CBP's FAQ on Mandatory Advance Electronic Cargo Information Requirements
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued its first version (dated February 12, 2004) of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on its final rule requiring the advance electronic presentation of information pertaining to cargo (sea, air, rail, or truck) prior to its being brought into, or sent from, the U.S.
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(Although this FAQ states that it covers all modes of cargo transportation, both inbound and outbound, CBP sources note that most of the questions and answers in this first version only pertain to inbound cargo. In addition, trade sources state that certain of these FAQs appear to only pertain to inbound ocean cargo.)
This is Part VI of a multi-part series of summaries of the February 12, 2004 FAQ, and covers FAQs on acknowledgement of receipt of data transmission, manifest discrepancy reports, CBP operations, and the cargo description data element. See future issues of ITT for additional summaries.
FAQ 15 - AMS Acknowledgement of Receipt of Data Transmission
CBP states that after the carrier or authorized transmitting party submits the manifest data via the Automated Manifest System (AMS), CBP returns the following:
Sea - an acceptance message that confirms receipt of the manifest data, quantity of BLs accepted and quantity of BLs rejected.
Air - a freight status notification upon request.
Rail - a bill on file message.
FAQ 16 - Manifest Discrepancy Reports
CBP states that it may develop a rulemaking on manifest discrepancy reports. In the meantime, CBP indicates that current procedures apply and can be found within 19 CFR 4.12 (vessel), 122.49 (air), 123.9 (Canada and Mexico, all modes).
FAQ 17 - CBP Operations (Downtimes for AMS)
CBP lists the regularly scheduled downtimes for AMS, the procedures for unscheduled or unanticipated downtime, etc.
(This FAQ 17 appears to be substantially similar to FAQ 27B in CBP's FAQ on the 24-hour rule for inbound vessel cargo, except that the term "NVOCC" is replaced with "authorized transmitting parties" and certain ocean examples and information is removed. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/03/03 news, 03020310, for BP summary of FAQ 27B for the 24-hour rule.))
FAQ 18 - Data Element: Cargo Description
CBP also lists examples of terms that are acceptable/not acceptable cargo descriptions.
(This FAQ 18 appears to be substantially similar to FAQ 30 in CBP's FAQ on the 24-hour rule for inbound vessel cargo. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/30/03 news, 03013005, for BP summary of FAQ 30 for the 24-hour rule.))
(See ITT's Online Archives or 02/19/04, 02/20/04, 02/24/04, 02/25/04, and 02/26/04 news, 04021905, 04022010, 04022410, 04022510, and 04022620, for Parts I-V of this multi-part series of summaries.
See ITT's Online Archives or 01/20/04 news, 04012035, for final installment of BP's summary of CBP's response to comments received on the proposed version of this final rule, with links to earlier installments. See ITT's Online Archives or 12/16/03 news, 03121610, for final installment of BP's summary of the final rule's regulations, with links to earlier installments.)
CBP states that interested parties with additional questions that are not included in this FAQ document should write to Manifest.Branch@dhs.gov.
CBP FAQ Document (dated 02/12/04) available at http://www.cbp.gov/ImageCache/cgov/content/import/communications_5fto_5ftrade/mandatory_5fadvanced_5felectronics/tpa_5ffaqs_2edoc/v1/tpa_5ffaqs.doc