Sufferance Warehouse (CBSA)
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🔖 This article is part of the Customs Glossary Guide |
Sufferance Warehouse
A privately owned facility licensed by the CBSA for the short-term storage and examination of imported goods.
Overview
A Sufferance Warehouse is a facility licensed by the **Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)** where imported goods can be offloaded and stored temporarily before they are released by Customs. These facilities are privately owned and operated by carriers, port authorities, or freight forwarders.
The primary purpose of a sufferance warehouse is to provide a controlled environment where the CBSA can examine goods or where goods can wait until the importer pays the duties and taxes. Unlike a **Bonded Warehouse** (which is for long-term storage), a sufferance warehouse is for **arrival and processing**.
Time Limits: Goods can generally remain in a sufferance warehouse for up to 40 days. If they are not cleared by then, they are considered "unclaimed" and may be forfeited to the Crown.
- Perishables: 4 days.
- Firearms/Tobacco: 14 days.
- Spirits: 21 days.
Sufferance vs. Bonded Warehouse
It is common to confuse these two facility types, but they serve different stages of the import process.
| Feature | Sufferance Warehouse | Customs Bonded Warehouse |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Function | Arrival & Examination: Where goods go immediately upon arrival to wait for clearance. | Storage & Deferral: Where goods go after arrival to be stored long-term without paying duty. |
| Time Limit | Short Term (40 Days) | Long Term (4 Years) |
| Manipulation | Strictly prohibited. Goods must remain "as is." | Allowed (e.g., repacking, labeling, sorting). |
| Typical User | Carriers, Forwarders (for deconsolidation). | Importers (for inventory management). |
Types of Sufferance Warehouses
The CBSA categorizes these facilities based on the mode of transport and the nature of the goods.
- Type A (Frontier): Operated by airlines, marine terminals, or railways for general merchandise arriving in their systems.
- Type B (Highway): Operated by trucking companies or logistics providers for goods arriving by truck. This allows trucks to offload uncleared freight so the trailer can be used for other jobs.
- Type C (Deconsolidation): Operated by **Freight Forwarders** or **Consolidators**. Used to break down a single large shipment (Master Bill) into multiple smaller shipments (House Bills) for individual clearance.
- Type S (Specific): For specific commodities like perishables, human plasma, or personal effects.
Usage Scenarios
- Inland Clearance: A truck crossing at Windsor, ON is carrying goods destined for Toronto. The carrier manifests the goods "In-Bond" to a Sufferance Warehouse in Toronto (e.g., Sub-Location 5990). This avoids waiting at the border; the goods are cleared closer to home.
- CBSA Examinations: If the CBSA wants to inspect a load, they will often direct the carrier to a Sufferance Warehouse equipped with offloading docks and examination areas.
- Paperwork Issues: If a shipment arrives but the broker hasn't filed the entry, the carrier can drop the goods at a Sufferance Warehouse ("wait for paper") to avoid tying up their truck.
Usage in BorderConnect
BorderConnect supports both the Carriers delivering to these warehouses and the Operators managing them.
For Carriers (ACI eManifest)
When creating an ACI manifest for inland clearance:
- Manifest Type: Select "In-Bond."
- Sub-Location Code: You must enter the 4-digit **Warehouse Code** (e.g., 5555) of the specific Sufferance Warehouse where the goods will be delivered. This code tells the CBSA exactly where the freight is going.
For Warehouse Operators (WACM & RNS)
Operators use BorderConnect to communicate with the CBSA electronically:
- WACM (Warehouse Arrival Certification Message): The operator scans the PARS/Cargo Control Number to notify the CBSA that the goods have physically arrived.
- RNS (Release Notification System): The operator receives an automated "Released" message from the CBSA when the broker's entry is accepted, allowing them to release the freight to the customer.
Official Resources
- CBSA Memorandum D4-1-4: Customs Sufferance Warehouses Regulations
- Warehouse Codes: List of Sufferance Warehouse Sub-Location Codes
- D4-1-7: Extension of Time Limits for Storage