Importer Security Filing

Effective January 26, 2009, new cargo security requirements were mandated for Maritime Carriers and Importers.

The Importer Security Filing and Additional Carrier Requirements is intended to help prevent terrorist weapons from being transported to the United States by requiring both importers and carriers to submit additional cargo information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before the cargo is brought into the United States by vessel.

This information will improve CBP's ability to identify high-risk shipments in order to prevent smuggling and ensure cargo safety and security.

These regulations specifically fulfill the requirements of the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006 and the Trade Act of 2002, as amended by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002.

Under ISF 10+2, the importer is responsible for filing the following information prior to shipment loading at load port:

1. Manufacturer (or supplier) name and address
2. Seller name and address
3. Buyer name and address
4. Ship to name and address
5. Container stuffing location
6. Consolidator (stuffer) name and address
7. Importer of record number/FTZ (Free Trade Zone) applicant identification number
8. Consignee number(s)
9. Country of origin
10. Commodity HTSUS number (up to the 6 digit level required, 10 is accepted)

The Importer Security Filing (ISF) must be updated as soon as more accurate or precise data becomes available and no later than 24 hours prior to the ship's arrival at a U.S. port.

The ISF will also need to include two data elements that must be submitted as early as possible, but no later than 24 hours prior to the ship's arrival at a U.S. port. These data elements are:

1. Container stuffing location
2. Consolidator

In addition, the rule requires that the Importer Security Filing for shipments consisting entirely of foreign cargo remaining on board (FROB) and shipments consisting entirely of goods intended to be transported in-bond as an immediate exportation (IE) or transportation and exportation (T&E), must provide five elements.

Importer Security Filings for IE and T&E shipments must be submitted no later than twenty-four hours before the cargo is laden aboard a vessel destined to the United States and Importer Security Filings for FROB must be submitted any time prior to lading.

The following five data elements must be submitted for FROB, IE and T&E shipments:

1. Booking party;
2. Foreign port of unlading;
3. Place of delivery;
4. Ship to party; and
5. Commodity HTSUS number.

The implementation date is January 26th 2009, with an informed compliance period of 1 year.