Title 19—Customs Duties--Volume 1
PART 12—SPECIAL CLASSES OF MERCHANDISE
§ 12.1   Cooperation with certain agencies; joint regulations.
(a) Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The importation into the United States of food, drugs, devices, cosmetics, and tobacco products as defined in section 201 (f), (g), (h), and (i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321 (f), (g), (h), (i)) is governed by section 801 of the Act, as amended (21 U.S.C. 381) and regulations issued under authority of section 701(b) of the Act (21 U.S.C. 371(b)) by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of the Treasury (21 CFR 1.83 through 1.99).
(b) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. The importation of pesticides and devices is governed by section 17(c) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 136 o (c)), and regulations issued under the authority of section 17(e) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1360(e)) by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, as set forth below (§ 12.110 et seq. ).
(c) Federal Hazardous Substances Act. The importation of hazardous substances, misbranded hazardous substances, or banned hazardous substances as defined in section 2 of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 1261), is governed by regulations issued under the authority of sections 10(b) and 14 of the Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 1269, 1273), by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (16 CFR 1500.265 through 1500.272).
§ 12.3   Release under bond; liquidated damages.
(a) Release. No food, drug, device, cosmetic , tobacco product, pesticide, hazardous substance or dangerous caustic or corrosive substance that is the subject of § 12.1 will be released except in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable to the merchandise. When any merchandise that is the subject of § 12.1 is to be released under bond pursuant to regulations applicable to that merchandise, a bond on Customs Form 301, containing the bond conditions set forth in § 113.62 of this chapter, will be required.
(b) Bond amount. The bond referred to in paragraph (a) of this section must be in a specific amount prescribed by the port director based on the circumstances of the particular case that is either:
(1) Equal to the domestic value (see § 162.43(a) of this chapter) of the merchandise at the time of release as if the merchandise were admissible and otherwise in compliance; or
(2) Equal to three times the value of the merchandise as provided in § 113.62(n)(1) of this chapter.
(c) Liquidated damages. Whenever liquidated damages arise with regard to any food, drug, device or cosmetic subject to § 12.1(a) for failure to redeliver merchandise into Customs custody or for failure to rectify any noncompliance with the applicable provisions of admission, including the failure to export or destroy the merchandise within the time period prescribed by law after the merchandise has been refused admission pursuant to the provisions of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, those liquidated damages will be assessed pursuant to § 113.62(n)(1) of this chapter in the amount of the bond prescribed under paragraph (b) of this section.
§ 12.4   Exportation.
The exportation of merchandise, the subject of § 12.1, refused admission into the United States in accordance with regulations applicable thereto shall be under Customs supervision in accordance with the regulations set forth in §§ 18.25 and 18.26 of this chapter.
§ 12.5   Shipment to other ports.
When imported merchandise, the subject of § 12.1, is shipped to another port for reconditioning or exportation, such shipment must be made in the same manner as shipments in bond in accordance with the requirements of part 18 of this chapter.
§ 12.6   Affidavits required to accompany entry.
(a) Cheeses produced in the member states of the European Communities shall not be permitted entry into the Customs territory of the United States (excluding Puerto Rico) if exported from any country or area other than the country of origin, or into Puerto Rico, unless accompanied by:
(1) An affidavit, or its electronic equivalent, in the event of shipments into the Customs territory of the United States (excluding Puerto Rico), of the producer or exporter that the cheese has not received and will not receive restitution payments of the type referred to in Executive Order No. 11851, dated April 10, 1975 (40 FR 16645); or
(2) An affidavit, or its electronic equivalent, in the event of shipments into Puerto Rico, of the importer that the cheese will be consumed in Puerto Rico or areas outside the Customs territory of the United States. Proof of actual consumption shall be furnished to the appropriate Customs officer within three years after the date such cheese is entered or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption.
(b) These affidavits shall not be required to accompany importations of cheese produced in the member states of the European Communities if such cheese is shipped directly to the United States (excluding Puerto Rico) from the country of origin on a through bill of lading.
§ 12.7   Permits required for importation.
(a) Under the Act of February 15, 1927 (44 Stat. 1101, as amended, 21 U.S.C. 141-149), commonly known as the Federal Import Milk Act, the importation into the United States of milk and cream is prohibited unless the person by whom such milk or cream is shipped or transported into the United States holds a valid permit, or its electronic equivalent, from the Department of Health and Human Services. Such permits become invalid at the end of one year unless applications for renewal are filed prior to the date of expiration.
(b) The regulations of the Department of Health and Human Services under the said act require that each container of milk or cream shipped or transported into the United States by a permittee shall have firmly attached thereto a tag showing in clear and legible type the product (raw milk, pasteurized milk, raw cream, or pasteurized cream) the permit number and the name and address of the shipper; except that in case of unit shipments consisting of milk only or cream only under one permit number, each container need not be so marked if the vehicle of transportation is sealed and tagged with the above-mentioned tag. In such case the tag is required to show, in addition to the other required information, the number of containers and the contents of each. Customs officers shall not permit the importation of any milk or cream that is not tagged in accordance with such regulations.
§ 12.8   Inspection; bond; release.
(a) All imported meat and meat-food products offered for entry into the United States are subject to the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture under the Animal Health Protection Act. (7 U.S.C. 8301, et seq. ). The term “meat and meat-food products,” for the purpose of this section, shall include any imported article of food or any imported article which enters or may enter into the composition of food for human consumption, which is derived or prepared in whole or in part from any portion of the carcass of any cattle, sheep, swine, or goat, if such portion is all or a considerable and definite portion of the article, except such articles as organotherapeutic substances, meat juice, meat extract, and the like, which are only for medicinal purposes and are advertised only to the medical profession. Such meat and meat-food products will not be released from CBP custody prior to inspection by an inspector of the Food Safety and Inspection Service, Meat and Poultry Inspection, except when authority is given by such inspector for inspection at the importer's premises or other place not under CBP supervision. In such case a bond for the return to CBP custody of the merchandise shall be given by the consignee or agent on CBP Form 301, containing the bond conditions set forth in § 113.62 of this chapter, and the conveyances or packages in which such merchandise is removed to the place of examination shall be sealed or corded and sealed by a customs officer or an inspector of the Food Safety and Inspection Service, Meat and Poultry Inspection, with import-meat seals furnished by the Department of Agriculture unless bearing United States CBP seals, or in the case of packages otherwise identified as provided for in this section. When cording is necessary for proper sealing, the cords shall be furnished and affixed by the importer or his agent. Import-meat seals or cords and seals may be broken only by a CBP officer or inspector of the Meat Inspection Division, Agricultural Research Service.
This package of meat or meat product must be delivered intact to an inspector of the Meat Inspection Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Failure to comply with these instructions will result in penalty action being taken against the holder of the CBP entry bond.
If the product is found to be acceptable upon inspection the package will be marked “U.S. Inspected and Passed” and this warning notice defaced.
(b) Liquidated damages assessed for breach of a bond taken under this section, if not in excess of the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures Officer's delegated authority, and if a written application for relief is filed, may be canceled by the port director upon the payment of less than the full amount as he shall deem appropriate, or without the payment of any amount, as may be deemed appropriate, but the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures Officer shall not act under this paragraph unless the officer in charge of the local office of the Food Safety and Inspection Service, Meat and Poultry Inspection, Department of Agriculture, is in full agreement with the proposed action. If there is no local inspector of the Food Safety and Inspection Service, Meat and Poultry Inspection, the port director shall not act unless he has obtained the full agreement of the Food Safety and Inspection Service, Meat and Poultry Inspection in Washington.
§ 12.9   Release for final delivery to consignee.
No meat, meat-food products, or animal casings shall be released for final delivery to the consignee until the port director is advised by the Department of Agriculture, or its representative, that the merchandise is admissible.
§ 12.10   Regulations and orders of the Department of Agriculture.
The importation into the United States of plants and plant products is subject to regulations and orders of the Department of Agriculture restricting or prohibiting the importation of such plants and plant products. Customs officers and employees shall perform such functions as are necessary or proper on their part to carry out such regulations and orders of the Department of Agriculture and the provisions of law under which they are made.
§ 12.11   Requirements for entry and release.
(a) The importer or his representative shall submit to the director of the port of first arrival, for each entry of plants or plant products requiring a plant quarantine permit, a notice of arrival, or its electronic equivalent, for any type of entry except rewarehouse and informal mail entries. Such notice shall be on a form, or its electronic equivalent, provided for the purpose by the Department of Agriculture. The director of the port of arrival shall compare the notice of arrival, or its electronic equivalent, which he receives from the importer or his representative with the shipping documents, certify its agreement therewith, and transmit it, together with any accompanying certificates or other documents pertaining to the sanitary status of the shipment, to the Department of Agriculture. The merchandise may not be moved, stored, or otherwise disposed of until the notice of arrival, or its electronic equivalent, has been submitted and release for the intended purpose has been authorized by an inspector of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs.
(b) Where plant or plant products are shipped from the port of first arrival to another port or place for inspection or other treatment by a representative of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs and all CBP requirements for the release of the merchandise have been met, the merchandise must be forwarded as an in-bond shipment pursuant to part 18 of this chapter to the representative of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs at the place at which the inspection or other treatment is to take place. No further release by the port director will be required.
§ 12.12   Release under bond.
Plants or plant products which require fumigation, disinfection, sterilization, or other treatment as a condition of entry may be released to the permittee for treatment at a plant approved by the Department of Agriculture upon the giving of a bond on Customs Form 301, containing the bond conditions set forth in § 113.62 of this chapter to insure that the merchandise is treated under the supervision and to the satisfaction of an inspector of the Department of Agriculture or returned to Customs custody when demanded by the port director.
§ 12.13   Unclaimed shipments.
(a) If plants or plant products enterable into the United States under the rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Agriculture are unclaimed, they may be sold subject to the provisions of subparts C and D of part 127 of this chapter to any person to whom a permit has been issued who can comply with the requirements of the regulations governing the material involved.
(b) Unclaimed plants and plant products not complying with the requirements mentioned in this section shall be destroyed, by burning or otherwise, under Customs supervision.
§ 12.14   Detention.
(a) Port directors shall refuse release of all plants or plant products with respect to which a notice of prohibition has been promulgated by the Secretary of Agriculture under any of the various quarantines. If an importer refuses to export a prohibited shipment immediately, the port director shall report the facts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs and the United States attorney and withhold delivery pending advice from that Department.
(b) In case of doubt as to whether any plant or plant product is prohibited, the port director shall detain it pending advice from the Department of Agriculture.
§ 12.15   Disposition; refund of duty.
Plants or plant products which are prohibited admission into the United States under Federal law or regulations and are exported or destroyed under proper supervision are exempt from duty and any duties collected thereon shall be refunded. (See §§ 158.41 and 158.45(c) of this chapter.)
§ 12.16   Joint regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Agriculture.
(a) The importation into the United States of agricultural and vegetable seeds and screenings thereof is governed by rules and regulations prescribed jointly by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Agriculture under section 402(b) of the Federal Seed Act of August 9, 1939 (7 CFR part 201).
(b) Under the said joint rules and regulations, port directors are required to draw samples of such seeds and screenings, forward them to the seed laboratories, and notify the owner or consignee that such samples have been drawn and that the shipment shall be held intact pending a decision of the Livestock, Meat, Grain, and Seed Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, in the matter.
(c) It is further provided in said joint rules and regulations that after samples have been drawn such seeds and screenings shall be admitted into the commerce of the United States only if they have been found to meet the requirements of the Federal Seed Act of August 9, 1939, and the said regulations, but if the containers bear sufficient marks of identification the port director may release the shipment, pending examination and decision in the matter, upon the giving of a bond. The bond shall be filed with the port director on Customs Form 301 and contain the bond conditions set forth in § 113.62 of this chapter. In case of default the port director shall issue a claim for liquidated damages under the bond.
§ 12.17   Importation restricted.
The importation into the United States of viruses, serums, toxins, and analogous products for use in the treatment of domestic animals is prohibited unless the importer holds a permit from the Department of Agriculture covering the specific product. The port director shall notify the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, Washington, D.C., of the arrival of any such product, and detain it until he shall receive notice from that Department that a permit to import the shipment has been issued.
§ 12.18   Labels.
