CBP's FAQ on Mandatory Advance Electronic Information Requirements for Inbound Air Cargo

(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 VI of a multi-part series of summaries on this FAQ, and highlights FAQs 15 - 18. See future issues of ITT for additional summaries.

FAQ 15 - Incomplete House Air Waybills

Transmitting house air waybill information before flight information is provided. In response to a question asking if a container freight station (CFS), ABI filer or Express Consignment Carrier Facility (ECCF) can transmit house air waybill information to the Air Automated Manifest System (AMS) if the carrier has not yet provided confirmed flight information, CBP states that changes to Air AMS will allow those parties to file house air waybill information prior to the transmission of the master air waybill by the importing carrier. In addition, CBP states that the incoming air carrier will no longer need to "nominate" such party for the purpose of allowing such party to transmit house air waybills.

Need for flight transportation information in air waybill records. According to CBP, house air waybill records provided independently of the carrier need not contain flight transportation information. CBP explains that when the master air waybill record is provided by the incoming air carrier, the transportation information is applied to all of the house air waybill records with the same master air waybill number. CBP notes, however, that this process will not occur for split master air waybills.

FAQ 16 - Manifest Holds

CBP states that if an air waybill has an outstanding hold, the cargo may not be moved in-bond or transferred to another facility within the port. The cargo must be held by the Air AMS participant until the hold has been removed by CBP.

FAQ 17 - Foreign Cargo Remaining on Board (FROB)

Air AMS filing is required for FROB. CBP states that Air AMS filing is required for cargo that arrives aboard an aircraft, is not unladen, and is subsequently exported from the U.S. aboard the same aircraft. According to CBP, such cargo meets the definition of Foreign Cargo Remaining on Board (FROB).

CBP adds that Air AMS will include a new indicator in the transfer line for purposes of identifying such cargo as FROB (TRN/R), which will be used for simple and master air waybill records. House air waybill records must be reported for consolidated shipments even though the FROB indicator need not be used for the house air waybill records. The FROB indicator at the master air waybill level will be applied to all associated house air waybills.

Air AMS does not send electronic in-bond authorization for FROB. According to CBP, if cargo is reported as FROB, Air AMS does not respond with an electronic in-bond authorization message. CBP explains that FROB cargo does not meet the definition of cargo requiring in-bond authorization; therefore, no electronic in-bond authorization message is sent.

FAQ 18 - Flights Without Cargo

CBP indicates that if a flight does not have any cargo aboard, the carrier is not required to transmit a message through Air AMS.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 04/08/04, 04/16/04, 04/19/04, 04/20/04, and 04/21/04 news, 04040805, 04041605, 04041915, 04042010, and 04042115 for Parts I-V of this series of summaries on this FAQ.)

CBP's 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