting requirements and the attendant services fees, please contact your local MIQ Logistics representative.