D-Memoranda
Forms and e-mail contact information
Sublocation Codes
A key part of the CBSA's mandate is to risk assess and release all imported goods coming into Canada. The CBSA carries out these activities most often upon the goods' arrival at the border; however, in some cases, they can be done inland at licensed warehouses, including sufferance warehouses.
Privately owned and operated, sufferance warehouses are licensed by the CBSA for the short-term storage, when required, of imported goods not yet released by the CBSA.
Only imported goods for which security bonds have been posted are eligible to be stored in these facilities. The maximum time limit for storing goods in sufferance warehouses is 40 days, with the following exceptions:
Exceptions to the 40-day storage time limit | |
---|---|
Item | Time limit |
Perishables | Maximum 4 days |
Prescribed substances (see Atomic Energy Control Act/Regulations) | Maximum 14 days |
Firearms, prohibited ammunition, devices, prohibited and restricted weapons, tobacco products | Maximum 14 days |
Spirits | Maximum 21 days |
There are five main types of warehouses:
Note: Each warehouse type is for commodities stored in different transportation modes and in some cases for specific commodities. For example, a warehouse only authorized for household and personal effects cannot store other types of cargo. The same applies to modes of transportation.
A sub-location code identifies the location of goods within a sufferance warehouse. Carriers, freight forwarders, and agents must include sufferance warehouse sub-location codes on cargo control documents. The sub-location codes are also required so the CBSA can provide electronic release notification to sufferance warehouse operators who participate in the Release Notification System.
A completed application form must be submitted to the local CBSA office that has jurisdiction over the area where the operator intends to establish a sufferance warehouse (see D-Memorandum D4-1-4 for detailed information).