The Canada Border Services Agency has proposed regulations to mandate eManifest requirements for carriers hauling into the country.

What this means is that the mandatory requirements for carriers to supply advance conveyance and shipment information to CBSA will soon be implemented, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance. Voluntary submission of eManifest began in October 2012. 

According to CBSA, nuumbers from December 2013 indicate over 10,600 highway carriers are currently engaged in eManifest, representing over 95% of the cross-border highway volumes in 2013. 

Now that the regulations have been pre-published, public and industry stakeholders will have 30 days to submit comments on the proposed regulation. CBSA will then respond to all comments it receives and once any necessary adjustments are made, the regulations will be published. CBSA will then make a subsequent announcement that eManifest will soon be mandatory and highway carriers will have 45 days advance notice of the mandatory compliance date.

Once the system is mandated, there will be a six-month soft enforcement period. Following that, carriers risk penalty for non-compliance

Carriers can provide eManifest information to CBSA using a variety of methods, either through EDI, Direct Connection with the CBSA, service provider with established connection with CBSA or using the CBSA web based portal.

For more information on how to start filing eManifest, go to CBSA’s website. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-eng.html