Canada Border Services Agency Advance Commercial Information

The Canada Border Services Agency has published the 24-Hour Advance Commercial Information Rule, which is very similar but not fully identical to the U.S. rule, requiring carriers and NVOCCs to submit a cargo declaration to the Canada Border Services Agency 24 hours before cargo is loaded onto vessels calling at Canada.

The purpose of the rule is to enable Canada Border Services Agency to analyse container content information before a container is loaded and thereby decide on its loading/no loading status in advance.

In case of non-compliance with the rule, the most serious consequence is the halting of loading or unloading and a consequent disruption of cargo flows and supply chains. Furthermore, the Canada Border Services Agency imposes fines or other penalties on the carriers and others responsible for the submission of cargo declarations to Canada Border Services Agency. The rule became effective on 19 April 2004.

Read more about the » Canada Customs 24-Hour Rule: Vessel codes

External links
» Advance Commercial Information (ACI)
» Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)