Each separate container of such virus, serum, toxin, or analogous product imported is required by the regulations of the Department of Agriculture to bear the true name of the product and the permit number assigned by the Department of Agriculture in the following form: “U.S. Veterinary Permit No. ________,” or an abbreviation thereof authorized by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services. Each separate container also shall bear a serial number affixed by the manufacturer for identification of the product with the records of preparation thereof, together with a return date.
§ 12.19   Detention; samples.
(a) The port director shall detain all shipments of such products for which no permit to import has been issued pending instructions from the Department of Agriculture.
(b) Samples shall be furnished to the Department of Agriculture upon its request, and the port director shall immediately notify the consignee of any such request.
§ 12.20   Disposition.
Viruses, serums, or toxins rejected by the Department of Agriculture shall be released by the port director to that Department for destruction, or exported under Customs supervision at the expense of the importer if exportation is authorized by the Department of Agriculture.
§ 12.21   Licensed establishments.
The bringing into the United States for sale, barter, or exchange, of any virus, therapeutic serum, toxin, antitoxin, or analogous product, or arsphenamine or its derivatives (or any other trivalent organic arsenic compound), applicable to the prevention, treatment, or cure of diseases or injuries of man is prohibited unless such virus, serum, toxin, antitoxin, or other product has been manufactured at an establishment holding an unsuspended and unrevoked license issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services for such manufacture.
§ 12.22   Labels; samples.
Each package of such products imported for sale, barter, or exchange shall be labeled or plainly marked with the name, address, and license number of the manufacturer, and the date beyond which the contents cannot be expected to yield their specific results. From each lot of product the port director shall select at random at least two final containers. The random sample together with a copy of the associated documents which describe and identify the shipment shall be forwarded to the Director, Bureau of Biologics, Food and Drug Administration, 8800 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Md. 20014. For shipments of 20 or less final containers, samples need not be forwarded, provided a copy of an official release from the Bureau of Biologics accompanies each shipment.
§ 12.23   Detention; examination; disposition.
(a) Port directors shall detain all importations of unlicensed viruses, therapeutic serums, toxins, antitoxins, and analogous products, and arsphenamines or its derivatives (or any other trivalent organic arsenic compound) for the treatment or cure of diseases or injuries of man pending examination by the Director, Bureau of Biologics, unless satisfied from evidence furnished at the time of entry that the products are intended solely for purposes of controlled investigation and not for sale, barter, or exchange, as evidenced by a copy of a filed “Notice of Claimed Investigational Exemption for a New Drug,” pursuant to § 312.1 of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act Regulations (21 CFR 312.1), or are being imported under the short supply provisions of § 601.22 of the Public Health Service Regulations (42 CFR 601.22).
(b) If the shipment is imported for sale, barter, or exchange and is found by the Director, Division of Biologics Standards, to be admissible, the port director shall release it upon receipt of a report from him that the shipment is admissible.
(c) If the Director, Division of Biologics Standards, reports that the shipment was found upon examination not to conform to the law and the regulations, the port director shall not release the shipment but shall permit the exportation or destruction thereof under Customs supervision at the option of the importer.
(d) Shipments of such products for use in the treatment of man but made from or with material of animal origin other than human, shall, unless accompanied by a Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) permit, be detained until proof is presented to the port director that their importation is not prohibited under 9 CFR part 94 or part 122.
§ 12.24   Regulations of the Department of Agriculture.
(a) The importation into the United States of domestic animals, animal products, and animal feeding materials is subject to inspection and quarantine regulations of the Department of Agriculture, Customs officers and employees are authorized and directed to perform such functions as are necessary or proper on their part to carry out such regulations of the Department of Agriculture.
(b) Inspection by an inspector of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services is required for all horses, cattle, sheep, other ruminants, and swine as a prerequisite to their entry from any foreign country. Orders listing the ports designated as quarantine stations for the inspection and quarantine of animals will be issued by the Secretary of Agriculture, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, whenever conditions warrant.
(c) The entry of domestic animals may be made, but shall not be required, before the expiration of the quarantine period. Such animals, if not entered at the time of arrival, shall be considered as under general order while under quarantine and shall not be released except upon notice from the port director that the importer has complied with all the requirements for entry.
§ 12.26   Importations of wild animals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, mollusks, and crustaceans; prohibited and endangered and threatened species; designated ports of entry; permits required.
(a)(1) The importation into the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the territories and possessions of the United States of live specimens of:
(i) Any species of the so-called “flying fox” or fruit bat of the genus Pteropus;
(ii) Any species of mongoose or meerkat of the genera Atilax, Cynictis, Helogale, Herpestes, Ichneumia, Mungos, and Suricata;
(iii) Any species of European rabbit the genus Oryctolagus;
(iv) Any species of Indian wild dog, red dog, or dhole of the genus Cuon;
(v) Any species of multimammate rat or mouse of the genus Mastomys;
(vi) Any live specimens or egg of the species of so-called “pink starling” or “rosy pastor” Sturnus roseus;
(vii) The species of dioch (including the subspecies black-fronted, red-billed, or Sudan dioch) Quelea quelea;
(viii) Any species of Java sparrow, Padda oryzivora;
(ix) The species of red-whiskered bulbul, Pycnonotus jocosus;
(x) Any live fish or viable eggs of the family Clariidae;
(xi) Any other species of wild mammals, wild birds, fish (including mollusks and crustacea), amphibians, reptiles, or the offspring or eggs of any of the foregoing which the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe by regulations to be injurious to human beings, to the interest of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, or to wildlife or the wildlife resources of the United States, is prohibited, except as may be authorized by the issuance of a permit by the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240, or his authorized representative. If any such prohibited specimen is imported, or if any specie or subspecie of other live or dead fish or wildlife, including any parts, products, or eggs thereof, appearing on the Endangered Species List published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is imported, Customs release of the prohibited specimen or endangered fish or wildlife shall be refused unless there has been issued and presented in connection with entry a proper U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit authorizing the import transaction. In the absence of such permit, injurious specimens prohibited entry shall be required to be immediately exported or destroyed. Changes in injurious species and endangered species or subspecies which are prohibited or restricted importation may be published from time to time in 50 CFR part 13—Importation of Wildlife or Eggs Thereof or in part 17—Conservation of Endangered Species and Other Fish or Wildlife. Unreleased species or subspecies of live or dead endangered fish or wildlife, including parts, products, or eggs thereof, shall remain under detention subject to seizure and delivery to an appropriate regional director or other agent of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for disposition as appropriate pursuant to 50 CFR part 17.
(2) Fish and eggs of salmonids of the fish family Salmonidae are prohibited entry into the United States for any purpose unless such importations are by direct shipment, accompanied by the signed certification of a qualified fish pathologist in substantially the form as prescribed in 50 CFR 13.7. The following are excepted from the certification requirements:
(i) Salmon landed in North America and brought into the United States for processing or sale;
(ii) Any salmonid caught in the wild in North America under a sport or a commercial fishing license; and
(iii) Fish or eggs of the family Salmonidae when processed or prepared in accordance with 50 CFR 13.7(c), or otherwise exempted from the requirement of certification.
(3) Regulations (50 CFR part 17) require the importer or his agent to file a Declaration for the Importation of Fish or Wildlife, unless it is an import transaction exempted from the requirement by 50 CFR part 13 or part 17. Such declaration on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Form 3-177, available to importers through Customs ports of entry, shall be filed with the appropriate Customs officer at the port of entry conducting the actual Customs clearance and release of the declared fish, wild mammal, or bird, amphibian, reptile, mollusk, crustacean, or dead body or egg thereof. The declaration on Form 3-177 shall show the common and scientific names, number, and country of origin of all species or subspecies declared, designate and identify any species listed on the U.S. List of Endangered Foreign Fish and Wildlife, 50 CFR part 17, appendix A, and indicate whether any species is subject to laws and regulations in any foreign country regarding its taking, transportation, or sale. See paragraph (g) of this section for special documentation requirements.
(4) Federal agencies, subject to requirements in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, may import solely for their own use live wildlife except migratory birds, or their eggs, without a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, upon filing the declaration on Form 3-177. Importation of bald or golden eagles, or their eggs is prohibited.
(5) Customs entry for consumption or bonded warehousing of fish and wildlife, as defined in 50 CFR 17.2 (e) and (f), intended for importation into the United States, or admission into a foreign trade zone, shall be filed at a port of entry among those designated for Customs entry in 50 CFR part 17, appendix B. However, Customs entry for consumption or bonded warehousing of shipments subject to emergency diversion or otherwise authorized under regulations or by permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service pursuant to 50 CFR part 17, appendices B and C, may be filed for examination and release at the ports of entry so named or permitted, but no consumption or bonded warehouse entry shall be filed or accepted at an undesignated port for any endangered specie or subspecie permitted importation pursuant to 50 CFR 17.12 except in the case of an emergency diversion of live endangered fish or wildlife accepted for such entry in accordance with item 2(b) of 50 CFR part 17, appendix B. Importations of fish and wildlife subject to regulations of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which arrive from abroad at any place in the United States not designated as an authorized port for Customs entry, unless occurring under conditions or circumstances in which Customs entry for consumption or bonded warehousing and final clearance has been authorized by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations or permit, may be entered only for immediate transportation without appraisement for movement under Customs bond to one of the designated ports of entry. Customs entry, release, and delivery of any shipment of shellfish and fishery products defined in 50 CFR 17.2(j) imported for commercial purposes is authorized at any port of entry, except insofar as such items include any species or subspecies which appears on the Endangered Species List in 50 CFR part 17, appendix A.
(b) Permits are required for the importation of wild animals and birds as follows:
(1) Wild birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 through 711) and the regulations promulgated thereunder (50 CFR part 10), may be imported from foreign countries for scientific, propagating, or other limited purposes only under permits issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Department of the Interior, Washington, DC, 20240. State game departments, municipal game farms or parks, and public museums, zoological parks or societies, and scientific or educational institutions may import migratory birds without a permit. Such migratory birds, when imported from Mexico, must be accompanied by Mexican export permits (50 CFR 16.3 and 16.5).
(2) Game mammals (antelopes, mountain sheep, deer, bears, peccaries, squirrels, rabbits, and hares), protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 through 711), dead or alive, or their parts or products, must be accompanied by Mexican export permits (50 CFR 15.3) when imported from Mexico.
(3) Wild ruminants (all animals which chew the cud, such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, deer, antelopes, camels, llamas, and giraffes) and swine (various varieties of wild hogs), except from Canada and certain northern States of Mexico may be imported only under a permit from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Such permits must be obtained before the animals are shipped from the country of exportation. All wild ruminants and swine must be inspected at designated ports of entry by veterinarians of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, United States Department of Agriculture.
(4) Psittacine birds, which include all birds commonly known as parrots, Amazons, African grays, cockatoos, macaws, parrotlets, beebees, parakeets, lovebirds, lories, lorikeets, and all other birds of the order Psittaciformes, when destined for a zoological park or medical research institution without having had prior confinement and treatment abroad at an approved treatment center, and psittacine birds taken out of the United States but inadmissible under paragraph (c) of this section, may be imported when accompanied by a permit issued by the Surgeon General. Application for such a permit may be made to the Chief, Foreign Quarantine Program, National Communicable Disease Center, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Ga. 30333, or to a Public Health Service quarantine station established at a port of entry in the United States.
(5) Ducks, geese, swans, turkeys, pigeons, doves, pheasants, grouse, partridges, quail, guinea fowl, and pea fowl, except from Canada, may be imported only under a permit from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Such permits must be obtained before the birds are shipped from the country of origin. Such birds from Canada must be accompanied by a certificate issued by a Canadian Government veterinarian. All such birds must be inspected at designated ports of entry by veterinarians of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, United States Department of Agriculture.
(c) Psittacine birds as defined in paragraph (b)(4) of this section, not to exceed two such birds by members of a family comprising a single household in any 12-month period, may be imported under prescribed conditions (see 42 CFR 71.164(e)) without permit and without prior confinement and treatment, to be kept as pets by the owner, who will be required to comply with the Foreign Quarantine Regulations of the U.S. Public Health Service. Birds taken out of the United States and being returned may be admitted, without permit, upon full compliance with prescribed conditions of those regulations for admission of birds imported as pets. No such birds shall be released until the importer has complied with applicable requirements of the Public Health regulations.
(d) Cats, dogs, and monkeys are subject to the Foreign Quarantine Regulations of the United States Public Health Service, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Washington, D.C. Such animals shall not be released until the Public Health regulations are complied with by the importer.
