CBP Seeks Comments on Importer Security Filing (ISF) Info Collection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is requesting comments by January 24, 2012 on an existing information collection concerning the Importer Security Filing (ISF). CBP is proposing to extend the expiration date of this information collection with a reduction to the estimated number of ISFs filed per year.
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Importer Security Filing (ISF)
For most cargo arriving in the U.S. by vessel, the importer, or its authorized agent, must submit the ten data elements that are listed in 19 CFR 149.3 via a CBP-approved electronic interchange system within prescribed time frames. Called the Importer Security Filing (ISF), transmission of these data elements provide CBP with advanced information about the shipment.
(19 CFR 149.3 lists these elements as the: (1) seller, (2) buyer, (3) importer of record number/foreign trade zone applicant identification number, (4) consignee number(s), (5) manufacturer (or supplier), (6) ship to party, (7) country of origin, (8) commodity HTS number to the six-digit level, (9) container stuffing location, and (10) consolidator (stuffer).
Only five data elements are required for 100% FROB shipments and Immediate Export (IE) or Transportation and Export (T&E) shipments, as applicable: (i) booking party, (ii) foreign part of unlading, (iii) place of delivery, (iv) ship to party, and (v) commodity HTS number to the six-digit level. There are also certain exemptions for bulk and break bulk cargo. See 19 CFR 149.1-149.6 for CBP's ISF regulations.)
CBP Estimates 8.1M ISFs Filed Each Year, at 2.2 Hours Each
CBP estimates there are 240,000 respondents who will each file an estimated 33.75 ISFs annually, for a total of 8,100,000 ISFs per year.1 CBP also estimates the time per ISF to be 2.19 hours. As a result, the total annual burden hours for the ISF requirement is estimated to be 17,739,000 (17.7 million) hours.
Comments Requested on Ways to Minimize Burden, Etc.
CBP is asking for comments from the general public and other Federal agencies on (a) whether the ISF is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimates of the burden of the collection of information for the ISF; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden including the use of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of information technology; and (e) the annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers from the ISF (total capital/startup costs and operations and maintenance costs).
1CBP has revised its estimate of total ISFs filed from 11,300,000 to 8,100,000, which also reduces the total burden hours.
(This CBP notice also describes and asks for similar comments on the following forms or their electronic equivalents: CBP Forms 1302 (Vessel Inward Cargo Declaration), 1302A (Vessel Cargo Declaration Outward with Commercial Forms), 7509 (Air Cargo Manifest), and 7533 (Inward Cargo Manifest for Vessel Under Five Tons, Ferry, Train, Car, Vehicle, Etc.), as well as the Manifest Confidentiality Request, the Vessel Stow Plan, and Container Status Messages (CSMs).
See future issues of ITT for detailed summaries of these other information collections.)
CBP Contact -- Tracey Denning (202) 325-0265