ABI "Bill of Lading Processing Results" Message to Primarily be Used to Confirm Bill Numbers
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) states that in the fall of 1990, ABI implemented a program to notify filers when ocean and air bills of lading, reported by the filer on an entry, did not match up to a bill number in the Automated Manifest System (AMS) records. The filer was then to immediately contact the carrier or its agent to confirm the bill number or to determine if the bill had not yet been transmitted to AMS.
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This enhancement, called "bill of lading processing results," has an application identifier in ABI of "PS." (Information regarding this program is outlined in the Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR) under the tab "bill of lading.")
With Advent of 24-Hour Rule, "PS" Message Will be Primarily Used to Confirm Bill Numbers
With the advent of the 24-hour rule for reporting inbound cargo to CBP, CBP states that there will be an ever decreasing number of ocean or air bills not being reported to AMS.
This means that the primary function of the "PS" output message will be to alert an ABI filer to a mismatch condition. CBP states that the proper action for the filer is to immediately contact the carrier or its agent to confirm the bill number.
According to CBP, timely reaction to the "PS" output records will enable ABI filers to use the "bill of lading update" feature of ABI to correct mis-reported bill numbers.
(CBP notes that many ABI filers are not aware that the "PS" data is being transmitted to their systems by ABI. Filers who are not familiar with how to retrieve "PS" output records should contact their ABI service providers for further information.
CBP adds that failure to use the ABI-provided results messages will require filers to contact local CBP officers for assistance, which CBP states is a much more time consuming procedure which may ultimately delay delivery of imported cargo.
CBP Adm: 05-0043 (dated 01/11/05) available at http://www.brokerpower.com/cgi-bin/adminsearch/admmsg.view.pl?article=2005/2005-0043.ADM