eManifest Requirements for Freight Forwarders

General Requirements

Under eManifest, freight forwarders are required to transmit advance house bill data electronically to the CBSA. The data must be received and validated by the CBSA prior to arrival, within the prescribed mode-specific time frames.

Implementation Timeline

On June 9, 2013, the CBSA deployed new electronic systems that allow freight forwarders in all modes of transportation to transmit advance house bill data on consolidated freight to the CBSA.

On May 6, 2015, regulatory amendments supporting the eManifest initiative were published in the Canada Gazette Part II. The publication of these regulatory amendments made eManifest requirements for freight forwarders legally binding.

Following a voluntary compliance period, the implementation timeline below applies to eManifest requirements for freight forwarders to electronically transmit advance house bill data on consolidated freight to the CBSA within the prescribed mode-specific time frames:

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.

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.