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.
Manifest Confidentiality
Importers may make a request to CBP for manifest confidentiality to deny access to import manifests for the specified company using an ocean vessel to import goods. This prevents competitors from using public records requests to identify foreign suppliers. However, manifest data is also used by civil society groups to uncover instances of forced labor in supply chains and other customs violations.
19 CFR 103.31(d) allows an importer or consignee to request confidential treatment for its name and address in inward manifests, as well as the name and address of its shippers. Shippers are allowed to request confidential treatment for its name and address in outward manifests. Such certifications must be filed every two years to remain in place.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced that the vessel manifest confidentiality request form has been removed from its website until further notice.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a vessel manifest confidentiality request form to its website. The web form can be filled out and submitted online.