OTTAWA — If you are transporting goods into Canada be sure you know how to transmit cargo and conveyance data electronically to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) prior to arrival at the border beginning on Friday.

This means cargo and conveyance data must be received and validated by the CBSA a minimum of one hour before the shipment arrives at the border or you could face delays, penalties to outright denial of entry.

In May, CBSA published these rules in the Canada Gazette Part II, following their development and delays over several years. The program is similar to what Canadian truckers use when traveling into the U.S.

Currently CBSA is working with fleets to help them get on board with this new program, however, beginning July 10, carriers who do not comply with eManifest requirements may be issued zero-rated penalties (non-monetary) under the CBSA’s Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS).

Beginning January 10, 2016, carriers who do not comply with eManifest requirements may be issued monetary AMPS penalties.

To help out the trucking industry, CBSA has published a list of 10 things highway carriers need to know about the eMainfest program.

Other details are available from the CBSA website.