After you apply: Acceptance testing
If required, clients or their service providers involved in the EDI process will undergo acceptance testing. As part of the testing process, the CBSA will provide clients or their service providers with a test package to complete.
During testing, clients (or their service providers) must satisfy production requirements by successfully completing a series of progressively complex tests that will verify whether:
- various types and volumes of data submissions are capable of being transmitted
- the quality of the data is acceptable, that is, data transmitted are accepted by the system
- the accurate reception of error messages, acknowledgements and other feedback transmissions from the EDI system is taking place
- volume testing is required (transmissions are error free a minimum of 95% of the time)
Service standards
These are the service standards for the EDI application and testing process (fiscal year April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025).
1. Application acknowledgement: Upon receipt of a complete and accurate EDI application from the client by fax or email, the CBSA will aim to acknowledge receipt of the application within 2 business days.
Performance target: 95%
Performance result: The CBSA processed 5,052 applications and met the service standard 100% of the time
2. Review of application: The CBSA will aim to review the EDI application and communicate to the client within 10 business days
Performance target: 95%
Performance result: The CBSA conducted 3,332 reviews and met the service standard 95.26% of the time
3. Initial test: The initial test ensures that all technical communication components are interfaced correctly, allowing data to be processed and results returned. Upon transmission of the first test, the CBSA aims to inform the client of the result within 4 business days
Performance target: 90%
Performance result: The CBSA processed 11 testing clients and met the service standard 100% of the time
4. Final test: Upon successful transmission of the final test of each test package by the client, the CBSA will notify the client within 4 business days advising that permission has been given to electronically exchange commercial information with the CBSA's host system using EDI
Performance target: 90%
Performance result: The CBSA processed 6 testing clients and met the service standard 100% of the time
Note: For more information on all service standards and performance results for previous years, consult the CBSA service standards.