(e) If a shipment contains migratory birds for which a permit is required by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior, and such permit is not at hand when the birds arrive, an examination thereof shall be made at once by the port director and any duties estimated to be due shall be collected. A stipulation shall be filed with the port director within 24 hours of the entry to produce the necessary permit within 30 days from the date of entry, whereupon final liquidation shall be suspended until the permit is produced or the 30-day period expires. The shipment may be immediately released if a bond is filed with the port director on Customs Form 301, containing the bond conditions set forth in § 113.62 of this chapter, in an amount equal to the entered value plus estimated duties. If the bond conditions are violated the port director shall issue a claim for liquidated damages under the bond. In lieu of filing a bond the merchandise may be left in Customs custody at the risk and expense of the importer pending issuance of the permit.
(f) If the permit referred to in paragraph (e) of this section is refused by the Fish and Wildlife Service, or if the permit is not produced within the said 30 days, an authorized CBP official shall promptly recall the property, if delivered under bond, and shall require its immediate exportation at the expense of the importer or consignee.
(g)(1) All import shipments of fish and wildlife subject to the regulations or permit requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, published pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. 1531, or other statutory authority, shall be subject to examination or inspection by that agency's officer serving the port of entry, for determination as to permissible release or such other disposition as he may direct. Customs officers performing examinations of such fish and wildlife in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 50 CFR part 10 and parts 13 through 17, shall release shipments only upon submission by the importer of evidence sufficient to establish compliance with those regulations, any applicable permit requirements, and compliance with applicable identification and package or container marking requirements as specified by 50 CFR 17.6(a) and 17.9. In case of doubt as to whether fish, birds, or other wildlife belong to prohibited or endangered species or subspecies or whether an entry permit is required, or in case of suspicion on the part of officers of the Customs that the species sought to be entered are prohibited or endangered species or subspecies imported under other names or descriptions, the importation shall be refused Customs release, and the importer shall be responsible for concluding arrangements acceptable to the regional director or other agent of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for proper handling, custody, and care, at the importer's expense and risk, of the unreleased fish, birds, or other wildlife. No Customs disposition of the importation shall be concluded pending the determination by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the true nature of the species or subspecies. In case of refusal or neglect of the importer or consignee, or agent of either, to have the identity so established, final disposition of the importation shall be required as determined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Form 3-177, required to be filed as prescribed in 50 CFR 17.4 upon entry of importations of fish and wildlife, entrants shall present appropriate foreign export permits, other acceptable foreign documentary evidence of lawful taking, transportation, or sale, or appropriate American consular certificates upon importation of fish and wildlife species or subspecies subject to such documentation requirements of 50 CFR 17.4 (c) and (d).
(2) Any antique article imported under § 10.53(g) of this chapter shall be entered at one of the following ports:
(h) All invoices of animals and birds shall specify the species covered thereby and the number of each species. In the event of the return to the port director of any importation under the bond given under paragraph (e) of this section, if the number and species of birds does not correspond with the description stated in the invoice and if no satisfactory explanation of any discrepancy is furnished, a claim for liquidated damages shall be issued under the bond.
(i) The privilege of entry for immediate transportation granted by section 552, Tariff Act of 1930, shall not be allowed for importations of fish, birds, or other wildlife which are confirmed at the port of first arrival or discharge to be injurious prohibited species, or which require permits issued prior to importation, or which are subject to quarantine regulations or inspection at the ports of first arrival or discharge or other specified place of veterinary inspection. However, entry for immediate transportation properly is allowed for any importation of fish, birds, or other wildlife which at the place of first arrival or discharge is not confirmed to be an injurious prohibited specie and which, following compliance with any applicable quarantine regulations or required veterinary inspection, is being transported by means of an in-bond movement to a port of entry designated in 50 CFR part 17, appendix B, for Customs entry (see paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section). Ports of designated entry, inspection, quarantine, and related enforcement procedures covering certain animals and poultry and certain animal and poultry products imported into the United States are regulated by requirements and standards prescribed in regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture (see 9 CFR parts 92-96; 19 CFR 12.8 and 12.24).
(j) Wild animals and birds shall be imported under humane and healthful conditions, due regard being given to the accommodations and facilities necessary for the species transported.
(k) When any Customs officer has good reason to believe that wild animals or birds have been imported under inhumane or unhealthful conditions in violation of 18 U.S.C. 42, an immediate investigation shall be made to ascertain whether they have in fact been transported under such conditions. The investigation shall determine the provisions made on the vessel or other conveyance for the accommodation of the animals or birds, the suitability of the boxes, cages, stalls, etc., the space, ventilation, and protection from the elements accorded the animals or birds, the facilities for cleaning, feeding, watering, bedding, and such other services as may be required for the species imported. The investigation shall also determine, the physical condition of such animals or birds and the ratio of dead, crippled, diseased, or starving animals or birds. If necessary, officers of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, or Fish and Wildlife Service, or other officers or experts, may be called upon to assist customs officers in the matter.
(l) Unless the port director is satisfied that the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 42 have not been violated, he shall report the matter to the United States attorney for appropriate action.
§ 12.27   Importation or exportation of wild animals or birds, or the dead bodies thereof illegally captured or killed, etc.
Customs officers shall perform all duties required of them under statutory provisions that prohibit or restrict the importation or exportation of wild animals or birds, or the dead bodies thereof, or the eggs of such birds, killed, captured, taken, transported, etc., contrary to law. Such laws and statutory provisions include 18 U.S.C. 43, 44, 3054, 3112.
§ 12.28   Importation of wild mammals and birds in violation of foreign law.
No imported wild mammal or bird, or part or product thereof, shall be released from Customs custody, except as permitted under § 12.26(i) relating to an in-bond movement to a port designated for wildlife entry, if the port director has knowledge of a foreign law or regulation obliging enforcement of section 527(a), Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1527(a)), unless the importation is an excepted transaction entitled to entry under the provisions of section 527(c) of the Tariff Act or, in connection with the entry, there is presented documentation in the manner specified in 50 CFR 17.4(c) (1) or (2) required for import transactions subject to foreign laws or regulations regarding taking, transportation, or sale of wildlife including wild mammals and birds or parts or products thereof (see § 12.26).
§ 12.29   Plumage and eggs of wild birds.
(a) The provisions of Chapter 5, Additional U.S. Note 1, relating to the plumage of any bird, apply to all such plumage, whether imported separately or upon the bird itself, except (1) the feathers of birds specifically excepted by Additional U.S. Note 1 to Chapter 5, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), (2) plumage imported for scientific or educational purposes, (3) fully-manufactured artificial flies used for fishing, (4) plumage on game birds killed in foreign countries by residents of the United States and not imported for sale or other commercial purposes, and (5) plumage on live wild birds.
(b) The feathers or skins of certain birds may be imported for use in the manufacture of artificial flies used for fishing or for millinery purposes only under a permit issued by the Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Department of Interior, Washington DC 20240. No feathers or skins of the pro-species provided for by Additional U.S. Note 1, Chapter 5, HTSUS, shall be permitted to be entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption, unless the requisite permit is presented with the entry or withdrawal.
(c) The importation of the eggs of wild nongame birds is prohibited except as dead natural history specimens for museum or scientific collection purposes. The eggs of migratory birds may be imported for propagating purposes or for scientific and other limited purposes under permits issued by the Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240. State game departments, municipal game farms or parks, and public museums, zoological parks or societies, and scientific or educational institutions may import the eggs of migratory birds without a permit (50 CFR 16.3). The eggs of certain game or migratory birds imported for hatching, such as ducks, geese, swans, turkeys, pigeons, doves, pheasant, grouse, partridges, quail, guinea fowl, and pea fowl, are subject to the regulations of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Such regulations require that permits, except for eggs from Canada offered for entry at certain land border ports, must be obtained before the eggs are shipped from the country of origin and that all eggs shall be accompanied by a certificate issued by a national government veterinarian of the country of origin and inspected at a designated port of entry.
(d) Upon the attempted importation of eggs of wild birds, the importation of which is prohibited by Chapter 4, Additional U.S. Note 26, the eggs shall be seized and the importer accorded an opportunity to assent to forfeiture. In the event the importer refuses or fails to assent to the forfeiture of the prohibited eggs, the port director shall proceed to forfeit them under the provisions of the tariff act applicable to seizure and forfeiture of merchandise valued at less than $2,500.
§ 12.30   Whaling.
The importation and exportation of whales or whale products taken or processed in violation of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling signed at Washington under date of December 2, 1946 (Publication No. 3383, Department of State, Whaling Convention), or of the Whaling Convention Act of 1949 (16 U.S.C. 916 through 916(1)), or of any regulation issued under the Act (50 CFR part 351) is unlawful. Customs officers and employees shall perform all functions required of them by the above-mentioned convention, law and regulation.
§ 12.31   Plant pests.
The importation in a live state of insects which are injurious to cultivated crops, including vegetables, field crops, bush fruits, and orchard, forest or shade trees, and of the eggs, pupae, or larvae of such insects, except for scientific purposes under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture, is prohibited. All packages containing live insects or their eggs, pupae, or larvae arriving from abroad, unless accompanied by a permit issued by the Department of Agriculture, shall be detained and submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs of that Department for inspection and determination of their admissibility into the United States.
§ 12.32   Honeybees and honeybee semen.
(a) Honeybees from any country may be imported into the U.S. by the Department of Agriculture for experimental or scientific purposes. All other importations of honeybees are prohibited except those from a country which the Secretary of Agriculture has determined to be free of diseases dangerous to honeybees.
(b) Honeybee semen may be imported into the U.S. only from countries determined by the Secretary of Agriculture to be free of undesirable honeybees, and which take adequate precautions to prevent the importation of undersirable honeybees and their semen.
(c) The importation of honeybees and honeybee semen is governed by joint regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Treasury published in Treasury Decisions and the Federal Register from time to time.
§ 12.33   Importation of tea; entry; examination for customs purposes.
(a) The importation of any merchandise as tea which is inferior in purity, quality, and fitness for consumption to the standards prescribed by the Act of March 2, 1897, as amended (21 U.S.C. 41 through 50), is prohibited. Customs officers and employees shall perform all duties required of them by the said act and regulations.
(b) The importation of tea is subject also to the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the regulations thereunder. See §§ 12.1 to 12.5.
(c) [Reserved]
(d) The port director may order such an examination of packages containing tea as will satisfy him that no dutiable goods are packed therein. For this purpose the customary designation shall be made of packages for examination in public stores.
(e) If the invoice has not been received, the importer may use an additional copy of the chop list and release permit required by the regulations of the Department of Health and Human Services as a pro forma invoice, marking “Pro forma invoice” across the face thereof.
§ 12.34   Importation prohibited; certificate of inspection; importer's declaration.
(a) The importation into the United States of white phosphorus matches is prohibited.
(b) Invoices covering matches imported into the United States shall be accompanied by a certificate of official inspection of the Government of the country of manufacture, or its electronic equivalent, in the following form:
I, ________________ (Name), do hereby certify that I am the ____________ (Official title), that according to the chemical analysis made by me the matches described below do not contain white or yellow phosphorus and that therefore they are not white phosphorus matches as defined in the Act of Congress of the United States of America approved April 9, 1912;
(c) In the absence of such certificate, the matches shall be detained until a certificate is produced or the importer submits satisfactory evidence to show that the matches were not in fact manufactured with the use of poisonous white or yellow phosphorus.
(d) The production of the above certificate shall not be required on the entry of matches manufactured in countries which prohibit the use of white or yellow phosphorus in the manufacture of matches.
(e) At the time of filing an entry for imported matches, the importer shall make a declaration, or its electronic equivalent, that to the best of his knowledge and belief no matches included in the invoice and entry are white phosphorus matches.
§ 12.35   [Reserved]
§ 12.36   Regulations of Bureau of Narcotics.
The importation and exportation of narcotic drugs are governed by regulations of the Drug Enforcement Administration Bureau of Narcotics. Customs officers and employees shall perform all duties imposed upon them by such regulations and the laws under which they are issued. Such regulations are in addition to, and not in lieu of, the Customs, internal-revenue, and other pertinent laws and regulations.
§ 12.37   Restricted importations.
(a) The basic permit requirements prescribed by the act of August 29, 1935 (27 U.S.C. 203), shall not be deemed applicable when the port director is satisfied that the liquor is for personal use or for experimental purposes in the making of analyses, tests, or comparisons.
