Canada to Require April 1 Start for Non-U.S. Electronic Export Reporting
The Canada Border Services Agency is providing information on its new Mandatory Electronic Export Reporting Policy1 for export shipments destined for non-U.S. destinations, which will be implemented April 1, 2012. On that date, CBSA will take steps to eliminate the manual reporting process form (Export Declaration, Form B13A) and implement mandatory electronic reporting. CBSA notes that this change will not affect SRP exporters2.
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Reporting Timeframes by Mode Listed
Under this new requirement, exporters will be required to declare shipments destined to non-U.S. destinations according to the following timeframes (by mode):
- marine - no less than 48 hours before loading on the vessel;
- air - no less than 2 hours before loading on the aircraft;
- rail - no less than 2 hours before the railcar containing the goods is assembled to form part of the train for export;
- postal - no less than 2 hours before the goods are delivered to the post office where they will be mailed; and
- any other mode - immediately prior to the export of the goods. CBSA adds that it is also updating the applicable regulatory requirements to mandate this electronic export reporting.
Two Electronic Reporting Options
There are two options available for exporters to report electronically -- (1) the Canadian Automated Export Declaration (CAED) and (2) the G7 Export Reporting Electronic Data Interchange (G7-EDI).
CAED is a downloadable software program available free of charge on the Statistics Canada website at: www.statcan.gc.ca/exp.
G7-EDI requires an investment from the exporting company and provides a direct link to the CBSA's ACROSS System. Information on becoming a G7-EDI participant may be obtained at the following website: www.cbsa.gc.ca/eservices. To register, or to obtain more information on how to report such export goods electronically using CAED or G7-EDI, the CAED/G7 helpline should be contacted at: 1-800-257-2434.
1The receipt of electronic declarations from exporters will provide the CBSA and its partners with increased data quality and more accurate, consistent information. Electronic reporting aligns Canada's Export Program with the reporting processes in other countries and is consistent with the overall direction of the CBSA's commercial program.
2According to CBSA, this new requirement will not impact exporters who have been approved to report their exports using the Summary Reporting Program (SRP) option. In addition, when electronic permit reporting options are not available, the requirement to present a paper copy of the electronic export declaration and OGD permit at the CBSA office closest to the point of exit remains unchanged. (Note that in a November 2011 notice, CBSA stated it was requiring new applications for this program, to ensure that only companies exporting bulk and/or homogeneous goods were participating. See ITT's Online Archives 11120521 for summary.)