Importer Security
Filing and
Additional Carrier
Requirements
Bulk and Break Bulk Cargo
An Importer Security Filing is not required for bulk
cargo.
For break bulk cargo that is exempt from the 24
hour prior to lading timing requirement for 24
Hour Rule purposes, the Importer Security Filing
is required 24 hours prior to arrival.
How Will the Rule be Enforced?
The interim final rule includes a delayed
enforcement date of 12 months after the interim
final rule takes effect. During this 12-month period,
CBP will show restraint in enforcing the rule. CBP
will take into account difficulties that importers
may face in complying with the rule as long as
importers are making a good faith effort and satisfactory
progress toward compliance. The flexible enforcement
period will end January 26, 2010. CBP may issue
liquidated damages of $5,000 per violation for
the submission of an inaccurate, incomplete or
untimely filing. If goods for which an ISF has not
been filed arrive in the U.S., CBP may withhold the
release or transfer of the cargo; CBP may refuse to
grant a permit to unlade for the merchandise; and
if such cargo is unladen without permission, it may
be subject to seizure. Additionally, noncompliant
cargo could be subject to “do not load” orders at
origin or further inspection on arrival.
Where Can I Find More Information?
For more detailed information about the Importer
Security Filing, please visit the CBP website at
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/cargo_security/
carriers/security_filing/. The website includes fact
sheets, FAQs, and other public outreach sources.
Additionally, questions may be sent to Security_
Filing_Gener al@cbp.dhs.gov.
Additional assistance may be available from your
licensed customs broker, freight forwarders, trade
associations and local trade centers.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Office of Field Operations
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Suite 5.5B
Washington, DC 20229
www.cbp.gov
CBP Publication No. xxxx-xxxx
August 2009
O
n January 26, 2009, the new rule titled
Importer Security Filing and Additional
Carrier Requirements (commonly known as
“10+2”) went into effect. This new rule applies
to import cargo arriving to the United States by
vessel. Failure to comply with the new rule
could ultimately result in monetary penalties,
increased inspections and delay of cargo.
The information submitted in Importer Security
Filings improves U.S. Customs and Border
Protection’s (CBP) ability to identify high-risk
shipments in order to prevent smuggling and
ensure cargo safety and security.
What is an Importer Security Filing?
Under the new rule, before merchandise arriving
by vessel can be imported into the United States,
the “Importer Security Filing (ISF) Importer,”
or their agent (e.g., licensed customs broker),
must electronically submit certain advance cargo
information to CBP in the form of an Importer
Security Filing. This requirement only applies to
cargo arriving in the United States by ocean vessel;
it does not apply to cargo arriving by other modes
of transportation.
Who is Responsible for the Filing?
The ISF Importer is required to submit the Importer
Security Filing. The ISF Importer is the party causing
the goods to arrive within the limits of a port in the
United States by vessel. Typically, the ISF Importer
is the goods’ owner, purchaser, consignee, or agent
such as a licensed customs broker.
However, for foreign cargo remaining on board
(FROB), the ISF Importer is the carrier. For
immediate exportation (IE) and transportation and
exportation (T&E) in-bond shipments, and goods
to be delivered to a foreign trade zone (FTZ), the
ISF Importer is the party filing the IE, T&E, or FTZ
documentation.
What Must Be Filed?
Shipments Consisting of Goods Intended to be
Entered into the United States and Goods Intended
to be Delivered to a Foreign Trade Zone
ISF Importers, or their agent, must provide eight
data elements, no later than 24 hours before the
cargo is laden aboard a vessel destined to the United
States. Those data elements include:
• Seller
• Buyer
• Importerofrecordnumber/FTZapplicant
identification number
• Consigneenumber(s)
• Manufacturer(orsupplier)*
• Shiptoparty*
• Countryoforigin*
• CommodityHarmonizedTariffScheduleof
theUnitedStates(HTSUS)number*
*ISFImportershaveexibilitywithrespecttothe
submission of these four data elements. For these data
elements, importers may submit a range of acceptable
responses based on facts available to the ISF Importer
at the time of submission. The Importer Security Filing
must be updated as soon as more accurate or precise data
becomes available and no later than 24 hours prior to the
ship’s arrival at a U.S. port.
Two additional data elements must be submitted
as early as possible, but no later than 24 hours
prior to the ship’s arrival at a U.S. port. These data
elements are:
• Containerstufnglocation;and
• Consolidator
FROB, IE Shipments, and T&E Shipments
For shipments consisting entirely of FROB and
shipments consisting entirely of goods intended
to be transported in-bond as an IE or T&E, the
Importer Security Filing must consist of five
elements. Importer Security Filings for IE and
T&E shipments must be submitted no later than
24 hours before the cargo is laden aboard a vessel
destined to the United States and Importer Security
Filings for FROB must be submitted any time prior
to lading. The following five data elements must be
submitted for FROB, IE and T&E shipments:
• Bookingparty
• Foreignportofunlading
• Placeofdelivery
• Shiptoparty
• CommodityHTSUSnumber