(b) The production of a basic permit shall not be required when spirits are withdrawn from warehouse under any form of withdrawal entry.
(c) Blending or rectifying of wines or distilled spirits in class 6 manufacturing warehouses, or the bottling of imported distilled spirits in class 8 manipulation warehouses, shall not be permitted unless the proprietor has obtained an appropriate permit from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
§ 12.38   Labeling requirements; shipments.
All shipments of liquor not labeled as required by 18 U.S.C. 1263 and any vessel or vehicle, other than a common carrier, used in the transportation of such liquor shall be seized and disposed of in accordance with 18 U.S.C. 3615 .
§ 12.39   Imported articles involving unfair methods of competition or practices.
(a) Determinations of the International Trade Commission. Under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1337), unfair methods of competition and unfair practices in the importation or sale of articles, the effect or tendency of which is to destroy, substantially injure, or prevent the establishment of an efficiently and economically operated United States industry, or to restrain or monopolize trade and commerce in the United States, are unlawful. After an investigation of an alleged violation of section 337, the U.S. International Trade Commission (“the Commission”) may determine that section 337 has been violated. The Commission also may determine during the course of its investigation that there is reason to believe that a violation of section 337 exists. The Commission's determination in either case is effective on the date of its publication in the Federal Register and is referred to the President, who may disapprove the determination for policy reasons on or before the close of a 60-day period beginning on the day after the day he receives a copy of the determination. A Commission determination disapproved by the President shall have no force or effect as of the date the Commission is notified of his disapproval. If the Commission's determination is not disapproved by the President during the 60-day period, or if he notifies the Commission before the close of the period that he approves the determination, the determination becomes final on the day after the close of the period or the day of the notification, whichever is earlier.
(b) Exclusion from entry; entry under bond; notice of exclusion order. (1) If the Commission finds a violation of section 337, or reason to believe that a violation exists, it may direct the Secretary of the Treasury to exclude from entry into the United States the articles concerned which are imported by the person violating or suspected of violating section 337. The Commission's exclusion order remains in effect until the Commission determines, and notifies the Secretary of the Treasury, that the conditions which led to the exclusion no longer exist, or until the determination of the Commission on which the order is based is disapproved by the President.
(2) During the period the Commission's exclusion order remains in effect, excluded articles may be entered under a single entry bond in an amount determined by the International Trade Commission to be sufficient to protect the complainant from any injury. On or after the date that the Commission's determination of a violation of section 337 becomes final, as set forth in paragraph (a) of this section, articles covered by the determination will be refused entry. If a violation of section 337 is found, the bond may be forfeited to the complainant under terms and conditions prescribed by the Commission. To enter merchandise that is the subject of a Commission exclusion order, importers must:
(i) File with CBP prior to entry a bond in the amount determined by the Commission that contains the conditions identified in the special importation and entry bond set forth in appendix B to part 113 of this chapter; and
(ii) Comply with the terms set forth in 19 CFR 210.50(d) in the event of a forfeiture of this bond.
(3) CBP shall notify each importer or consignee of articles released under bond pursuant to paragraph (b)(2) of this section when the Commission's determination of a violation of section 337 becomes final and that entry of the articles is refused. The importer or consignee shall export or destroy the released articles under customs supervision within 30 days after the date of notification. The port director who released the articles shall assess liquidated damages in the full amount of the bond if the importer or consignee fails to export or destroy the released articles under Customs supervision within the 30-day period.
(4) In addition to the notice given to importers or consignees of articles released under bond, CBP shall provide written notice to all owners, importers or consignees of articles which are denied entry into the United States pursuant to an exclusion order that any future attempt to import such articles may result in the articles being seized and forfeited. Copies of all such notices are to be forwarded to the Executive Director, Commercial Targeting and Enforcement, Office of International Trade, at CBP Headquarters, and to the Office of The General Counsel, USITC, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20436.
(c) Seizure and Forfeiture Orders. (1) In addition to issuing an exclusion order under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the Commission may issue an order providing that any article determined to be in violation of § 337 be seized and forfeited to the United States. Such order may be issued if:
(i) The owner, importer, or consignee of the article previously attempted to import the article or like articles into the United States;
(ii) The article or like articles were previously denied entry into the United States by reason of an exclusion order issued under paragraph (b)(1) of this section; and
(iii) Upon such previous denial of entry, CBP had notified the owner, importer, or consignee of the article in writing of both the exclusion order and that seizure and forfeiture would result from any further attempt to import the article or like articles into the United States.
(2) Upon receipt of any seizure order issued by the Commission in accordance with this paragraph, Customs shall immediately notify all ports of entry of the property subject to the seizure order and identify the persons notified under paragraph (b)(4) of this section.
(3) The port director in the port in which the article was seized shall issue a notice of seizure to parties known to have an interest in the seized property. All interested parties to the property shall have an opportunity to petition for relief under the provisions of 19 CFR part 171. All petitions must be filed within 30 days of the date of issuance of the notice of seizure, and failure of a claimant to petition will result in the commencement of administrative forfeiture proceedings. All petitions will be decided by the appropriate Customs officer, based upon the value of the articles under seizure.
(4) If seized articles are found to be not includable in an order for seizure and forfeiture, then the seizure and the forfeiture shall be remitted in accordance with standard Customs procedures.
(5) Forfeited merchandise shall be disposed of in accordance with the Customs laws.
(d) Certain importations by or for the United States. Any exclusion from entry under section 337 based on claims of United States letters patent shall not apply to articles imported by and for the use of the United States, or imported for, and to be used for, the United States with the authorization or consent of the Government.
(e) Importations of semiconductor chip products. (1) In accordance with the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984 (17 U.S.C. 901 et seq. ), if the owner of a mask work which is registered with the Copyright Office seeks to have CBP deny entry to any imported semiconductor chip products which infringe his rights in such mask work, the owner must obtain a court order enjoining, or an order of the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), under section 337, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C.1337), excluding, importation of such products. Exclusion orders issued by the USITC are enforceable by CBP under paragraph (b) of this section. Court orders or exclusion orders issued by the USITC shall be forwarded, for enforcement purposes, to the Director, Border Security and Trade Compliance Division, Office of International Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Washington, DC 20229.
(2) CBP shall enforce any court order or USITC exclusion order based upon a mask work registration in accordance with the terms of such order. Court orders may require either denial of entry or the seizure of violative semiconductor chip products. Forfeiture proceedings in accordance with part 162 of this chapter shall be instituted against any such products so seized.
(3) This regulation will be effective against all importers regardless of whether they have knowledge that their importations are in violation of the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984 (17 U.S.C. 901 through 904).
§ 12.40   Seizure; disposition of seized articles; reports to United States attorney.
(a) Any book, pamphlet, paper, writing, advertisement, circular, print, picture, or drawing containing any matter advocating or urging treason or insurrection against the United States or forcible resistance to any law of the United States, or containing any threat to take the life of or inflict bodily harm upon any person in the United States, seized under section 305, Tariff Act of 1930, shall be transmitted to the United States attorney for his consideration and action.
(b) Upon the seizure of articles or matter prohibited entry by section 305, Tariff Act of 1930 (with the exception of the matter described in paragraph (a) of this section), a notice of the seizure of such articles or matter shall be sent to the consignee or addressee.
(c) When articles of the class covered by paragraph (b) of this section are of small value and no criminal intent is apparent, a blank assent to forfeiture, Customs Form 4607, shall be sent with the notice of seizure. Upon receipt of the assent to forfeiture duly executed, the articles shall be destroyed if not needed for official use and the case closed.
(d) In the case of a repeated offender or when the facts indicate that the importation was made deliberately with intent to evade the law, the facts and evidence shall be submitted to the United States attorney for consideration of prosecution of the offender as well as an action in rem under section 305 for condemnation of the articles.
(e) All cases in which articles have been seized pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1305(a) should be referred to the U.S. Attorney, for possible institution of condemnation proceedings, within 4 days, but in no event more than 14 days, after the date of Customs initial examination. The referral to the U.S. Attorney should be initiated simultaneously with the mailing to the importer of the seizure notice and the assent to forfeiture form. If the importer declines to execute an assent to forfeiture of the articles other than those mentioned in paragraph (a) of this section and fails to submit, within 30 days after being notified of his privilege to do so, a petition under section 618, Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1618), for remission of the forfeiture and permission to export the seized articles, then the U.S. Attorney, who has already received information concerning the seizure pursuant to this paragraph, may proceed with the condemnation action.
(f) If seizure is made of books or other articles which do not contain obscene matter but contain information or advertisements relative to means of causing unlawful abortion, the procedure outlined in paragraphs (b), (c), (d), and (e) of this section shall be followed.
(g) In any case when a book is seized as being obscene and the importer declines to execute an assent to forfeiture on the ground that the book is a classic, or of recognized and established literary or scientific merit, a petition addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury with evidence to support the claim may be filed by the importer for release of the book. Mere unsupported statements or allegations will not be considered. If the ruling is favorable, release of such book shall be made only to the ultimate consignee.
(h) Whenever it clearly appears from information, instructions, advertisements enclosed with or appearing on any drug or medicine or its immediate or other container, or otherwise that such drug or medicine is intended for inducing unlawful abortion, such drug or medicine shall be detained or seized.
§ 12.41   Prohibited films.
(a) Importers of films, shall certify on Customs Form 3291 that the imported films contain no obscene or immoral matter, nor any matter advocating or urging treason or insurrection against the United States or forcible resistance to any law of the United States, nor any threat to take the life or inflict bodily harm upon any person in the United States. When imported films are claimed to be free of duty as American goods returned, this certification may be made on Customs Form 3311, or its electronic equivalent, in the space designated “Remarks” in lieu of on Form 3291.
(b) Films exposed abroad by a foreign concern or individual shall be previewed by a qualified employee of the Customs Service before release. In case such films are imported as undeveloped negatives exposed abroad, the approximate number of feet shall be ascertained by weighing before they are allowed to be developed and printed and such film shall be previewed by a qualified employee of the Customs Service after having been developed and printed.
(c) Any objectionable film shall be detained pending instructions from Headquarters, U.S. Customs Service or a decision of the court as to its final disposition.
§ 12.42   Findings of Commissioner of CBP.
(a) If any port director or other principal Customs officer has reason to believe that any class of merchandise that is being, or is likely to be, imported into the United States is being produced, whether by mining, manufacture, or other means, in any foreign locality with the use of convict labor, forced labor, or indentured labor under penal sanctions, including forced child labor or indentured child labor under penal sanctions, so as to come within the purview of section 307, Tariff Act of 1930, he shall communicate his belief to the Commissioner of CBP. Every such communication shall contain or be accompanied by a statement of substantially the same information as is required in paragraph (b) of this section, if in the possession of the port director or other officer or readily available to him.
(b) Any person outside CBP who has reason to believe that merchandise produced in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (a) of this section is being, or is likely to be, imported into the United States may communicate his belief to any port director or the Commissioner of CBP. Every such communication shall contain, or be accompanied by:
(1) A full statement of the reasons for the belief;
(2) A detailed description or sample of the merchandise; and
(3) All pertinent facts obtainable as to the production of the merchandise abroad.
(c) If any information filed with a port director pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section does not conform with the requirements of that paragraph, the communication shall be returned promptly to the person who submitted it with detailed written advice as to the respects in which it does not conform. If such information is found to comply with the requirements, it shall be transmitted by the port director within 10 days to the Commissioner of CBP, together with all pertinent additional information available to the port director.
(d) Upon receipt by the Commissioner of CBP of any communication submitted pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this section and found to comply with the requirements of the pertinent paragraph, the Commissioner will cause such investigation to be made as appears to be warranted by the circumstances of the case and the Commissioner or his designated representative will consider any representations offered by foreign interests, importers, domestic producers, or other interested persons.
(e) If the Commissioner of CBP finds at any time that information available reasonably but not conclusively indicates that merchandise within the purview of section 307 is being, or is likely to be, imported, he will promptly advise all port directors accordingly and the port directors shall thereupon withhold release of any such merchandise pending instructions from the Commissioner as to whether the merchandise may be released otherwise than for exportation.
(f) If it is determined on the basis of the foregoing that the merchandise is subject to the provisions of the said section 307, the Commissioner of CBP, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, will publish a finding to that effect in a weekly issue of the Customs Bulletin and in the Federal Register.
