New Cargo Manifest Regulation US Customs
UPDATE
January 24, 2003

Recent announcements by the US Customs Service (USCS) have made it perfectly clear that the USCS will start to require compliance with the new rule for declaring ships’ voyages 24 hours in advance.

USCS representatives have also announced that they will use their authority to try to impose monetary fines on those not complying, to instruct shipping companies not to load containers that do not comply with the new regulation and not to allow the unloading of containers in US ports when these do not comply with the new regulation.

The USCS confirmed that it will not extend the grace period for meeting this regulation any later than February 2, and that the fines for non-compliance following that date will be substantial.

CSAV has used this grace period to establish procedures and introduce the necessary systems changes, as well as to advise all its foreign partners and customers of the requirements of the new regulation.

CSAV therefore wishes to inform customers that, effective February 2, 2003, it has to apply the 24-hour rule without exception and that cargo will not be shipped if the documentation has not been transmitted to the USCS 24 hours in advance..

It is therefore essential that customers:

· Confirm and comply with the time periods set for the documentation at the shipment ports as advised.

· Complete the declarations fully and precisely.

· The NVOCC should also automate their cargo manifests, becoming operators of the Automated Manifest System (AMS).