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ARCHIVED - Fact Sheet
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September 2011
Advance Commercial Information
The Advance Commercial Information (ACI) program enables the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to better protect Canadian society by obtaining the right information at the right time to make informed decisions about whether to examine shipments. The ACI program is introducing more effective risk management processes and tools for unknown and high-risk shipments (non-Customs Self Assessment shipments), to enhance the CBSA's ability to detect contraband and threats to Canadians' health, safety and security.
To support the risk assessment process, the CBSA requires certain cargo, conveyance and importer data before the goods arrive in Canada. The CBSA uses a risk management approach, with sophisticated targeting capabilities, to detect high-risk shipments. At the same time, legitimate low-risk shipments are cleared more quickly.
The ACI program is being delivered in phases. In accordance with the Canada-U.S. Smart Border Declaration, the focus of ACI Phase 1 was on marine cargo and conveyance information. Since April 19, 2004, marine carriers and freight forwarders, when applicable, have been required to electronically transmit marine cargo data to the CBSA 24 hours prior to the loading of the cargo in the foreign port. The CBSA risk assesses the data and determines whether examinations are required in foreign ports to address any national security threats. Examinations for drugs, other contraband, and health and safety risks are conducted at the first point of arrival in Canada.
The implementation of Phase 2 of the ACI program was completed on July 26, 2006. Phase 2 required all air carriers and freight forwarders, when applicable, to electronically transmit conveyance, cargo and supplementary cargo data to the CBSA four hours prior to arrival in Canada. If the flight is less than four hours in duration, conveyance, cargo and supplementary cargo data must be transmitted before the time of departure from the foreign port.
The third phase of the ACI program is known as eManifest. When fully implemented, eManifest will require carriers, freight forwarders and importers in all modes of transportation (air, marine, highway and rail) to electronically transmit cargo, conveyance, crew / passenger, house bill / supplementary cargo and importer data to the CBSA prior to loading in the marine mode, and prior to arrival in the air, rail and highway modes.
