CBSA Message (ACI14-018) - Modifications to the EDTL rule in the Marine ECCRD - Reminder

The purpose of this update is to provide you with a reminder that the system change described below will be implemented Wednesday July 9, 2014.

Please be advised that effective July 09, 2014, there will be a tightening of an existing ACROSS rule to ensure the requirement to submit an Estimated Date and Time of Loading (EDTL) for ACI Marine is met.

The EDTL will be mandatory in the following circumstances:

  • Cargo is containerized; AND
  • The Foreign Port of Loading is non US.

Bulk / break-bulk cargo will continue to be exempt from the EDTL requirement.

This EDTL requirement has been mandatory under the Advance Commercial Information (ACI) Program since its implementation and is outlined in the Marine ECCRD; however, the Supplementary Data Required (SDR) Indicator will no longer determine if the EDTL should be submitted or not.   This means that regardless of what is transmitted in the SDR Indicator field, “Y” or “N”, if containerized cargo is loaded at a non-U.S. foreign port, marine carriers are required to electronically transmit, pre-load, the EDTL.  If the cargo meets these requirements and the EDTL is not included in the transmission, the cargo report will be rejected.

If you have any questions concerning this tightening of the existing ACROSS rule, please contact the Advance Commercial Information Policy Unit, Commercial Targeting and Advance Information Programs Division at aci-ipec@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.

For any question concerning EDI formatting for ACI Marine, please contact the Electronic Commerce Unit at 1-888-957-7224, option 1.

Recap chart

Type  Foreign Port of Loading  EDTL required?
 Container  US  Optional. No reject if not provided.
   Non US  Mandatory. Reject if not provided.
 Bulk/Breakbulk  US  Optional. No reject if not provided.
   Non US