(g) Any merchandise of a class specified in a finding made under paragraph (f) of this section, which is imported directly or indirectly from the locality specified in the findings and has not been released from CBP custody before the date of publication of such finding in the Federal Register shall be considered and treated as an importation prohibited by section 307, Tariff Act of 1930, unless the importer establishes by satisfactory evidence that the merchandise was not mined, produced, or manufactured in any part with the use of a class of labor specified in the finding.
(h) The following findings made under the authority of section 307, Tariff Act of 1930 are currently in effect with respect to the merchandise listed below:
§ 12.43   Proof of admissibility.
(a) If an importer of any article detained under § 12.42(e) or (g) desires to contend that the article was not mined, produced, or manufactured in any part with the use of a class of labor specified in section 307, Tariff Act of 1930, he shall submit to the port director or Commissioner of CBP within 3 months after the date the article was imported a certificate of origin, or its electronic equivalent, in the form set forth below, signed by the foreign seller or owner of the article. If the article was mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in a country other than that from which it was exported to the United States, an additional certificate, or its electronic equivalent, in such form and signed by the last owner or seller in such other country, substituting the facts of transportation from such other country for the statements with respect to shipment from the country of exportation, shall be so submitted.
I, ________________, foreign seller or owner of the merchandise hereinafter described, certify that such merchandise, consisting of ________________ (Quantity) of ________________ (Description) in ____________________ (Number and kind of packages) bearing the following marks and numbers ____________ was mined, produced, or manufactured by ________________ (Name) at or near ________________, and was laden on board ____________________ (Carrier to the United States) at ________________ (Place of lading) (Place of final departure from country of exportation) which departed from on ____________; (Date); and that ____________________ (Class of labor specified in finding) was not employed in any stage of the mining, production, or manufacture of the merchandise or of any component thereof.
Dated ____________
(b) The importer shall also submit to the port director or Commissioner of CBP within such 3-month period a statement, or its electronic equivalent, of the ultimate consignee of the merchandise, showing in detail that he had made every reasonable effort to determine the source of the merchandise and of every component thereof and to ascertain the character of labor used in the production of the merchandise and each of its components, the full results of his investigation, and his belief with respect to the use of the class of labor specified in the finding in any stage of the production of the merchandise or of any of its components.
(c) If the certificate or certificates and statements specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, or its electronic equivalent, are submitted within the time prescribed and the Commissioner finds that the merchandise is admissible, the port director concerned will be advised to that effect, whereupon he shall release the merchandise upon compliance with the usual entry requirements.
§ 12.44   Disposition.
(a) Export and abandonment. Merchandise detained pursuant to § 12.42(e) may be exported at any time prior to seizure pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, or before it is deemed to have been abandoned as provided in this section, whichever occurs first. Provided no finding has been issued by the Commissioner of CBP under § 12.42(f) and the merchandise has not been exported within 3 months after the date of importation, the port director will ascertain whether the proof specified in § 12.43 has been submitted within the time prescribed in that section. If the proof has not been timely submitted, or if the Commissioner of CBP advises the port director that the proof furnished does not establish the admissibility of the merchandise, the port director will promptly advise the importer in writing that the merchandise is excluded from entry. Upon the expiration of 60 days after the delivery or mailing of such advice by the port director, the merchandise will be deemed to have been abandoned and will be destroyed, unless it has been exported or a protest has been filed as provided for in section 514, Tariff Act of 1930.
(b) Seizure and summary forfeiture. In the case of merchandise covered by a finding under § 12.42(f), if the Commissioner of CBP advises the port director that the proof furnished under § 12.43 does not establish the admissibility of the merchandise, or if no proof has been timely furnished, the port director shall seize the merchandise for violation of 19 U.S.C. 1307 and commence forfeiture proceedings pursuant to part 162, subpart E, of this chapter.
(c) Prison-labor goods. Nothing in this chapter precludes CBP from seizing for forfeiture merchandise imported in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1761 and 1762 concerning prison-labor goods.
§ 12.45   Transportation and marketing of prison-labor products.
If any apparent violation of section 1761 or 1762, title 18, United States Code, with respect to any imported article comes to the attention of a port director, he shall detain the article and report the facts to the appropriate United States attorney. If the United States attorney advises the port director that action should be taken against the article, it shall be seized and held pending the receipt of further instructions from the United States attorney or the court.
§ 12.48   Importation prohibited; exceptions to prohibition of importation; procedure.
(a) In accordance with Chapter 25, Title 18, United States Code, any token, disk, or device in the likeness or similitude of any coin of the United States or of a foreign country; counterfeits of coins in circulation in the United States; counterfeited, forged, or altered obligations or other securities of the United States or of any foreign government; or plates, dies, or other apparatus which may be used in making any of the foregoing, when brought into the United States, shall be seized, and delivered to the nearest representative of the United States Secret Service, together with a report of the facts, for appropriate disposition.
(b) In accordance with section 504 of title 18, United States Code, the printing, publishing, or importation or the making or importation of the necessary plates for such printing or publishing for philatelic, numismatic, educational, historical, or newsworthy purposes in articles, books, journals, newspapers, or albums (but not for advertising purposes, except illustrations of stamps and paper money in philatelic or numismatic advertising of legitimate numismatists and dealers in stamps or publishers of or dealers in philatelic or numismatic articles, books, journals, newspapers, or albums) of black and white illustrations of canceled and uncanceled United States postage stamps shall be permitted.
(c) The importation (but not for advertising purposes except philatelic advertising) of motion-picture films, microfilms, or slides, for projection upon a screen or for use in telecasting, of postage and revenue stamps and other obligations and securities of the United States and postage and revenue stamps, notes, bonds, and other obligations or securities of any foreign government, bank, or corporation shall be permitted.
(d) Printed matter of the character described in section 504, title 18, United States Code, 32 containing reproductions of postage or revenue stamps, executed in accordance with any exception stated in section 504, or colored reproductions of canceled foreign postage stamps may be admitted to entry. Printed matter containing illustrations or reproductions not executed in accordance with such exceptions shall be treated as prohibited importations. If no application for exportation or assent to forfeiture and destruction is received by the port director within 30 days from the date of notification to the importer that the articles are prohibited, the articles shall be reported to the United States attorney for forfeiture.
32 Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the following are permitted:
(1) The printing, publishing, or importation, or the making or importation of the necessary plates for such printing or publishing, of illustrations of:
(A) Postage stamps of the United States,
(B) Revenue stamps of the United States,
(C) Any other obligation or other security of the United States, and
(D) Postage stamps, revenue stamps, notes, bonds, and any other obligation or other security of any foreign government, bank, or corporation, for philatelic, numismatic, educational, historical, or newsworthy purposes in articles, books, journals, newspapers, or albums (but not for advertising purposes, except illustrations of stamps and paper money in philatelic or numismatic advertising of legitimate numismatists and dealers in stamps or publishers of or dealers in philatelic or numismatic articles, books, journals, newspapers, or albums). Illustrations permitted by the foregoing provisions of this section shall be made in accordance with the following conditions—
(i) All illustrations shall be in black and white, except that illustrations of postage stamps issued by the United States or by any foreign government may be in color;
(ii) All illustrations (including illustrations of uncanceled postage stamps in color) shall be of a size less than three-fourths or more than one and one-half, in linear dimension, of each part of any matter so illustrated which is covered by subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of this paragraph, except that black and white illustrations of postage and revenue stamps issued by the United States or by any foreign government and colored illustrations of canceled postage stamps issued by the United States may be in the exact linear dimension in which the stamps were issued; and
(iii) The negatives and plates used in making the illustrations shall be destroyed after their final use in accordance with this section.
(2) The making or importation, but not for advertising purposes except philatelic advertising, of motion-picture films, microfilms, or slides, for projection upon a screen or for use in telecasting, of postage and revenue stamps and other obligations and securities of the United States, and postage and revenue stamps, notes, bonds, and other obligations or securities of any foreign government, bank, or corporation. No prints or other reproductions shall be made from such films or slides, except for the purposes of paragraph (1), without the permission of the Secretary of the Treasury.
For the purposes of this section the term “postage stamp” includes “postage meter stamps.” (18 U.S.C. 504).
§ 12.50   Consumer products and industrial equipment subject to energy conservation or labeling standards.
(a) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
Covered import. The term “covered import” means a consumer product or industrial equipment that is classified by the Department of Energy as covered by an applicable energy conservation standard, or by the Federal Trade Commission as covered by an applicable energy labeling standard, pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, as amended (42 U.S.C. 6291-6317), and for which an entry for consumption has been filed, including products and equipment withdrawn from warehouse for consumption or foreign merchandise entered for consumption from a foreign trade zone.
DOE. The term “DOE” means the Department of Energy.
Energy conservation standard. The term “energy conservation standard” means any standard meeting the definitions of that term in 42 U.S.C. 6291(6) or 42 U.S.C. 6311(18).
FTC. The term “FTC” means the Federal Trade Commission.
Noncompliant covered import. The term “noncompliant covered import” means a covered import determined to be in violation of 42 U.S.C. 6302 or 42 U.S.C. 6316 as not in compliance with applicable energy conservation or energy labeling standards.
(b) CBP action; refusal of admission. CBP will refuse admission into the customs territory of the United States to any covered import found to be noncompliant with applicable energy conservation or energy labeling standards. If DOE or FTC notifies CBP that a covered import does not comply with an applicable energy conservation or energy labeling standard, CBP will refuse admission to the covered import, or pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section, CBP may allow conditional release of the covered import so that it may be brought into compliance. CBP may make a finding that a covered import is noncompliant without having received a prior written noncompliance notice from DOE or FTC. In such a situation, CBP will confer with DOE or FTC, as applicable, as to disposition of the import.
(c) DOE or FTC notice. Upon a determination that a covered import is not in compliance with applicable energy conservation or labeling standards, DOE or FTC, as applicable, will provide CBP with a written or electronic notice that identifies the importer and contains a description of the noncompliant covered import that is sufficient to enable CBP to identify the subject merchandise and refuse admission thereof into the customs territory of the United States.
(d) Conditional release. In lieu of immediate refusal of admission into the customs territory of the United States, CBP, pursuant to a written or electronic recommendation from DOE or FTC, may permit the release of a noncompliant covered import to the importer of record for purposes of reconditioning, re-labeling, or other modification. The release from CBP custody of any such covered import will be deemed conditional and subject to the bond conditions set forth in § 113.62 of this chapter. Conditionally released covered imports are subject to the jurisdiction of DOE and/or FTC.
(1) Duration. Unless extended in accordance with paragraph (d)(2) of this section, the conditional release period will terminate upon the earliest occurring of the following events:
(i) The date CBP issues a notice of refusal of admission to the importer;
(ii) The date DOE or FTC issues a notice to CBP stating that the covered import is in compliance and may proceed; or
(iii) At the conclusion of the 30-day period following the date of release.
(2) Extension. An importer may request an extension of the conditional release period from DOE or FTC if made within the initial 30-day conditional release period or any subsequent authorized extension thereof. CBP may permit an extension of the conditional release period if recommended electronically or in writing, by DOE or FTC.
(3) Issuance of redelivery notice and demand for redelivery. If DOE or FTC notifies CBP in writing or electronically that noncompliant covered imports have not timely been brought into compliance, CBP will issue a refusal of admission notice to the importer and, in addition, CBP will demand the redelivery of the specified covered import to CBP custody. The demand for redelivery may be made concurrently with the notice of refusal of admission.
(4) Liquidated damages. A failure to comply with a demand for redelivery made under this paragraph (d) will result in the assessment of liquidated damages equal to three times the value of the covered product. Value as used in this provision means value as determined under 19 U.S.C. 1401a.
§ 12.60   Importation prohibited.
The transportation, importation, sale, or possession of the skins of fur seals or sea otters is prohibited if such skins were taken contrary to the provisions of section 2 of the act of February 26, 1944 (58 Stat. 100-104) or, the case of such skins taken under the authority of the act or any fur-seal agreement, if the skins are not officially marked and certified as required by section 2 of the act. Section 16 makes the act inapplicable to skins taken for scientific purposes under a special permit.
§ 12.61   Fur-seal or sea-otter skins permitted entry.
(a) Fur-seal or sea-otter skins taken by Indians, Aleuts, or other aborigines under the authority of section 3 of the act, fur-seal skins taken under the authority of the Canadian Government, and fur-seal skins taken on the Pribilof Islands and other specified areas under the authority of section 4 of the act shall be admitted to entry if officially marked and certified as having been lawfully taken and if accompanied by a declaration of the shipper identifying the skins by marks and numbers as those covered by the official certificate.
