A detailed cargo description is a clear and concise description of an item. The description should be in plain language and detailed enough to allow the CBSA to identify the size, shape and characteristics of the cargo. Information not relevant to the cargo description (e.g. quantity, type of packaging, carrier disclaimers, etc.), should not be transmitted in the cargo description field. If the cargo is 'used', specify 'used' in front of the description, otherwise cargo is assumed to be new.

If the shipment is consolidated (where house bills and/or a Supplementary Cargo Report are expected to follow), the following descriptions may be accepted: Freight of All Kinds (FAK); shipper load and count (SLC); consolidated; general merchandise; and other similarly vague descriptions.

The following list is a guide to acceptable and unacceptable descriptions. This list is not exhaustive and is subject to change as acceptable descriptions are further refined.