CBP's Second Version of its FAQ on Mandatory Advance Electronic Information Requirements for Inbound Air Cargo
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued its second version (dated July 19, 2004) of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and responses regarding its final rule requiring the advance electronic presentation of information for inbound air cargo.
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This July 19, 2004 version contains a new introductory paragraph and reflects the revision of five questions (2, 4, 7, 24, and 33) and the addition of three new questions (8, 11, and 14).
This is Part II of a multi-part series on this July 19, 2004 FAQ, and focuses on revised FAQ 2 on required and voluntary participation in the Air Automated Manifest System (AMS), new FAQ 11 regarding cargo that fails to arrive in the U.S., and new FAQ 14 on the simple and master air waybill format.
FAQ 2 - Required and Voluntary Participation in Air AMS
CBP has revised FAQ 2 in order to add a new question which asks if an air carrier is required to participate in Air AMS at a port where it will never have an aircraft required to make entry under 19 CFR 122.41 (Aircraft required to enter). In other words, the question asks if Air AMS participation is mandatory for an air carrier at a port where it only handles in-bond destination cargo.
CBP responds that the air carrier is not required to participate in Air AMS at a port where it will not make entry under 19 CFR 122.41, and that participation in Air AMS for the purposes of handling in-bond cargo at the destination port is voluntary.
FAQ 11 - Cargo that Fails to Arrive in the U.S.
CBP has added a new FAQ 11 which states that if an air waybill record has been transmitted to Air AMS, but the cargo will not be transported to the U.S. (i.e, the cargo is re-routed outside the U.S.), the Air AMS participant that transmitted the air waybill record must delete the air waybill record from Air AMS.
FAQ 14 - Simple and Master Air Waybill Format
In new FAQ 14, CBP states that the data field for simple and master air waybill numbers must contain an 11-character identifier.
In response to a question asking if Air AMS requires that the 11-character identifier for a simple or master air waybill use a 3-digit air waybill prefix assigned by the International Air Transportation Association (IATA), CBP states that Air AMS has been modified to accept and process air waybill records that do not utilize a 3-digit air waybill prefix assigned by IATA.
CBP further states that if an air carrier does not have an assigned IATA air waybill prefix, it may substitute its 3-character International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) code or its CBP-assigned carrier code for the air waybill prefix number. CBP adds that assigned client representatives should be contacted for further information regarding Air AMS certification testing for non-IATA carriers.
In response to a question asking if the air waybill number may be used as the in-bond control number if the air waybill number is not an IATA-standard 11-digit air waybill number with a valid IATA air waybill prefix, CBP states that in this case, a CBP 9-digit CBP Form 7512 in-bond number must be used as the in-bond control number.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 07/27/04 news, 04072710, for Part I of this series.)
CBP's 2nd version of air cargo FAQ (dated 07/19/04) available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/communications_to_industry/advance_info/air_faq_cargo.ctt/air_faq_cargo.doc