Warehouse operators who physically receive the goods in their sufferance warehouse are required to transmit the WACM. Warehouse operators must be registered participants in the CBSA’s Release Notification System (RNS), using an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). The warehouse operator charged with transmitting the WACM is typically indicated on the cargo as the final destination warehouse.

Under Section 14 of the Customs Sufferance Warehouse Regulations, all CBSA-licensed sufferance warehouses are mandated to acknowledge the physical receipt of goods electronically. This requires that they are registered in the CBSA Release Notification System (RNS) and make use of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to transmit their WACM message. Before the Customs Notice amendment, warehouse operators could endorse the bill of lading as proof of the transfer of the liability.

Now that the WACM is mandatory for all receipts, there are only two options available: 

1. Use a third-party service provider accredited by the CBSA to send/receive the WACM message, or

2. Work with the Technical Commercial Client Unit (TCCU) to set up for Release Notification System.

Note: To participate in the Release Notification System service warehouse operators or/and their third-party service providers have to register and then have their systems tested by the Technical Commercial Client Unit (TCCU) of the CBSA. The detailed information on how to participate in the RNS program may be found in the Electronic Commerce Client Requirements Document or by contacting the TCCU on 1-888-957-7224 or by email at tccu-ustcc@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.