OTTAWA -- The requirement for carriers to submit manifest information electronically to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for shipments coming to Canada has been postponed.

According to the Canadian Trucking Alliance, the Advanced Commercial Information (ACI) Highway eManifest was scheduled to begin in June 2010. But CBSA has indicated that a delay to implementation is necessary to ensure systems are adequately tested and prepared.

In recent meetings with the CBSA, the trucking group indicated support for a delay to the project as a more favorable option than rolling out an initiative that is not ready.

"CTA supports getting it right the first time with realistic deadlines," says CTA CEO David Bradley. "Implementing a process without the systems, staff and infrastructure to support the program helps no one. By delaying the project, CBSA is doing the right thing," added Bradley.

Feedback from carriers has ranged from policy concerns such as the inbond movement of goods, to end state design issues such as changes and amendments to manifest information post arrival, says CTA.

CBSA has indicated that the system will be available for testing by industry in June 2010, but the project launch will not be until September.

The delay to the highway manifest project affects other sectors of the trade community, including the importer, freight forwarder and rail pieces of the project. CBSA has not yet committed to a timeline for the implementation of these associated projects.