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CBP Issues New FAQ on Mandatory Advance Electronic Information Requirements for Inbound Air Cargo

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a new set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and responses, dated April 1, 2004, regarding the mandatory advance electronic information requirements for inbound air cargo.

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(Although the actual title of this FAQ is "Air Automated Manifest System Frequently Asked Questions," it is listed on CBP's Web site as "Air FAQs on the Trade Act of 2002 - Mandatory Advanced Electronic Cargo Information.")

This is Part I of a multi-part series of summaries on this FAQ. See future issues of ITT for additional summaries.

The Table of Contents of this new FAQ is listed as follows:

AIR AUTOMATED MANIFEST SYSTEM:

Systems to be Used

Required and Voluntary Participation

When Air AMS Filing Required

Participant Procedures

Bond Requirements

Air AMS Documentation

Compliance Dates

Delivery Authorization

Split Shipments

Consolidated Shipments

Order of Receipt of Master and House Air Waybill

House Air Waybill Format

In-Bond Authorization

Permits to Transfer (Local Transfer)

Incomplete House Air Waybills

Manifest Holds

Foreign Cargo Remaining on Board (FROB)

Flights Without Cargo

Air AMS Problem Resolution

Scheduled Air AMS Downtime

Presentation of Other Documents

Manifest Discrepancy Reporting

Freight Report Inbound and Freight Report Change

Carrier Nomination/Agent Field

Emergency/Forced Landings

Location of Data Input

Duplicate Air Waybills

Quantity to be Reported

Freight Status Information Messages

Carrier Codes

Company Material/Postal Mail/Letters and Documents

Different Inbound Air Cargo Compliance Dates, Depending on Airport Location

CBP has previously published a revised compliance schedule for the required advance electronic submission of information for cargo brought into the U.S. by air. According to CBP, there are three different compliance dates, depending on the location of the airport where the cargo arrives in the U.S. - August 13, 2004 (East Coast states), October 13, 2004 (Central states), and December 13, 2004 (West Coast states). (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/04/04 news, 04030405, for BP summary of CBP's revised compliance schedule, including a list of states assigned to each of the compliance dates.)

CBP Is Conducting Seminars on the Upcoming Advance Electronic Information Requirements for Inbound Air Cargo

From March 22, 2004 to May 7, 2004, CBP will be conducting seminars at nine airports to, among other things, present the major provisions of its regulations and policies regarding its upcoming requirement that advance electronic information be presented for inbound air cargo. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/16/04, 03/19/04, and 04/02/04 news, 04031605, 04031930 1, and 04040235 1, for BP summaries of CBP's announcement, and subsequent amendment, of its air cargo seminars.)

CBP's new air cargo FAQ (dated 04/01/04) available at

http://www.cbp.gov/ImageCache/cgov/content/import/communications_5fto_5ftrade/mandatory_5fadvanced_5felectronics/air_5ffaq_5fcargo_2edoc/v1/air_5ffaq_5fcargo.doc.