Release Notification System (RNS) (Customs Glossary Guide)

This article is part of the Customs Glossary Guide

The Release Notification System (RNS) is a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) electronic data interchange service that sends release and status messages to registered trade chain partners. CBSA’s RNS application form lists RNS options including Automatic Release Notification, Arrival Certification, Status Query, and Automatic Status.

RNS should not be confused with the systems used to submit commercial release requests. Brokers and importers may submit release information through services such as PARS, IID, or other CBSA release channels, while RNS communicates release decisions and related status information back to participants.

What RNS Does

RNS is used to send electronic messages such as:

• Automatic release notifications.
• Arrival certification messages.
• Delivery messages.
• Status query responses.
• Automatic status notifications.

These messages help carriers, brokers, importers, and warehouse operators confirm whether cargo has been released, arrived, referred, or otherwise requires follow-up. CBSA lists software vendors that have tested and registered RNS software packages with CBSA, and BorderConnect is included on that RNS vendor list.

RNS and WACM

RNS is closely connected with the Warehouse Arrival Certification Message (WACM). A WACM is an electronic arrival message transmitted by a sufferance warehouse operator when unreleased cargo physically arrives at the warehouse.

When unreleased goods arrive at a sufferance warehouse, the WACM tells CBSA that the warehouse has received the cargo. If release is already on file, RNS can return the release notification needed for the warehouse to release the goods.

CBSA guidance recognizes RNS released messages as proof of release in warehouse-related situations. Customs Notice 25-29 states that an unaltered EDI RNS released message received directly from CBSA can be used by an importer or broker to show proof of release to a warehouse operator if the goods were released by CBSA but the warehouse did not receive a copy of the RNS released message.

Status Queries

RNS also allows participants to query the status of a transaction number or Cargo Control Number (CCN). The RNS application form lists Status Query as one of the options available to RNS applicants.

Status queries are useful when an expected release or status message has not appeared automatically. CBSA Customs Notice 25-29 directs questions about RNS and Status Query functionality to CBSA’s Technical Commercial Client Unit, confirming that Status Query is part of the RNS-related support framework.

Usage in BorderConnect

In BorderConnect workflows, RNS messages are used to help users see the current status of shipments and warehouse arrivals. CBSA’s list of tested RNS software vendors includes BorderConnect Inc., meaning BorderConnect is recognized as a vendor offering RNS software registered with CBSA.

RNS messages are also automatically matched to existing ACI eManifests in BorderConnect when the Cargo Control Number (CCN) matches. This allows declaration accept messages, release messages, and other RNS status updates to appear on the related ACI shipment without the user needing to manually re-enter the release information.

For example:

• A carrier or broker may use RNS status information when checking whether a PARS shipment has been released.
• A sufferance warehouse operator may transmit a WACM and receive RNS responses for cargo that has arrived at the warehouse.
• Users can use status updates to avoid delivering or releasing cargo before CBSA has authorized the release.
• A BorderConnect ACI eManifest user may see declaration accept or release information appear on an existing ACI shipment when the incoming RNS message matches the shipment’s CCN.

BorderConnect’s RNS-PARS tutorial explains that users must be subscribed to RNS to receive CBSA status notifications, and once set up, users can access PARS shipment tools, review accepted and released shipments, print proof of release, and send RNS status queries from BorderConnect.

Related Pages

• PARS (CBSA Shipment Type)
• PARS Checking Software User Guide
• Warehouse Arrival Certification Message (WACM) Guide
• Status Query Feature
• ACI eManifest Software User Guide