Important changes in US Customs policies and procedures

Further to our September 9, 2004 letter to our customers, several important changes in US Customs policies and procedures are coming very soon. We want to remind all our customers:

• Effective October 1, 2004, US Customs will require 100% US tariff (HTSUS) classification to 10 digits prior to shipment release;
• Effective October 1, 2004, Customs policy regarding the identification of ultimate consignee will change such that, for formal entries and portions of “consolidated” shipments valued over $2,000, the ultimate consignee’s Internal Revenue Service (IRS) number, or Social Security Number (SSN), will need to be reported to Customs prior to release;
• Beginning November 1, 2004, FDA will begin full enforcement of Prior Notice rules, including the manufacturer registration number reporting requirement;
• Beginning November 15, 2004, Customs will require truck carriers to use the Pre-Arrival Processing System (“PAPS”) at certain ports of entry;
• As of November 15, 2004, approved BRASS (line-release) shipments will only be processed if the driver has a FAST card. We have been informed that FAST card applications currently require around eight weeks processing time.
• PBB’s letter to clients- SUBJECT: URGENT: 100% Classification & ID Number, October 1; PAPS, November 15.

To minimize potential negative impacts related to these changes, ensure that PBB has a complete database of the products you will be shipping or importing, including full tariff classifications and, where applicable, FDA product codes and registration numbers. Including the ultimate consignee’s SSN or IRS number on the invoice may also help prevent delays.

PBB and the Northern Border Customs Brokers Association (NBCBA) are continuing their efforts to obtain clarification on many issues related to these changes. As information is made available, we will ensure that the message is relayed to our customers as quickly as possible.