Bonded and non-bonded freight forwarders who are responsible for consolidated imports to Canada will now be obligated to hand over advance house bill date for in-bond and in-transit shipments as of November 7, recently announced the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA). The Agency has laid out a timeline for the implementation of its plan related to future eManifest requirements for freight forwarders.

Step 1: November 7 to January 10, 2017

During this transition period, the CBSA will work closely with freight forwarders to ensure compliance. The Agency will not issue any penalties for non-compliance during this period.

Step 2: January 11 to July 11, 2017

As the final implementation phase creeps forwards, CBSA will issue zero-rated penalties under the Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS). These penalties are non-monetary but will serve as a harsh reminder to freight forwarders that compliance is necessary.

Step 3: July 12, 2017

Starting on this date, the CBSA will issue monetary penalties to any freight forwarders deemed non-compliant to the new requirements.

Prepare Now

In order to avoid getting slapped with a warning or later on, a monetary penalty, there are a few easy steps to take to prepare now for the upcoming requirements.

First off, you’ll want to ensure that you have a valid CBSA-issued 8000-series freight forwarder carrier code and that the Borders Agency has your most recent contact information. If you do not have a carrier code, visit the CBSA website under the “Commercial Carrier” section. Available transmission options are: via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), Third party service provider or the CBSA’s eManifest portal.

Secondly, secure a copy of the Electronic Commerce Client Requirements Document (ECCRD), and have a good look at Chapters 5 and 8. These chapters lay out the rules and data requirements when sending over date to CBSA. To obtain a copy, contact the CBSA Technical Commercial Client Unit.

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