Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Systems
Electronic Commerce Client Requirements Document

Each chapter of the Electronic Commerce Client Requirements Document (ECCRD) provides comprehensive information about business and system requirements of various electronic transactions for multiple import and export programs.

The following provides a brief summary of each chapter of the ECCRD, the most recent version available and the manner in which you may obtain a copy.

Table of Contents

ECCRD Chapters

Chapters 1 to 4

Chapters 1 through 4 provide clients with Advance Commercial Information (ACI) program data requirements, business rules and technical user information for submitting, changing, deleting and amending advance cargo and conveyance information for imported commercial goods using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) transmission options in marine, air, rail and highway mode.

The Addendum describes the first systems enhancements towards fulsome electronic house bill functionality, which will be occurring in production in the fall of 2018. These changes are voluntary, until the full release of house bill functionality at a later date (to be confirmed in a TCCU bulletin).

Chapter 1: Advance Commercial Information (ACI) Marine

Most recent version: Version 5.0,
To request Chapter 1, contact: Technical Commercial Client Unit

Chapter 2: Advance Commercial Information (ACI) Air

Most recent version: Version 5.0,
To request Chapter 2, contact: Technical Commercial Client Unit

Chapter 3: Advance Commercial Information (ACI)/eManifest Rail

Most recent version: Version 4.0,
To request Chapter 3, contact: Technical Commercial Client Unit

Chapter 4: Advance Commercial Information (ACI)/eManifest Highway

Most recent version: Version 4.0,
To request Chapter 4, contact: Technical Commercial Client Unit

Chapter 5: Advance Commercial Information (ACI)/eManifest House bill

Under Phase III of the ACI program (eManifest), the electronic transmission of advance secondary data is required from freight forwarders. This document provides clients with eManifest data requirements, business rules and technical user information for submitting, changing, deleting and amending advance house bill information for imported commercial goods (including in-bond shipments) using EDI transmission options.

The Addendum describes the first systems enhancements towards fulsome electronic house bill functionality. These changes are voluntary, until the full release of house bill functionality at a later date (to be confirmed in a TCCU bulletin).

Most recent version: Version 5.0,
To request Chapter 5, contact: Technical Commercial Client Unit

Chapter 6: Advance Commercial Information (ACI) Bay Plan

This document addresses the bay plan or stowage plan, used by parties in the marine transportation industry to identify all the containers and their locations on a container vessel. This document provides detailed information on the ACI bay plan transmission process and is designed to assist trade participants with their internal implementation of their bay plan.

Most recent version: Version 2.0.3, November 2015
To request Chapter 6, contact: Technical Commercial Client Unit

Chapter 7: Advance Commercial Information (ACI)/eManifest Highway – Portal

The purpose of this document is to provide highway carriers with information about how to provide advance cargo and conveyance information, to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), using Highway Conveyance and Highway Cargo Documents submitted through the eManifest Portal. It also provides information about how to view the status of Submitted Trade Documents as well as Received Documents sent by other Trade Chain Partners.

Most recent version: Version 2.0,
To request Chapter 7, contact: Technical Commercial Client Unit. Chapter 7 is also available online.

Chapter 8: Advance Commercial Information (ACI)/eManifest House Bill Portal

The eManifest initiative is the third phase of the Advance Commercial Information (ACI) program. ACI phases 1 and 2 require air and marine carriers to submit pre-arrival cargo and conveyance information electronically, within advance time frames. When fully implemented, eManifest will require carriers, freight forwarders and importers in all modes of transportation (air, marine, highway and rail) to electronically transmit advance commercial information to the CBSA within prescribed mode-specific time frames.

With respect to data requirements and business rules, Portal requirements and rules are explained in this Electronic Commerce Client Requirements Document (ECCRD) – Chapter 8: Advance Commercial Information (ACI)/eManifest House Bill Portal (and in documentation referred to herein) and EDI requirements and rules are explained in the ECCRD – Chapter 5 : Advance Commercial Information (ACI)/eManifest House Bill.

Most recent version: Version 2.0,
To request Chapter 8, contact: Technical Commercial Client Unit. Chapter 8 is also available online.

Chapter 11: Advance Commercial Information (ACI)/eManifest Notices

The purpose of this chapter is to inform CBSA clients about the new and existing notices that will be applied to multi-modal cargo and house bill data, and will be available via EDI. This document also introduces new functionality that will enable clients to share information with other trade chain partners who are registered clients of the CBSA, in order to improve the lines of communication between all parties and simplify the pre-arrival and reporting process.

The Addendum describes the first systems enhancements towards fulsome electronic house bill functionality.

Version 7.0 includes information relating to the two new notices that will advise eligible Highway Carriers that a shipment is eligible to use a certain FAST Lane or is NO longer eligible to use a certain FAST lane.

Most recent version:

To request Chapter 11, contact: Technical Commercial Client Unit.

Chapter 14: Customs Automated Data Exchange (CADEX)

CADEX is used by importers and brokers to prepare and file B3 final accounting documents electronically with the CBSA. Through CADEX, participants are able to receive automated K84 daily notices and monthly statements, tariff and exchange rate file updates as well as notifications of release and overdue releases. The CADEX chapter contains processing and support information, business rules, application forms and the EDI message maps for CBSA's proprietary messaging format.

