USA

U.S. Customs - Advance Electronic Submission of Cargo Information

Recent legislation* states that regulations shall be promulgated providing for the transmission of cargo information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) through an electronic data interchange system. The final rule, published in the Federal Register on 5 December 2003, contains CPB's implementing regulations. This rule provides that CPB shall receive, by way of an approved electronic data interchange system, such cargo information which may be reasonably necessary to enable high-risk shipments to be identified for purposes of ensuring cargo safety and security and to prevent smuggling.

The cargo information must be electronically received 24 hours before the cargo is laden aboard the vessel at the foreign port.

The rule comes into effect on 5 January 2004 and enforcement with regard to inbound shipments via vessels will commence on 4 March 2004. As with the 24 hour rule, CPB intends to continue to work with carriers to achieve compliance with the new regulations during the above implementation period.

The final rule does not change the existing requirement that cargo information be filed 24 hours before loading; it simply mandates that the filing be electronic, by way of CPB's Automated Manifest Systems (AMS). AMS is a multi-modular cargo inventory control and release notification system for sea, air and rail carriers. AMS is intended to speed the flow of cargo and entry processing and to provide participants with electronic authorization to move cargo prior to arrival.