Descartes Helps Customers Comply With U.S.
Customs and Border Protection “10+2”
Regulations

Descartes has enhanced its Compliance Services (including the Import 2000 Ocean compliance and other Global Logistics Network™ (GLN) services) to help customers comply with the recently proposed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations that will require importers and ocean carriers to provide CBP with additional shipment data.

As announced on January 2, 2008, CBP’s proposed regulations, referred to as “10+2”, will require 10 data elements from importers or their agents 24 hours prior to vessel departure. The proposed additional data elements are: manufacturer name and address; seller name and address; container stuffing location; consolidator name and address; buyer name and address; ship to name and address; importer of record number; consignee number; country of origin of the goods; and Commodity Harmonized Tariff Schedule number.

CBP also proposes to have the ocean carrier provide two new data sets. The new data sets are the Vessel Stow Plan, which contains information about containers loaded aboard a vessel, and Container Status Messages, which identify movements or changes in load status of those containers.

This additional information is intended to help CBP enhance its targeting of inbound containers for inspections as a means of protecting against terrorist smuggling of mass destruction weapons for a strike on the United States. The regulations are being enforced following the October 2006 enactment of the U.S. SAFE Port Act legislation designed to improve maritime and cargo security. Under the proposed rules, vessel operators must submit their stowage plans identifying the onboard location of each container within 48 hours of vessel departure from the foreign port and submit container status messages on an ongoing basis. CBP said it would allow carriers to send all status messages to the Automated Manifest System, regardless of whether the containers are bound for the United States or other global locations, in order to spare carriers the cost of sorting messages.

Data submitted by importers revolves around identifying the foreign manufacturer or supplier, seller, consolidator, container stuffing location and the consignee. The party that submits the filing is required to update the filing if any of the information changes prior to arrival at a U.S. port. CBP said in the rulemaking that it will take into consideration whether the importer is in position to verify the information when determining whether there is any fault for an inaccurate filing.

Shippers with cargo remaining on board the vessel or intending to be shipped inland under bond for exportation through another port must submit five pieces of information related to the cargo and destination. The security filing for Freight Remaining on Board can be submitted anytime prior to lading as they are frequently loaded by the carrier at the last minute. For more information on the above or to further understand Descartes’ solutions to help customers comply, please contact us:

info@descartes.com
North America: 1-877-227-6883 ext 298
International: +1-416-741-2838 ext 298

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