The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced new regulations requireing all importers and carriers to electronically submit additional information to U.S. CBP on all cargo destined to the United States 24 hours prior to loading on board the vessel. The Security Filing, also known as "10+2," is another step in the Department of Homeland Security's Strategy to better assess and identify high-risk shipments to prevent terrorist weapons and materials from entering the United States.

Currently, CBP relies primarily on carrier manifest information to perform advance targeting prior to vessel loading.  Internal and external reviews however, have concluded that more complete advance shipment data would produce more accurate and effective cargo risk assessments.  This way, resources can be focused on true threats and legitimate cargo can speed through the system as quickly as possible.

Therefore, importers are now required to submit an "Importer Security Filing" (ISF) containing the following 10 data elements:

• Manufacturer (or supplier) name and address
• Seller (or owner) name and address
• Buyer (or owner) name and address
• Ship-to name and address
• Container stuffing location
• Consolidator (stuffer) name and address
• Importer of record number/foreign trade zone applicant identification number
• Consignee number(s)
• Country of origin, and
• Commodity Harmonized Tarriff Schedule number
• Vessel Stow Plan (Container location on board the carrier)
• Container event Messages

Your overseas suppliers, in conjunction with their Freight Forwarders, can supply this information which you would pass on to your Customs Broker to file an ISF.  Many importers however, are opting to file their own ISFs directly thus taking it out of the hands of their broker, forwarder or carrier.  There is simply too much at risk; at the end of the day it will be the importer who receives the $5,000 penalty from CBP when something goes wrong.  Plus, depending on the system used, the filing of an ISF can be accomplished in a matter of seconds at significant savings, which is always attractive in these difficult economic times.  ISFs are filed electronically but a format is attached for your guidance. Link to Blog in PDF and Importer Security Filing (ISF) Questionnaire