The “Importer Security Filing and Additional Carrier Requirements” or “10+2” is a new rule that applies to import cargo arriving in the US by vessel. The ISF Importer or their agent must electronically submit certain advance cargo information to CBP in the form of an Importer Security Filing, which includes eight data elements at least 24 hours before the cargo is laden aboard a vessel destined for the US. Non-compliance may result in penalties, increased inspections, and delayed cargo.
The “Importer Security Filing and Additional Carrier Requirements,” also known as “10+2,” is a new rule that applies to import cargo arriving in the United States by vessel. Non-compliance with this rule may result in monetary penalties, increased inspections, and delayed cargo.
By submitting an Importer Security Filing, U.S. Customs and Border Protection can better identify high-risk shipments, prevent smuggling, and ensure cargo safety and security. Before merchandise arriving by vessel can be imported into the United States, either the “Importer Security Filing (ISF) Importer” or their agent, such as a licensed customs broker, must electronically submit certain advance cargo information to CBP in the form of an Importer Security Filing. This requirement only applies to cargo arriving in the United States by ocean vessel and not to cargo arriving by other modes of transportation.
The ISF Importer is responsible for submitting the Importer Security Filing. The ISF Importer is the party responsible for the goods arriving within the limits of a port in the United States by vessel. For foreign cargo remaining on board (FROB), the carrier is the ISF Importer. For immediate exportation (IE) and transportation and exportation (T&E) in-bond shipments, and goods to be delivered to a foreign trade zone (FTZ), the party filing the IE, T&E, or FTZ documentation is the ISF Importer.
ISF Importers or their agents must provide eight data elements at least 24 hours before the cargo is laden aboard a vessel destined for the United States. These elements include the seller, buyer, importer of record number/FTZ applicant identification number, consignee number(s), manufacturer (or supplier), ship-to party, country of origin, and commodity Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) number. Importers have flexibility with respect to the submission of four data elements. For these elements, importers may submit a range of acceptable responses based on facts available to the ISF Importer at the time of submission. The Importer Security Filing must be updated as soon as more accurate or precise data becomes available and no later than 24 hours before the ship’s arrival at a U.S. port.
For shipments consisting entirely of FROB and shipments consisting entirely of goods intended to be transported in-bond as an IE or T&E, the Importer Security Filing must consist of five elements. Importer Security Filings for IE and T&E shipments must be submitted no later than 24 hours before the cargo is laden aboard a vessel destined to the United States, and Importer Security Filings for FROB must be submitted any time before lading. The following five data elements must be submitted for FROB, IE, and T&E shipments: booking party, foreign port of unlading, place of delivery, ship-to party, and commodity HTSUS number.
