10+2 Import Security Filing Requirements Take Effect on Jan. 26

The long awaited 10+2 requirements are now in the US Federal Register to take effect on Jan. 26, 2009. 10+2/ISF is an additional electronic document that will be required to be presented to U.S. Customs 24 hours prior to Laden on Board of the Vessel for ocean import. The new filing requires bonding. Importers with current Continuous Bonds will not need to purchase a new bond. Importers without a Continuous Bond should contact their forwarder for information on how to proceed.

Here's the "why do I care"...the penalty for a bad ISF filing will be $5000 per filing. These penalties will not be accessed in the first year (whew...).

The ten data elements for the new filing are:

• Manufacturer (or supplier) name & address
• Seller name & address
• Buyer name & address
• Ship to name & address
• Container stuffing location
• Consolidator name & address
• Importer of record identification number (IRS, EIN, SSN, or CBP assigned number)
• Consignee number (IRS, EIN, SSN, or CBP assigned number)
• Country of origin
• Commodity HTSUS number – will accept 6 instead of 10 digits

Complete and accurate data is important in this regard. Importers - you are required to know your supplier!!!

Know what you are purchasing, from whom and at what time. Know where it is coming from and who is involved in your transaction. This is your responsibility.

You should have a signed purchase order contract where you hold them responsible for correct information, on time documents, and itemized invoices. Importers are responsible for all ISF information.

Contact me at janderson@opsamerica.com if you have questions about 10+2. It's going to be even more important now to know whom you are buying from and that you have representation in Asia to confirm supplier information.