Advance Commercial Information (ACI) is an electronic pre-notification and risk assessment program of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The program allows CBSA to target high-risk inbound Canada freight and small package shipments for further examination, while at the same time allowing legitimate, low-risk shipments to clear customs more quickly.

ACI is being introduced in phases. Phase 1 of the program focused on the electronic transmittal of marine cargo data 24 hours in advance of loading in a foreign port. Compliance with ACI Phase 2 became mandatory on June 26, 2006. Air carriers , such as U.S. to Canada freight forwarders are now required to transmit air cargo and conveyance data to CBSA at least four hours prior to arrival in Canada, or by the time of take off for flights of less than four hours.

These advanced reporting requirements enable CBSA to track all shipping from US to Canada and complete the risk assessment process in time for a shipment's arrival. Future phases of ACI will impact carriers of all highway and rail shipments.

Download our ACI Fact Sheet to learn the answers to the most frequently asked questions about ACI.