Rules for Improving Cargo Security

•The Maritime 24 Hour Rule

•The Trade Act of 2002

•The Automated Manifest System (AMS)

Under the original 24-hour rule, sea carriers and non-vessel-operating common carriers are required to provide CBP with detailed descriptions of the contents of sea containers bound for the United States - 24 hours before the container is loaded on board a vessel.

The Maritime 24 Hour Rule

General Freight Descriptions Not Allowed

The use of such vague cargo descriptions as "Freight-All-Kinds," "Said-To-Contain," or "General Merchandise," will no longer be

allowed.

Automated Manifest System (AMS)

AMS is a multi-modular cargo inventory control and release notification system.

AMS interfaces directly with Customs Cargo Selectivity and In-Bond systems, and indirectly

with ABI, allowing faster identification and release of low risk shipments

Carriers, port authorities, service bureaus, freight forwarders, and container freight

stations can participate in AMS. AMS reduces reliance on paper documents and speeds the

processing of manifest and waybill data

AMS

Using AMS, U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has developed an

extensive database of information on the shipping industry, its patterns, and all who

participate in it through the entry documents and manifests that every

shipper is required to submit.

SEA AMS

Sea AMS allows participants to transmit manifest data electronically prior to vessel arrival. Customs can then determine in advance whether the merchandise merits examination or immediate release.

Sea AMS allows you to communicate with other AMS participants, other government agencies, container freight stations, and non-vessel commercial carriers.

AIR AMS

Air AMS allows carriers to "arrive" an in-bond shipment and to file in-bond, permit to proceed, and local transfers electronically. The carrier obtains notifications of releases, in-bond authorizations, general order, permit to proceed, and local transfer authorization upon flight departure or arrival from the last foreign port.

Air AMS increases data reliability and electronic enforcement capability by standardizing the way the trade community and Customs communicate.

Trade Act of 2002

On December 5, 2003, U.S. Customs and Border Protection published rules, required by the Trade Act of 2002, mandating submission of advanced electronic data on all shipments

entering and leaving the country.

This takes us beyond the maritime 24-hour rule to incorporate advance electronic information for all cargo shipments to the U.S., pertaining to commercial trucking, air freight and rail.

In the Trade Act of 2002, Congress recognized the importance of such

advance information and gave CBP the authority to require the electronic

transmission of advance manifest data on all commercial transportation modes, both

inbound and outbound.

Electronic Presentation of Manifests - Inbound

TIMELINE• Air & Courier - 4 hours prior to arrival in

U.S., or "wheels up" from certain nearby areas

• Rail - 2 hours prior to arrival at a U.S. port of entry

• Vessel - 24 hours prior to lading at foreign port

• Truck - Free And Secure Trade (FAST): 30 minutes prior to arrival in U.S.; non-FAST: 1 hour prior to arrival in the U.S.

TIMELINE• Air & Courier - 2 hours prior to scheduled

departure from the U.S. • Rail - 2 hours prior to the arrival of the

train at the border • Vessel - 24 hours prior to departure from

U.S. port where cargo is laden • Truck - 1 hour prior to the arrival of the

truck at the border

Electronic Presentation of Manifests - Outbound