(b) Fur-seal or sea-otter skins taken in waters or on land not specified in the act or in the fur-seal agreement with Canada or other fur-seal agreement shall be admitted to entry upon the production of evidence satisfactory to the port director that they have been so taken.
§ 12.62   Enforcement; duties of Customs officers.
(a) In accordance with the authority contained in sections 10 and 12 of the act, Customs officers shall arrest or cause to be arrested persons violating the provisions of the act or of any regulation made pursuant thereto; shall search vessels when there is reasonable cause to believe that such vessels are subject to seizure under the act, shall seize any vessel used or employed or which it appears has been or is about to be used or employed in violation of the act or any regulation made pursuant thereto; and shall seize fur seals and sea otters, or the skins thereof, killed, captured, transported, imported, offered for sale, or possessed by any person contrary to the provisions of the act or of any regulation made pursuant thereto.
(b) All articles, including vessels and equipment, seized by Customs officers for violation of the act shall be turned over to the nearest officer or agent of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, for appropriate disposition under the act, receipts to be taken in duplicate therefor. One copy of each such receipt shall be transmitted to Headquarters, U.S. Customs Service with a detailed report of the facts in the particular case involved.
§ 12.63   Seal-skin or sea-otter-skin waste.
Seal-skin or sea-otter-skin waste composed of small pieces not large enough to be sewed together and utilized as dressed fur shall not be subject to the requirements of the regulations in this part.
§ 12.73   Importation of motor vehicles and motor vehicle engines.
(a) Applicability of EPA requirements. This section is ancillary to the regulations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued under the Clean Air Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. ), and found in 40 CFR parts 85, 86, 1036, 1037, and 1068. The EPA regulations should be consulted for more detailed information concerning EPA emission requirements. This section applies to imported motor vehicles; this section also applies to separately imported engines only if they will be installed in highway motorcycles or heavy-duty motor vehicles. All references in this section to “motor vehicles” include these highway motorcycles and heavy-duty engines. Nothing in this section should be construed as limiting or changing in any way the applicability of the EPA regulations.
(b) Importation of complying vehicles —(1) Labeled vehicles. Vehicles which in their condition as imported are covered by an EPA certificate of conformity and which bear the manufacturer's label showing such conformity and other EPA-required information will be deemed in compliance with applicable emission requirements for the purpose of CBP admissibility and entry liquidation determinations. This paragraph does not apply to importations of Independent Commercial Importers covered by paragraph (d) of this section.
(2) Pending certification. Vehicles otherwise covered by paragraph (b)(1) of this section which were manufactured for compliance with applicable emission requirements, but for which an application for a certificate of conformity is pending with the EPA may be conditionally released from CBP custody pending production of the certificate of conformity within 120 days of release.
(c) Importation of vehicles previously in compliance —(1) Vehicles of returning residents. Vehicles of residents returning from Canada, Mexico or other countries as EPA may designate are not covered by this section.
(2) Vehicles of commuting nonresidents and tourists. A port director through the issuance of an appropriate means of identification to be affixed to a vehicle may waive all of the requirements of this section for a nonresident regularly crossing the Canadian or Mexican border, or waive the requirements for Mexico or Canadian-registered vehicles of tourists or other travelers.
(d) Importation of vehicles by an Independent Commercial Importer (ICI). An ICI is generally an importer that does not have a contract with a foreign or domestic motor vehicle manufacturer for distributing products into the United States market ( see 40 CFR 85.1502). ICIs act independently of motor vehicle manufacturers, but are required to bring motor vehicles into compliance with all applicable emissions requirements found in 40 CFR part 86 and any other applicable requirements of the Clean Air Act. Before the vehicle is deemed to be in compliance with applicable emission requirements and finally admitted into the United States, the ICI must keep the vehicle in storage for a 15-business day period. This period follows notice to EPA of completion of the compliance work to give EPA the opportunity to conduct confirmatory testing and inspect the vehicle and records. The 15-business day period is part of the 120-day period in which an ICI must bring the vehicle into compliance with applicable emission requirements. A motor vehicle may also be conditionally admitted by an ICI if it meets the requirements in 40 CFR 85.1505 or 85.1509. Individuals and businesses not entitled to enter nonconforming motor vehicles may arrange for their importation through an ICI certificate holder. In these circumstances, the ICI will not act as an agent or broker for CBP transaction purposes unless it is otherwise licensed or authorized to do so.
(e) Exemptions and exclusions from emission requirements based on age of vehicle. The following motor vehicles may be imported by any person and do not have to be shown to be in compliance with emission requirements before they are entitled to admissibility:
(1) Gasoline-fueled light-duty trucks and light-duty motor vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1968;
(2) Diesel-fueled light-duty motor vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1975;
(3) Diesel-fueled light-duty trucks manufactured before January 1, 1976;
(4) Highway motorcycles manufactured before January 1, 1978;
(5) Gasoline-fueled and diesel-fueled heavy-duty engines manufactured before January 1, 1970; and
(6) Motor vehicles not otherwsie exempt from EPA emission requirements and more than 20 years old. Age is determined by subtracting the year of production (as opposed to model year) from the year of importation. The exemption under this subparagraph is available only if the vehicle is imported by an ICI.
(f) Exemption for exports. A new motor vehicle intended solely for export to a country not having the same emission standards applicable in the United States is not required to be covered by an EPA certificate of conformity if both the vehicle and its container bear a label or tag indicating that it is intended solely for export. 40 CFR 85.1709.
(g) Exemptions for diplomats, foreign military personnel and nonresidents. Subject to the condition that they are not resold in the United States, the following motor vehicles are exempt from applicable emission requirements:
(1) A motor vehicle imported solely for the personal use of a nonresident importer or consignee and the use will be for a period not to exceed one year; and
(2) A motor vehicle of a member of the armed forces of a foreign country on assignment in the United States, or of a member of the personnel of a foreign government on assignment in the United States or other individual who comes within the class of persons for whom free entry of motor vehicles has been authorized by the Department of State in accordance with general principles of international law. For special documentation requirements see paragraph (i)(6) of this section.
(h) Other exemptions and exclusions. EPA regulations in 40 CFR parts 85, 86 and 1068 allow for exempting or excluding vehicles from certification requirements. The following scenarios illustrate several examples of exemptions or exclusions that apply only if prior approval has been obtained in writing from EPA:
(1) Importations for repairs. A motor vehicle imported for repairs is any motor vehicle which is imported solely for repairs or alterations and which is not sold, leased, registered or licensed for use or operated on public roads or highways in the United States. 40 CFR 85.1511(b)(1);
(2) Importations for testing. A test vehicle is any motor vehicle imported solely for testing. Test vehicles may be operated on and registered for use on public roads or highways provided that the operation is an integral part of the test. 40 CFR 85.1511(b)(2). This exemption is limited to a period not exceeding one year from the date of importation unless a request is made under 40 CFR 85.1705(f) for a one-year extension;
(3) Prototype vehicles. A prototype vehicle is any motor vehicle imported for use as a prototype in applying for EPA certification. 40 CFR 85.1511(b)(3) and 85.1706. In the case of an ICI, unless the vehicle is brought into conformity within 180 days from the date of entry it will be exported or otherwise disposed of subject to paragraph (l) of this section;
(4) Display vehicles. A display vehicle is any motor vehicle which is imported solely for display and which will not be sold, leased, registered or licensed for use on or operated on the public roads or highways in the United States. 40 CFR 85.1511(b)(4);
(5) Racing cars. A racing car is any vehicle that meets one or more of the criteria found at 40 CFR 85.1703(a), and that will not be registered or licensed for use on or operated on public roads or highways in the United States. See also 40 CFR 85.1511(e).
(6) National security importations. A national security importation includes any motor vehicle imported for purposes of national security by a manufacturer. 40 CFR 85.1511(c)(1), 85.1702(a)(2) and 85.1708; and
(7) Hardship exemption. A hardship exemption includes any motor vehicle imported by anyone qualifying for a hardship exemption. 40 CFR 85.1511(c)(2).
(i) Documentation requirements —(1) Exception for certain companies that manufacture and import motor vehicles. The special documentation requirements of this paragraph do not apply to the importation of motor vehicles by the company that manufactures the motor vehicles if the motor vehicles are covered by a valid EPA Certificate of Conformity (COC) held by the manufacturer and the motor vehicles are labeled to show compliance with applicable emission requirements pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(2) Release. CBP will not release a motor vehicle from custody unless the importer has submitted all documents necessary to demonstrate compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
(3) Required EPA documentation. Unless otherwise exempt, importers of motor vehicles must submit one of the following EPA declaration forms to CBP at the time of entry, or when filing a weekly entry from an FTZ in accordance with § 146.63(c)(1) of this chapter at the time of entry summary:
(i) For heavy-duty motor vehicle engines, whether they are installed in a vehicle or separately imported as loose engines, submit EPA Declaration Form 3520-21, “Importation of Engines, Vehicles, and Equipment Subject to Federal Air Pollution Regulations;”
(ii) For all other motor vehicles, submit EPA Declaration Form 3520-1, “Importation of Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Engines Subject to Federal Air Pollution Regulations.”
(4) Filing method. The EPA declaration forms required to be submitted to CBP pursuant to paragraph (i)(3) of this section must be filed with CBP electronically in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) or via any other CBP-authorized electronic data interchange system, or as a paper filing, at the time of entry, or when filing a weekly entry from an FTZ in accordance with § 146.63(c)(1) of this chapter at the time of entry summary.
(5) Recordkeeping. Documents supporting the information required in EPA Declaration Form 3520-1 must be retained by the importer for a period of at least five (5) years in accordance with § 163.4 of this chapter and must be provided to CBP upon request.
(6) Documentation for diplomatic or foreign military personnel exemption. In order for a diplomat or foreign military personnel to claim an exemption pursuant to paragraph (g)(2) of this section, CBP must receive a Department of State-approved form DS-1504 (“Request for Customs Clearance of Merchandise”) or its electronic equivalent.
(j) Release under bond. If an EPA declaration form filed in accordance with paragraph (i)(3) of this section states that the entry is being filed under one or more of the exemptions and exclusions identified in paragraph (h)(1), (2), (3), or (4) of this section, the entry will be accepted only if the importer, consignee, or surety, as appropriate, files a basic importation and entry bond containing the bond conditions set forth in § 113.62 of this chapter, or files electronically in ACE or via any other CBP-authorized electronic data interchange system. The importer or consignee must deliver to CBP, either at the port of entry or electronically, documentation of EPA approval before the exemption or exclusion indicated on the EPA declaration form expires, or before some later deadline specified by the Center director based on good cause. If the EPA approval is not delivered to CBP, either to the port of entry or electronically, within the specified period, the importer or consignee must deliver or cause to be delivered to the port director those vehicles which were released under a bond required by this paragraph (j). In the event that the vehicle or engine is not redelivered within five (5) days following the date the exemption or exclusion indicated on the EPA declaration form expires, or any later deadline specified by the Center director, whichever is later, liquidated damages will be assessed in the full amount of the bond, if it is a single entry bond, or if a continuous bond is used, in the amount that would have been assessed under a single entry bond.
(k) Notices of inadmissibility or detention. If a motor vehicle is determined to be inadmissible before or after release from CBP custody, the importer or consignee will be notified in writing of the inadmissibility determination and/or redelivery requirement. However, if a motor vehicle cannot be released from CBP custody merely because the importer has failed to attach to the entry the documentation required by paragraph (i) of this section, the vehicle will be held in detention by the port director for a period not to exceed 30-calendar days after filing of the entry at the risk and expense of the importer pending submission of the missing documentation. An additional 30-calendar day extension may be granted by the port director upon application for good cause shown. If the requisite EPA declaration form required pursuant to paragraph (i)(3) of this section has not been filed within this deadline, which must not exceed 60 days from the date of entry, CBP will issue a notice of inadmissibility.
(l) Disposal of vehicles not entitled to admission. A motor vehicle denied admission under any provision of this section will be disposed of in accordance with applicable CBP laws and regulations. However, a motor vehicle or engine will not be disposed of in a manner in which it may ultimately either directly or indirectly reach a consumer in a condition in which it is not in conformity with applicable EPA emission requirements.
(m) Prohibited importations. The importation of motor vehicles other than in accordance with this section and the EPA regulations in 40 CFR parts 85, 86, 600, 1036, 1037, and 1068 is prohibited.
