CrimsonLogic

The Importer Security Filing (ISF) is an extension of the 24-hour rule for marine reporting soon to be mandated by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).  It is also known as 10 + 2 since it requires 12 pieces of data.  The first 10 are required from the importer and the other 2 data elements from the ocean carrier.

The data elements are summarized below:

Data Elements
Submitted by Importer	Manufacturer Name and Address
	Seller Name and Address
	Container Stuffing Location
	Consolidator Name and Address
	Buyer name and Address
	Ship To Name and Address
	Importer of record Number
	Consignee Number
	Country of Origin of Goods
	HTS Code  (6 Digits)
	Bill of Lading Number
Submitted by Carrier	Container Status Message
	Vessel Stow Plan

The 10 data elements required from the importer need to be submitted 24 hours before goods are loaded on a U.S. bound vessel at the foreign port.  The vessel stow plan from the ocean carrier needs to be submitted within 48 hours of vessel departure from the last foreign port prior to US arrival and container status messages with 24 hours from receipt in the ocean carrier’s own system.

Why is ISF 10+2 Reporting Required?

The current AMS (Automated Manifest System) does not provide US Customs with enough data to do a thorough security screening of the incoming cargo since on an ocean manifest you have the name and address of the shipper but without the name and address of the manufacturer the security screening audit for that shipment can differ vastly depending on the exact origin of the cargo.  Including the 6 digit HTS code in the ISF filing gives clear detailed product information compared to the product description commonly seen on an ocean manifest i.e casings on a manifest could be interpreted as bullet casings or sausage casings but with the corresponding HTS code the level of uncertainty dissipates.

The vessel stow plan from the ocean carrier is vital for CBP to be able to take a full look at the container map of the vessel and by comparing the stow plan to AMS data submitted by the ocean carrier, CBP officers can quickly pinpoint containers not receiving AMS manifest data on allowing CBP officers to concentrate risk assessment efforts on high risk containers.

For FROB (Freight Remaining On Board) and in bond shipment types TE (Transportation and Exportation) and IE (Immediate Export) the carrier becomes the importer of record and require the submission of five data elements required as follows:

• Booking Party
• Foreign Port of Unlading
• Place of Delivery
• Ship To Name and Address
• HTS Code (6 digit)