Hefty fines threaten companies that do not follow the new requirements for prior notification of imports into the United States. On January 26, 2010 the transitional period will run out for the legislation Importer Security Filing, or "10+2".
It contains stringent requirements for information to the U.S. customs on goods shipped to U.S. ports.
It is therefore about time for companies to adjust their routines to the new rules.
Despite protests from many trading partners and businesses, the U.S. Congress approved in January 2009 the bill "Importer Security Filing and Additional Carrier Requirements", also known as "10+2". In practice, this means that the importer must give prior information to the U.S. customs service Customs and Border Protection (CBP) informing about cargo consignors and final buyers, and the container status message (CSM).
It is an extension of the existing 24-hour rule, Advance Manifest Regulation, which means that goods imported into the United States are pre-notified 24 hours before leaving the port of shipment.
During the first 12 months of the new rules, CBP has applied a degree of flexibility. This means that all the carriers have until January 26, 2010 to adapt to the new rules. It is therefore about time for the companies not aware of the new rules to take action.
Cecilia Helland