June 17, 2008
CBP Posts Draft ISF Transaction Sets

On March 3, 2008 the public comment period ended for responses to U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) proposed Importer Security Filing and Additional Carrier Requirements (referred to as ISF – or the “10 + 2” rule).  The requirements were published in the Federal Register as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).  (Please refer to the FedEx Trade Networks bulletin posted on January 3, 2008 for more information.)

After reviewing the comments it received, CPB announced in May that it plans to issue the final rule in September.  In late May and early June, CBP posted nine draft security filing transaction sets on its Web site, which are available at the following URL: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/automated/automated_systems/sf_transaction_sets/ )

The draft transaction sets provide the records and other information that will allow the ISF data elements to be transmitted to the CBP.  Posting the draft data sets now will enable ocean importers to start preparing for the programming aspects of the ISF. 

The proposed ISF regulations mandate that an importer or its agent transmit 10 data elements per ocean house Bill of Lading to CBP 24 hours prior to lading the goods on a vessel destined to the U.S.  Carriers must submit to CBP an additional two categories of data elements.  (Please refer to the FedEx Trade Networks bulletin posted on January 3, 2008 for a list of these data elements.)

Since the proposed new regulations will have a significant impact on ocean trade, ocean importers should do as much as possible now to prepare for the upcoming change.  As a customer broker and international freight forwarder, FedEx Trade Networks is committed to keeping its customers up-to-date on ISF information as it occurs.  For more information, please visit http://www.fedex.com/us/services/ftn/10plus2.html  or call 1.904.612.3011 for 10+2 Customer Support.

Regardless of when the ISF regulations go into effect, CBP will adopt a phase-in enforcement process similar to the one employed when the 24-Hour Rule and Trade Act regulations were implemented.

For more information, please contact your local FedEx Trade Networks Transport & Brokerage office. For a complete list of office locations go to http://www.ftn.fedex.com/locations/index.html.