Customs Notice 07-029 Ottawa, October 12, 2007

October 12, 2007 

Measures to Increase the Use of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) for Release Purposes

1:This notice is for the attention of importers, customs brokers and service providers and is an update to Customs Notice 07-008, Measures to Increase the use of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) for Release Purposes, issued on March 23, 2007. 

2:The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) recognizes the diligence of its clients in their attempts to meet the October 15, 2007, implementation date stated in Customs Notice 07-008, despite circumstances beyond their control. In an effort to facilitate client preparedness, the CBSA will take a phased approach to mandatory EDI and it will implement a six-month transition period for clients to fully implement their EDI capabilities. 

3:The expectation remains that clients currently capable of transmitting EDI must do so, and those clients preparing to become EDI capable in accordance with Customs Notice 07-008 should do so as soon as possible. 

4:The CBSA will be working with industry to address any issues arising from the EDI requirement, most notably the handling of multi-line invoices. Further developments and details of the phase-in requirements will be communicated as they become available. 

The exceptions to using EDI are as follows: 

a:Goods are subject to the requirements of another government department or agency and there is no EDI link between the CBSA and the other government department or agency; 
b:The invoice for the release transaction contains more than 999 invoice lines; 
c:There is more than one warehouse sub-location code per release transaction; 
d:The release transaction is covered by multiple highway cargo control numbers at the border; 
e:The CBSA has issued a paper Form Y50, Reject Document Control, to the importer/broker for courier/low-value shipments; 
f:Goods are moved into a bonded warehouse using the release on minimum documentation option (grey wrapper); or 
g:Goods are to be released from a Queen’s warehouse. 

6:Clients must indicate which EDI exception they are using on the lead sheet that accompanies the paper release package. The updated lead sheet will be distributed electronically to clients through the Electronic Commerce Unit. 

7:For further information concerning electronic release requests, refer to the ACROSS (Accelerated Commercial Release Operations Support System) Participants’ Requirements Document or contact the Electronic Commerce Unit at 1-888-957-7224. 

8:Inquiries related to this notice should be directed to:

Release Programs and Commercial Direction Unit
Commercial Border Policy Division
Border and Compliance Programs Directorate
4th Floor, 150 Isabella Avenue
Ottawa ON K1A 0L8 

E-mail: release-mainlevee@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca