04 March 2004

U.S. Customs Delays Advance Filing Requirement on Air Cargo

Rule will be phased in by December 2004, agency says

U.S. Customs and Border Protection bureau (CBP) has announced that it is delaying the implementation of its rule aimed to block the use of air cargo in terrorist attacks.

In a news release March 4, the original deadline, CBP in the Department of Homeland Security said that the new schedule will allow it to modify its electronic data system, train personnel and certify the software of new participants.

CBP said that it will begin August 13 phasing in the implementation of the regulation requiring airlines and shippers to send air cargo data in advance in electronic format.

Earlier CBP said that the rule would allow it to assess the terrorist risk associated with cargo shipments before their arrival at U.S. borders.

Following is the text of the news release:

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CBP Sets New Compliance Dates for Air Cargo Data
March 04, 2004

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced today in the Federal Register revised implementation dates for the transmission of inbound air cargo data required under its Trade Act of 2002 cargo security rules. The original implementation date is March 4, 2004.

"The new schedule will allow CBP to modify certain critical aspects of Air AMS, train all CBP officers that process imported air cargo on those changes, and certify the software of new participants," said CBP Commissioner Robert C. Bonner.

The final rule established procedures not supported by the existing system edits in the Air Automated Manifest System or Air AMS, the CBP-approved electronic data interchange system. CBP will complete the necessary changes to Air AMS in May 2004, followed by a 90-day certification-testing period. Implementation will begin as shown in the following chart:

Air AMS Implementation Schedule

Date: August 13, 2004

Ports in the following locations:
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia

Date: October 13, 2004

Ports in the following locations:
Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin

Date: December 13, 2004

Ports in the following locations:
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington

CBP recognizes that some carriers, in order to complete the automation process at all their arrival locations, may desire to begin submitting data for those ports in an earlier timeframe. CBP will work with them, and if possible, staffing and training requirements permitting, will accommodate their requests.

For more information on the Federal Register notice and the rule requiring electronic transmission of cargo information, please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection web site at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/communications_to_industry/advance_info/

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is an agency within the Department of Homeland Security that unifies U.S. Customs, Immigration and Agriculture Inspectors and U.S. Border Patrol Agents.

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