> CMP-1 FO:TCF:TEO:TO JS

MEMORANDUM FOR: DIRECTORS, FIELD OPERATIONS

FROM: Executive Director, Trade Enforcement and Facilitation

> Office of Field Operations

SUBJECT: TBT-05-027 Elimination of the Textile Declaration and New
Regulation for Constructing the Manufacturers Identification Code (MID)
for Textile and Textile Products

BACKGROUND:

Effective October 5, 2005 the textile declaration requirement, formerly
found in 19 CFR 12.130(f), for all importations of textile and textile
products is eliminated. This applies to all products and countries,
including products subject to China Safeguards and non-WTO countries
still subject to bilateral textile agreements (i.e. Belarus, Russia,
Ukraine, and Vietnam).

With the elimination of the textile declaration, 19 CFR 102 is modified
and sets forth the requirements for origin and the construction of the
manufacturer identification codes (MIDs) for all shipments of textile or
textile products listed in 19 CFR 102.21(b)(5). Note that this new
regulation requires that the MID be constructed from the name and
address of the entity performing the origin-conferring operations
pursuant to 19 CFR 102.21 or 19 CFR 102.22, as applicable.

ACTION:

Effective October 5, 2005, a textile declaration is no longer required
for importations of textile or textile products, including those subject
to safeguards and bilateral textile agreements.

Also effective October 5, 2005, pursuant to 19 CFR 102.23, all entries
of textile and apparel products listed in 19 CFR 102.21(b)(5) are
required to identify the actual manufacturer of such products through a
manufacturer identification code (MID). The MID must be constructed from
the name and address of the entity performing the origin-conferring
operations pursuant to 19 CFR 102.21 or 19 CFR 102.22, as applicable.

Importers and brokers must use reasonable care to accurately construct
the MID using the methodology set forth in CBP regulations (as an
appendix to 19 CFR 102, or [Federal Register]{.underline} \[70 FR
58009\], dated October 5, 2005). When a single entry is filed for
products of more than one manufacturer, the products of each
manufacturer must be separately identified. The first two digits of the
MID must be the same as the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) code for the country of origin of such products.
Trading companies, sellers other than manufacturers, etc. cannot be used
to create MIDs. Entries and entry summaries in which the first two
characters of the MID do not meet the country of origin ISO code, or are
created from a company that is known to be a trading house or agent and
not a manufacturer, will be rejected for failure to properly construct a
MID. If a port has suspicions that a declared MID is not a manufacturer,
the port should pursue the correct information post entry. Repetitive
errors in the construction of MIDs for entries of textile or apparel
products will result in the assessment of broker and importer penalties
for failure to exercise reasonable care.

INFORMATION:

If you have any questions concerning this administrative notice, please
contact Ms. Jacqueline Sprungle, at (202) 344-2277, Ms. Susan Thomas, at
(202) 344-3719, or

Mr. Robert Abels, at (202) 344-1959.

Vera Adams