As of January 26, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will require that all importers comply with the Importer Security Filing (ISF), also popularly known as “10 +2” because of the 10 elements required to be provided to CBP relevant to the importer and 2 elements required to be provided to CBP relevant to the carrier. CBP has announced that as of January 26, 2010, it will also begin to issue penalties of either $5,000 or $10,000 against importers who fail to comply with ISF; something CBP calls its “enforcement phase”. Importers who self-file ISF, or their agents, must understand the changes, comply with them, and, when a penalty is issued by CBP, respond in writing to mitigate the penalty.
Fortunately, on January 28, 2010, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the South Florida Chapter of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), is hosting a seminar entitled “ISF 10+2 Reality Sinks In…What’s Next?” To register or learn more about CSCMP, click on http://www.cscmp-sofl.org/events.shtml. The impressive panel includes customs brokers, importers, carriers, consultants, an attorney, and Richard DiNucci, Director, Secure Freight Initiative, CBP Headquarters.
As you should know, the ISF is filed via the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) or the Automated Manifest System (AMS), and it is always sent to the Automated Targeting System (ATS) for analysis and review by CBP officials. Hence, it is obvious that CBP will use the ISF information to target, stop, and examine imported shipments. Incorrectly or incompletely filing ISF will result in increased delays of imported shipments. Moreover, CBP has announced that as of January 26, 2010, it will selectively penalize the more severely non-compliant importers, and will only more frequently issue such penalties over time.
On December 24, 2009, CBP amended the Interim Final Rule on November 25, 2008 entitled “Importer Security Filing and Additional Carrier Requirements.” See http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-30570.htm. The amended rule clarified the ISF Bond Terms for all importers. Knowing all aspects of this important new rule is necessary for the international trade community. Click http://www.cscmp-sofl.org/events.shtml to register. To learn more about the South Florida Chapter of the CSCMP, please contact a member of the Board of Directors at http://www.cscmp-sofl.org/board.shtml.
Happy New Year to all.
Leave A Comment