Most recent version: Version 10.6,
To request Chapter 14, contact: Technical Commercial Client Unit

Chapter 15: Customs Declaration (CUSDEC)

As an alternative to CADEX, CUSDEC is used by importers and brokers to prepare and file B3 final accounting documents electronically with the CBSA but in the EDIFACT messaging standard. The CUSDEC chapter contains processing and support information, business rules, application forms and the EDI message maps in EDIFACT. Clients requesting the CUSDEC Chapter are to obtain a copy of the CADEX chapter as well.

Most recent version: Version 3.4,
To request Chapter 15, contact: Technical Commercial Client Unit

Chapter 16: Accelerated Commercial Release Operations Support System (ACROSS)

The purpose of ACROSS EDI Release is to provide importers and brokers with the ability to transmit release and invoice data in an electronic format. ACROSS also supports Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Transport Canada, Industry Canada and Natural Resources Canada release transactions. The document contains processing and support information, business rules, EDI message maps and the forms to be completed to become a participant.

Most recent version: Version 2.1.1,
To request Chapter 16, contact: Technical Commercial Client Unit

Chapter 17: Customs Self-Assessment (CSA) Importer

The contents of this Chapter provide an overview of the EDI environment at the CBSA and the implementation methodology associated with the CSA program for importers. The main purpose of this document is to assist CSA participants with their internal implementation. Specific CSA program details, business rules, EDI message maps and other relevant information requirements are supplied.

Most recent version: Version 1.3,
To request Chapter 17, contact: Technical Commercial Client Unit

Chapter 18: Customs Self-Assessment (CSA) Carrier

The contents of this Chapter provide an overview of the EDI environment at the CBSA and the implementation methodology associated with the CSA program for carriers. The main purpose of this document is to assist CSA participants with their internal implementation. Specific CSA program details, business rules, EDI message maps and other relevant information requirements are supplied.

Most recent version: Version 1.2, May 2015
To request Chapter 18, contact: Technical Commercial Client Unit

Chapter 19: G7 EDI Export Reporting Process

The G7 EDI Export Reporting process was developed in order to facilitate the import and export of goods between the G7 countries. The document was designed to provide technical user information to participants of the G7 EDI Export Reporting Process. The document contains processing and support information, business rules, EDI message maps and the forms to be completed to become a participant.

Most recent version: Version 6.2.1, May 2015
To request Chapter 19, contact: Technical Commercial Client Unit

Chapter 21: Release Notification System (RNS)

The RNS service offers timely and efficient notification of release decisions made by CBSA by providing importers, brokers, warehouse operators and carriers with EDI RNS messages. The document contains processing and support information, business rules, EDI message maps and the forms to be completed to become a participant.

The Addendum describes the first systems enhancements towards fulsome electronic house bill functionality.

Most recent version: Version 5.0,
To request Chapter 21, contact: Technical Commercial Client Unit

Chapter 23: Single Window Initiative Integrated Import Declaration (IID)

The purpose of this document is to provide Importers, Customs Brokers and Service Providers with data requirements, technical and systems information related to the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) transmission of the IID and the Web Service transmission of LPCO (Licence, Permit, Certificate and Other) images

This chapter contains two documents. The first document (ECCRD Version 5.0) includes the EDIFACT inbound and outbound message specifications and code tables. It also includes the CBSA and PGA requirements for submitting an IID.

The second document describes how to authenticate and connect to the CBSA Web Service that will enable the uploading of LPCO images in an XML MIME transaction. It also contains embedded sample XSDs and step-by-step processes to assist client development.

Any IID submitted must be compliant with all documents.

Most recent versions:

To request Chapter 23, contact: Technical Commercial Client Unit

Chapter 24: Accounts Receivable Ledger (ARL) – Financial Statements

The CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) initiative will modernize CBSA commercial accounting processes, requiring system changes from the trade chain community. The purpose of this document is to provide system specifications for changes under CARM in order to receive Daily Notices and Statements of Account through Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).

Most recent version: Version 4.3,

Previous versions: Version 4.2, ; Version 4.1, ; Version 4.0, ; Version 3.9,

To request Chapter 24, contact: CARM Engagement

Chapter 25: Canadian Export Reporting System (CERS) Portal

The purpose of this document is to provide Exporters and Customs Service Providers (CSPs) with information about submitting electronic export documentation information to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) through the CERS Portal. This document contains certain export reporting method details, business account and user account information, export business rules, summary report upload format, bulk upload format (formerly Data Loading Module), and all data elements for both declarations and summary reports.

Most recent version: Version 1.8,

Chapter 25 is available online.

Chapter 26: Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD)

The CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) initiative will modernize CBSA commercial accounting processes and introduce a new Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD) to replace current B3 (customs coding) and B2 (request for adjustment) processes, which will require system changes from the trade chain community. The purpose of this document is to provide the technical specifications related to Electronic Data Interchange transmission of the CAD. The document includes technical information regarding the submission, correction, and adjustment of a CAD, as well as the circumstances when the CAD transmission can be used for specific program accounting requirements.

Most recent version: Version 3.1,

Previous versions: Version 3.0, ; Version 2.1, ; Version 2.0, ; Version 1.0,

To request Chapter 26, contact: CARM Engagement

Application program interface New

CBSA offers a variety of publicly available application program interfaces (APIs) to allow the trade chain community to transact with the agency. The CBSA APIs are documented using "swagger" pages, which developers can consult to design and test their own systems.

As part of the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) project, we have developed a new exchange rate API for trade chain partners. For details, please refer to the associated swagger page.

For questions and suggestions regarding the exchange rate API, please contact CARM Engagement at CBSA.CARM_Engagement-Engagement_de_la_GCRA.ASFC@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.

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