§ 12.74   Importation of nonroad and stationary engines, vehicles, and equipment.
(a) Applicability of EPA regulations. The requirements governing the importation of nonroad and stationary engines subject to conformance with applicable emission standards of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are contained in 40 CFR parts 1033 through 1068. These EPA regulations should be consulted for detailed information as to the admission requirements for subject nonroad and stationary engines. EPA emission regulations also apply to vehicles and equipment with installed engines and all references in this section to nonroad or stationary engines include the vehicles and equipment in which the engines are installed. Nothing in this section may be construed as limiting or changing in any way the applicability of the EPA regulations.
(b) Documentation requirements —(1) Exception for certain companies that manufacture and import nonroad or stationary engines, including engines incorporated into vehicles and equipment. The special documentation requirements of this paragraph (b) do not apply to the importation of nonroad or stationary engines, including engines incorporated into vehicles or equipment, by the company that manufactures the engines, provided that the engines are covered by a valid EPA Certificate of Conformity (COC) held by the importing manufacturer and bear the manufacturer's label showing such conformity and other EPA-required information.
(2) Release. CBP will not release engines, vehicles, or equipment from custody unless the importer has submitted all required documents to demonstrate that the engines, vehicles, or equipment meet all applicable requirements.
(3) Required EPA documentation. Importers of nonroad or stationary engines, including engines incorporated into vehicles and equipment, must submit EPA Declaration Form 3520-21, “Importation of Engines, Vehicles, and Equipment Subject to Federal Air Pollution Regulations,” to CBP at the time of entry, or when filing a weekly entry from an FTZ in accordance with § 146.63(c)(1) of this chapter at the time of entry summary.
(4) Filing method. EPA Declaration Form 3520-21 may be filed with CBP electronically in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) or via any other CBP-authorized electronic data interchange system, or as a paper filing, at the time of entry, or when filing a weekly entry from an FTZ in accordance with § 146.63(c)(1) of this chapter at the time of entry summary.
(5) Recordkeeping. Documents supporting the information required in EPA Declaration Form 3520-21 must be retained by the importer for a period of at least five (5) years in accordance with § 163.4 of this chapter and must be provided to CBP upon request.
(c) Release under bond —(1) Conditional admission. If the EPA declaration form states that the entry for a nonconforming nonroad engine is being filed under one of the exemptions described in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, under which the engine may be conditionally admitted under bond, the entry will be accepted only if the importer, consignee, or surety, as appropriate, files a basic importation and entry bond containing the bond conditions set forth in § 113.62(c) of this chapter, or files electronically in ACE or via any other CBP-authorized electronic data interchange system.
(2) Final admission. Should final admission be sought and granted pursuant to EPA regulations for an engine conditionally admitted initially under one of the exemptions described in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, the importer or consignee must deliver to the port director the prescribed statement. The statement must be delivered within the period authorized by EPA for the specific exemption, or such additional period as the port director of CBP may allow for good cause shown. Otherwise, the importer or consignee must deliver or cause to be delivered to the port director the subject engine, either for export or other disposition under applicable CBP laws and regulations ( see paragraph (e) of this section). If such engine is not redelivered within five (5) days following the allotted period, liquidated damages will be assessed in the full amount of the bond, if a single entry bond, or if a continuous bond, the amount that would have been assessed under a single entry bond ( see 40 CFR 1068.335).
(3) Exemptions. EPA regulations in 40 CFR parts 60 and 1033 through 1068 allow for exempting or excluding imported engines from certification requirements (see especially 40 CFR part 1068, subpart D). The specific exemptions under which a nonconforming nonroad engine may be conditionally admitted, and for which a CBP bond is required, are as follows:
(i) Repairs or alterations ( see 40 CFR 1068.325(a)).
(ii) Testing ( see 40 CFR 1068.325(b)).
(iii) Display ( see 40 CFR 1068.325(c)).
(iv) Export ( see 40 CFR 1068.325(d)).
(v) Diplomatic or military ( see 40 CFR 1068.325(e)).
(vi) Delegated assembly ( see 40 CFR 1068.325(f)).
(vii) Partially complete engines, vehicles, or equipment ( see 40 CFR 1068.325(g)).
(d) Notice of inadmissibility or detention. If an engine is found to be inadmissible either before or after release from CBP custody, the importer or consignee will be notified in writing of the inadmissibility determination and/or redelivery requirement. If the inadmissibility is due to the fact that the importer or consignee did not file the EPA Declaration Form 3520-21 at the time of entry, or when filing a weekly entry from an FTZ in accordance with § 146.63(c)(1) of this chapter at the time of entry summary, the port director may hold the subject engine in detention at the importer's risk and expense for up to 30 days from the entry filing date. The port director may grant the importer's request for a 30-day extension for good cause. The port director will issue a notice of inadmissibility if documentation is still incomplete after this deadline, which must not exceed 60 days from the filing date for importation.
(e) Disposal of engines not entitled to admission; prohibited importations. A nonroad or stationary engine denied admission under EPA regulations must be disposed of consistent with such EPA regulations and in accordance with applicable CBP laws and regulations. The importation of nonroad or stationary engines other than as prescribed under EPA regulations is prohibited.
§ 12.80   Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
(a) Standards prescribed by the Department of Transportation. Motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment manufactured on or after January 1, 1968, offered for sale, or introduction or delivery for introduction in interstate Commerce, or importation into the United States are subject to Federal motor vehicle safety standards (“safety standards”) prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation under sections 103 and 119 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, as amended (15 U.S.C. 1392, 1407) (“the Act”), and set forth in 49 CFR part 571. A motor vehicle (“vehicle”) or item of motor vehicle equipment (“equipment item”), manufactured on or after January 1, 1968, is not permitted entry into the Customs territory of the United States unless (with certain exceptions set forth in paragraph (b) of this section) it is in conformity with applicable safety standards in effect at the time the vehicle or equipment item was manufactured.
(b) Requirements for entry and release. (1) Unless the requirement for filing is waived by the port director as provided for in paragraph (f) of this section, each vehicle or equipment item offered for introduction into the Customs territory of the United States shall be denied entry unless the importer or consignee files with the entry a declaration, in duplicate, which declares or affirms one of the following:
(i) The vehicle or equipment item was manufactured on a date when no applicable safety standards were in effect.
(ii) The vehicle or equipment item conforms to all applicable safety standards (or, the vehicle does not conform solely because readily attachable equipment items which will be attached to the vehicle before it is offered for sale to the first purchaser for purposes other than resale are not attached) and bears a certification label or tag to that effect permanently affixed by the original manufacturer to the vehicle or to the equipment item, or to the outside of the container in which the equipment item is delivered, in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary of Transportation (49 CFR parts 555, 567, 568 and 571) under section 114 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 1403).
(iii) The vehicle or equipment item was not manufactured in conformity to all applicable safety standards, but it has been or will be brought into conformity. Within 120 days after entry, or within a period not to exceed 180 days after entry, if additional time is granted by the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“Administrator, NHTSA”), the importer or consignee will submit a true and complete statement to the Administrator, NHTSA, identifying the manufacturer, contractor, or other person who has brought the vehicle or equipment item into conformity, describing the exact nature and extent of the work performed, and certifying that the vehicle or equipment item has been brought into conformity, and that the vehicle or equipment item will not be sold or offered for sale until the Administrator, NHTSA, issues an approval letter to the port director stating that the vehicle or equipment item described in the declaration has been brought into conformity with all applicable safety standards.
(iv) The vehicle or equipment item is intended solely for export, and the vehicle or equipment item, and the outside of the container of the equipment item, if any, bears a label or tag to that effect.
(v) The importer or consignee is a nonresident of the United States, is importing the vehicle or equipment item primarily for personal use for a period not exceeding 1 year from the date of entry, will not sell it in the United States during that period, and has stated his passport number and country of issue, if he has a passport, on the declaration.
(vi) The importer or consignee is a member of the armed forces of a foreign country on assignment in the U.S. or is a member of the personnel of a foreign government on assignment in the U.S. or other individual who is within the class of persons for whom free entry of vehicles has been authorized by the Department of State in accordance with general principles of international law, is importing the vehicle or equipment item for purposes other than resale; and a copy of his official orders, if any, is attached to the declaration (or, if a qualifying member of the personnel of a foreign government on assignment in the U.S., the name of the Embassy to which he is accredited is stated on the declaration).
(vii) The vehicle or equipment item is imported solely for the purpose of show, test, experiment, competition (a vehicle the configuration of which at the time of entry is such that it cannot be licensed for use on the public roads is considered to be imported for the purpose of competition), repair or alteration, and the statement required by 19 CFR 12.80(c)(2) or (c)(3) is attached to the declaration.
(viii) The vehicle was not manufactured primarily for use on the public roads and is not a “motor vehicle” as defined in section 102 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 1391).
(ix) The vehicle is an “incomplete vehicle” as defined in 49 CFR part 568.
(2) A vehicle imported solely for the purpose of test or experiment which is the subject of a declaration filed under paragraph (b)(1)(vii) of this section may be licensed for use on the public roads for a period not to exceed 1 year from the date of importation if use on the public roads is an integral part of the test or experiment. The vehicle may be licensed for use on the public roads for one or more further periods which, when added to the initial 1 year period, shall not exceed a total of 3 years, upon application to and approval by the Administrator, NHTSA.
(c) Declaration; contents. (1) Each declaration filed under paragraph (b)(1) of this section shall include the name and address in the United States of the importer or consignee, the date and the entry number (if applicable), the make, model, and engine and body serial numbers, or other identification number (if a vehicle), or a description of the item (if an equipment item), and shall be signed by the importer or consignee.
(2) Each declaration filed under paragraph (b)(1)(vii) of this section which relates to a vehicle or equipment item reported for the purpose of show, competition, repair, or alteration shall have attached a statement fully describing the use to be made of the vehicle or equipment item and its ultimate disposition.
(3) Each declaration filed under paragraph (b)(1)(vii) of this section which relates to a vehicle imported solely for the purpose of test or experiment shall have attached a statement fully describing the test or experiment, the estimated period of time necessary to use the vehicle on the public roads, and the disposition to be made of the vehicle after completion of the test or experiment.
(4) Any declaration filed under paragraph (b)(1) of this section may, if appropriate, relate to more than one vehicle or equipment item imported on the same entry.
(d) Declaration; disposition. The port director shall forward the original of each declaration submitted to him under paragraph (b)(1) of this section as soon as practicable to the Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC 20590.
(e) Release under bond. (1) If a declaration is filed under paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section, the entry shall be accepted only if the importer or consignee gives a bond on Customs Form 301, containing the bond conditions set forth in § 113.62 of this chapter. An approval letter shall be issued upon approval by the Administrator, NHTSA, of the conformity statement submitted by the importer or consignee as provided for in paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section. The approval letter shall be forwarded by the Administrator, NHTSA, to the port director with a copy to the importer or consignee. Upon receipt of the approval letter the port director shall cancel the charge against the bond.
(2) If the approval letter is not received by the port director within 180 days after entry, the port director shall issue a Notice of Redelivery, Customs Form 4647, or its electronic equivalent, requiring the redelivery to Customs custody of the vehicle or equipment item. If the vehicle or equipment item is not redelivered to Customs custody or exported under Customs supervision within the period allowed by the port director in the Notice of Redelivery, liquidated damages shall be assessed in the full amount of a bond if it is single entry bond or if a continuous bond is used, the amount that would have been taken under a single entry bond.
(f) Waiver of declaration requirements. The requirement that a declaration be filed under paragraph (b)(1)(i), (b)(1)(ii), or (b)(1)(v) of this section as a condition to the introduction of a vehicle or equipment item into the Customs territory of the United States may be waived by the port director for a United States, Canadian, or Mexican registered vehicle arriving via land borders.
(g) Vehicle or equipment item introduced by means of a fraudulent or false declaration. Any person who enters, introduces, attempts to enter or introduce, or aids or abets the entry, introduction, or attempted entry or introduction, of a vehicle or equipment item into the Customs territory of the United States by means of a fraudulent entry declaration, or by means of a false entry declaration made without reasonable cause to believe the truth of the declaration, may incur liabilities under section 592, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1592).
(h) Vehicle or equipment item denied entry. If a vehicle or equipment item is denied entry under the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section, the port director shall refuse to release the vehicle or equipment item for entry into the Customs territory of the United States and shall issue a notice of that refusal to the importer or consignee.
