The following Customs Notices have been updated and are available in their entirety on the Canada Border Services Agency website.
Air cargo arriving in Canada on a highway conveyance and documented on an air waybill (commonly known as a flying truck) is currently exempt from pre-arrival electronic cargo reporting requirements under Section 18(3)(c) of the Reporting of Imported Goods Regulations. Pre-arrival electronic highway conveyance transmissions are required for these types of shipments
When air cargo is consolidated and arriving in Canada on a highway conveyance, the freight forwarder has two options to report the individual consolidated shipments:
– Do not electronically transmit pre-arrival house bills for the shipments within the consolidation. Present paper house bills for each shipment in the consolidation to the CBSA post arrival.
– Electronically transmit house bills referencing the air waybill number as the primary cargo control number, for each shipment in the consolidation; and electronically transmit a house bill close message.
If electronic house bills have been transmitted, when the consolidation arrives at the destination warehouse, a warehouse arrival certification message (WACM) is required from the CW warehouse operator, for each house bill. Once the house bills have been arrived into the warehouse, they may be released.
The CBSA recommends freight forwarders register for electronic notices, which includes the Deconsolidation Notice. Clients may refer to Chapter 11 of the Electronic Commerce Client Requirements Document (ECCRD) or contact the Technical Commercial Client Unit (TCCU) for more information.
Customs Notice 17-15, Changes to the Implementation Timeline for Electronic House Bills
This notice provides new information regarding the eManifest implementation timeline for freight forwarders to electronically transmit advance house bill data on consolidated freight to the CBSA within the prescribed mode-specific time frames. This notice replaces Customs Notice CN16-28 Updated-Mandatory Date for Electronic House Bills.
On May 6, 2015, regulatory amendments supporting the CBSA’s eManifest initiative were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II.  The publication of these regulatory amendments made eManifest requirements for freight forwarders legally binding, and an implementation timeline began on November 7, 2016.
To provide time for the CBSA to fully test and implement enhanced electronic house bill system functionality, the CBSA has determined that the existing timeline for mandatory eManifest house bill requirements should be modified. A new voluntary period will begin immediately and will be in place for a period of at least one year. During this period no penalties for non-compliance will be issued regarding pre- arrival submission of house bills. Freight forwarders who are transmitting electronic house bills may receive report cards from the CBSA with respect to data quality within their transmissions.
Once a date has been determined, the CBSA will communicate by means of an amendment to this Customs Notice and provide details on when the 6 month zero rated (non-monetary) penalty period will begin. Â Following the 6 month zero rated period, monetary penalties may be issued for non-compliance.
The requirement to transmit electronic house bill and supplementary data is the liability of the freight forwarder, as defined in the Reporting of Imported Goods Regulations: “freight forwarder” means a person who, on behalf of one or more owners, importers, shippers or conÂsignees of goods, causes specified goods to be transÂported by one or more carriers. Freight forwarders or carriers who meet this definition may transmit supplementary data or house bill data using their own carrier code. As with many CBSA processes, business to business communication is essential to ensure the appropriate information is transmitted to the CBSA.
An interim process, until the systems enhancements are complete will be communicated shortly. Â Until such time, freight forwarders should either continue to transmit electronic house bills, or revert to the legacy process (submit electronic pre-arrival supplementary data for air and marine shipments (or ensure the related air or marine carrier is transmitting the supplementary data), and present paper house bills post arrival.
The CBSA remains committed to supporting clients in their transition to eManifest throughout the regulatory implementation timeline through online resources and dedicated client support activities.
The CBSA urges freight forwarders to register for electronic notices, which includes the Deconsolidation Notice.