Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : tidenq@tid.gcn.gov.hk

Ref : CR EIC 111/2/16

16 August 2002

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 162/02
US: Proposed Rule for Advance Cargo Manifest

The US Customs Service announced in the Federal Register (FR) notice of 8 August 2002 proposals to amend the US Customs Regulations to require carriers to, among other things,

1. present advance and accurate manifest information, preferably in electronic mode, to the US Customs Service 24 hours before the related cargo is laden aboard the vessel at the foreign port; and
   
   
2. provide additional information in the cargo declaration.

2. Under the proposals, if a carrier fails to present the cargo declaration information as required, the US Customs Service may, in addition to the assessment of civil monetary penalties or claims for liquidated damages, delay the issuance of a permit to unlade the entire vessel until all the required information is received. The US Customs Service may also decline to issue a permit to unlade the specific cargo for which a declaration is not received as required.
   
   
3. The US Customs Service has provided a 30-day period for the trade to comment on the proposals.Written comments must reach the US Customs Service on or before 9 September 2002. Interested parties may wish to send their submissions direct to the Regulations Branch, Office of Regulations and Rulings, US Customs Service, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20229, USA.
   
   
4. A copy of the FR notice is appended (pdf format) to this circular for reference.

ENQUIRIES

5. For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at 2398 5682.
   
   
   

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Sofie Chow)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.