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WASHINGTON, DC - 11/21/03 - The Department of Homeland Security has released final rules that will allow US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents to collect cargo information necessary "to identify high-risk shipments that could threaten the safety and security of the US."

The final rules for cargo security address the timeline of presentation for electronic advance manifest information.

US Customs and Border Protection will process advance cargo information into an automated targeting system linked to various law enforcement and commercial databases. This initial step will enable CBP to efficiently identify shipments that "pose a potential risk."

Previously most non-maritime inbound shipments entered into the US without being screened by an automated targeting system. As a result, most cargo shipments could not be assessed for risk prior to arrival.
 
The Trade Act provides the Department of Homeland Security with the authority to eliminate antiquated, paper-driven processes for cargo crossing our borders.

US Customs and Border Protection solicited input from the trade community and the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) before issuing the new regulations.

The CBP "carefully considered and in many cases adopted the trades' recommendations…will work closely with the trade community to phase in these rules over the coming months," said an agency spokesman.

The new rules require that information on inbound air and courier shipments will have to be submitted 4 hours prior to arrival in US, or "wheels up" from certain nearby areas, while rail shipments will require 2 hours prior to arrival at a US port of entry. Outbound shipments require information submitted 2 hours prior to scheduled departure from the US.
 
Trucks moving in so-called "Free And Secure Trade or FAST mode will need to have the appropriate information submitted 30 minutes prior to arrival in U.S, while non-FAST trucks will need 1 hour to comply prior to arrival in the US.
 
Manifest information on all outbound trucks - both FAST and non-FAST - will have to be turned-in 1 hour prior to the arrival of the truck at the border.

Advance information on both inbound and outbound ships will have to be provided no more than 24 hours prior to lading at foreign port or unloading at a US port.

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