This week (Jan 2), CBP issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) requiring importers and carriers to electronically submit additional information on cargo before it is brought into the United States by vessel. The new security measure will assist the Department of Homeland Security assess and identify high risk shipments to prevent terrorist weapons and materials from entering the United States.

“The Security Filing will improve CBP’s ability to target high-risk cargo by identifying actual cargo movements and improving the accuracy of cargo descriptions,” said CBP Commissioner W. Ralph Basham. “It will also improve our ability to facilitate lawful international trade by identifying low-risk shipments much earlier in the supply chain.”

The proposed regulation will require carriers to submit “10+2” additional pieces of information in order to enhance the security of the maritime environment. The additional information includes: (1) a vessel stow plan used to transmit information about the physical location of cargo loaded aboard a vessel bound for the U.S; and (2) container status messages, which report container movements and changes in status (e.g., empty or full).

In addition, the NPRM also requires importers to submit an “Importer Security Filing” containing the following 10 data elements:

* Manufacturer (or supplier) name and address
* Seller (or owner) name and address
* Buyer (or owner) name and address
* Ship-to name and address
* Container stuffing location
* Consolidator (stuffer) name and address
* Importer of record number/foreign trade zone applicant identification number
* Consignee number(s)
* Country of origin, and
* Commodity Harmonized Tariff Schedule number

For further information regarding the ruling, visit the Customs and Border Protection web site.

Source - US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

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