(i) Disposition of vehicle or equipment item denied entry; redelivery. A vehicle or equipment item denied entry under paragraph (b) of this section, or redelivered to Customs custody under paragraph (e) of this section, which is not exported under Customs supervision within 90 days from the date of the notice of denial of entry or date of redelivery, shall be disposed of under applicable Customs laws and regulations, except that disposition shall not result in the introduction of the vehicle or equipment item into the Customs territory of the United States in violation of the Act.
§ 12.85   Coast Guard boat and associated equipment safety standards.
(a) Applicability of standards or regulations prescribed by the Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard. Boats and associated equipment (as hereinafter defined) are subject to U.S. Coast Guard safety regulations or standards when imported or, under certain conditions, brought into the United States after November 1, 1972. Those regulations or standards are prescribed by the Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, pursuant to sections 5, 7, and 39, Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 (46 U.S.C. 1454, 1456, 1488), as set forth in 33 CFR parts 181, 183.
(1) The term “boats” includes:
(i) All vessels manufactured or used primarily for noncommercial use.
(ii) All vessels leased, rented, or chartered to another for the latter's noncommercial use.
(iii) All vessels engaged in the carrying of six or fewer passengers (see section 4.80 of this chapter on prohibitions against foreign vessels transporting passengers in the coastwise trade).
(2) For purposes of § 12.85 the term “boat” does not include:
(i) Foreign vessels temporarily using waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
(ii) Military or public vessels of the United States, except recreational type public vessels.
(iii) A vessel whose owner is a State or subdivision thereof, which is principally used for governmental purposes, and which is clearly identifiable as such.
(iv) Ships' lifeboats.
(3) The term “associated equipment” means:
(i) Any system, part, or component of a boat as originally manufactured, or a similar part or component manufactured or sold for replacement, repair, or improvement of such system, part, or component (excluding radio equipment).
(ii) Any accessory or equipment for, or appurtenance to, a boat (excluding radio equipment).
(iii) Any marine safety article, accessory, or equipment intended for use by a person on board a boat (excluding radio equipment).
(4) The term “product” as used in this section, includes the terms “boats” and “associated equipment” as defined in paragraphs (a) (1), (2), and (3) of this section.
(b) Evidence of compliance with boating standards or regulations as condition of entry. A product for which entry is sought into the Customs territory of the United States will, subject to the exceptions specified in paragraph (c) of this section, be denied entry unless accompanied by evidence of compliance with standards or regulations as follows:
(1) A product subject to standards prescribed in 33 CFR part 183 will have affixed to it a compliance certification label in accordance with the requirements of subpart B, 33 CFR part 181.
(2) A boat hull subject to subpart C, 33 CFR part 181 will have affixed to it a hull identification number affixed by the importer or the original manufacturer. The number shall comply with the format requirements of subpart C, 33 CFR part 181.
(c) Products not in compliance with standards or regulations: Alternative evidence required as condition of entry and release. Certain products shall be permitted entry and release without a compliance certification label or hull identification number affixed, as is required by subparts B and C, 33 CFR part 181, if they fall within one of the following categories, and if the conditions for entry and release specified for each category of product are met:
(1) Products manufactured before standards or regulations in effect. For certain products manufactured before an applicable standard or regulation was in effect, a declaration, or its electronic equivalent, will be filed in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (d) of this section. The declaration, or its electronic equivalent, will state that the product was manufactured before the applicable standard or regulation was in effect. If the port director believes that it is necessary in a particular case, he may communicate with the nearest Coast Guard district commander by the most expedient means to request that the Coast Guard determine that alteration of the product is not required.
(2) Products exempted from standards or regulations by Coast Guard Grant of Exemption. For certain products specifically exempted from applicable standards or regulations by a Coast Guard Grant of Exemption, a declaration, or its electronic equivalent, will be filed in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section. The declaration, or its electronic equivalent, will state that the product has been specifically exempted from applicable standards or regulations by a U.S. Coast Guard Grant of Exemption, issued under the authority of section 9 of the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 (46 U.S.C. 1458), and in effect on the date the product was manufactured. The declaration, or its electronic equivalent, will also state that the product complies with all the terms and conditions of the exemption. A copy of the exemption, or its electronic equivalent, certified by the importer or consignee to be a true copy, shall be attached to each declaration, or its electronic equivalent.
(3) Products to be brought into conformity. In the case of products that are not in conformity at the time of entry but will be brought into conformity, a declaration, or its electronic equivalent, will be filed in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section. The declaration, or its electronic equivalent, will state that the product does not conform with applicable safety standards or regulations, but that the importer or consignee will bring the product into conformity with safety standards or regulations, and will also state that the product will not be sold or offered for sale, or used on waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and on the high seas beyond the territorial seas for a vessel owned in the United States except for the purpose of bringing it into conformity, until the bond has been satisfied with respect to this obligation. To secure entry under this provision, bond must be given in accordance with paragraph (e)(1) of this section.
(4) Certain products entering the United States for repair or alteration. In the case of a nonresident of the United States who wishes to enter a product for the purpose of making repairs or alterations to it for a period not exceeding 1 year from the date of entry, a declaration, or its electronic equivalent, will be filed in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section. The declaration, or its electronic equivalent, shall state that the importer or consignee is a nonresident of the United States, that the product is being brought in for the purpose of making repairs or alterations to it, that it will not remain in the Customs territory of the United States for more than 1 year following the date of the entry, and that it will not be offered for sale, sold, or used for pleasure in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States during that time.
(5) Products owned by certain foreign governments. In the case of an importer or consignee employed in one of the capacities set forth in this subparagraph, a declaration, or its electronic equivalent, will be filed in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section. The declaration, or its electronic equivalent, shall state that the importer or consignee is either a member of the armed forces of a foreign country on assignment in the U.S. or is a member of the personnel of a foreign government on assignment in the U.S. or other individual who comes within the class of persons for whom free entry of boats has been authorized by the Department of State in accordance with general principles of international law, and that he is importing the product for purposes other than resale.
(6) Certain products entered for tests, experiments, exhibits, or races. An importer or consignee seeking to enter a product for period not to exceed 1 year, for tests, experiments, exhibits, or races but not for sale in the United States, shall file a declaration, or its electronic equivalent, in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section. The declaration, or its electronic equivalent, shall state that the importer or consignee is importing the product solely for the stated purpose and that it will not be sold or operated in the United States, unless the operation is an integral part of the stated use for which the product was imported. The importer or consignee shall attach to the declaration, or its electronic equivalent, a description of use for which the product is being imported, the time period estimated for completion, and disposition to be made of the product after completion. Entry under this paragraph may be authorized for a period not to exceed 1 year from the date of importation. However, this period may be extended at the discretion of the port director for one or more additional periods which, when added to the initial 1-year period, shall not exceed a total of 3 years.
(d) Declaration requirements. All declarations submitted must:
(1) Be filed at the time of entry, in duplicate on Form CG-5096, or its electronic equivalent.
(2) Be signed by the importer or consignee.
(3) State the name and U.S. address of the importer or consignee.
(4) State the entry number and date.
(5) Provide the make, model, and hull identification number, if affixed, or date of manufacture if hull identification number not affixed, of any boat, and a description of any equipment or component.
(6) Identify, if known, the city or state in which the product will be principally located.
(7) Be sent by the port director, to the Commandant (G-BBS-1/42), U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, D.C. 20593.
(e) Release under bond —(1) When bond required. A bond will be required of the importer or consignee on Customs Form 301, containing the bond conditions set forth in § 113.62 of this chapter, in such amount as the port director deems appropriate, when a declaration is made that a product is to be brought into conformity. When the importer or consignee of a product declares that it will be brought into conformity before being sold or offered for sale, or before being used on waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and on the high seas beyond the territorial seas for a vessel owned in the United States and seeks entry of the product under paragraph (c)(3) of this section, the entry shall be accepted only if bond is given for the production of a statement by either the importer or the consignee that the product described in the declaration is in conformity with applicable safety standards or regulations. The statement shall identify the person or firm who has brought the product into conformity with the standards or regulations and shall describe the nature and extent of the work performed.
(2) Time limitation to produce statement for which bond is obligated. Within 180 days after entry, the importer or consignee shall deliver to both the port director and the Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, a copy of the statement for production of which the bond was obligated. If the statement is not delivered to the director of the port of entry of the product within 180 days after the date of entry, the importer or consignee shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the port director the product that was released in accordance with this paragraph.
(3) Damages to be assessed against bond. In the event that any product is not redelivered within 5 days following the date required by paragraph (e)(2) of this section, liquidated damages shall be assessed in the full amount of the bond if it is a single entry bond, or if a continuous bond is used, the amount that would have been taken under a single entry bond.
(f) Products refused entry. If a product is denied entry under the provisions of this section, the port director shall refuse to release the product for entry into the United States and shall issue a notice of the refusal to the importer or consignee.
(g) Disposition of products refused entry into the United States; redelivered products. Products which are denied entry under paragraph (b) of this section, or which are redelivered in accordance with paragraph (e)(2) of this section, and which are not exported under Customs supervision within 90 days from the date of notice of refusal of admission or date of redelivery, shall be disposed of under Customs laws and regulations. However, no such disposition shall result in an introduction into the United States of a product in violation of the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 (46 U.S.C. 1451-1489).
§ 12.90   Definitions.
As used in §§ 12.90 and 12.91, the term “the Act” shall mean the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq. ), as amended by the Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 263b et seq. ), and as further amended from time to time.
§ 12.91   Electronic products offered for importation under the Act.
(a) Standards prescribed by the Department of Health and Human Services. Electronic products offered for importation into the customs territory of the United States are subject to standards prescribed under section 358 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 263f) unless intended solely for export. Prescribed standards shall not apply to any electronic product intended solely for export if:
(1) Such product and the outside of any shipping container used in the export of such product are labeled or tagged to show that it is intended for export, and
(2) Such product meets all the applicable requirements of the country to which it is intended for export.
(b) Requirements for entry and release. Electronic products subject to standards in effect under section 358 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 263f), when offered for importation into the customs territory of the United States, shall be refused entry unless there is filed with the entry, in duplicate, a declaration (FDA Form FD 2877) verified by the importer of record which identifies the products and affirms:
(1) That the electronic products were manufactured before the date of any applicable electronic product performance standard (the date of manufacture shall be specified); or
(2) That the electronic products comply with all standards in effect under section 358 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 263f), and chapter I, subchapter J, title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR, chapter I, subchapter J), and that the certification required by section 360 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 263h) in the form of a label or tag is attached to the product; or
(3)(i) That the electronic products do not comply with all standards in effect under section 358 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 263f), and chapter I, subchapter J, title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR, chapter I, subchapter J), but are being imported for the purpose of research, investigations, studied, demonstrations, or training, (ii) that the products will not be introduced into commerce and when the use for which they were imported is completed they will be destroyed or exported under Customs supervision, and (iii) that an exemption for these products has been or will be requested from the National Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, in accordance with section 360B(b) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 263j); or
(4) That the electronic products do not comply with all standards in effect under section 358 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 263f) and chapter I, subchapter J, Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR, chapter I, subchapter J), but that a timely and adequate petition for permission to bring the products into compliance with applicable standards has been or will be filed with the Secretary of Health and Human Services in accordance with section 360 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended, and as implemented by 21 CFR 1005.21.
(c) Notice of sampling. When a sampling of a product offered for importation has been requested by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as provided for in 21 CFR 1005.10, the port director having jurisdiction over the shipment from which the sample is procured shall give to its owner or importer of record prompt notice of delivery of, or intention to deliver, the sample. If the notice so requires, the owner or importer of record shall hold the shipment of which the sample is typical and not release the shipment until notice of the results of the tests of the sample from the Secretary of Health and Human Services stating the product fulfills the requirements of the Act.
(d) Release under bond. If a declaration filed in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section states that the entry is being made under circumstances described in paragraph (b)(4) of this section, the entry shall be accepted only if the owner or importer of record gives a bond on Customs Form 301, containing the bond conditions set forth in § 113.62 of this chapter, for the production of a notification from the Secretary of Health and Human Services or his designee, in accordance with 21 CFR 1005.23, that the electronic product described in the declaration filed by the importer of record is in compliance with the applicable standards. The bond shall be in an amount deemed appropriate by the port director. Within 180 days after the entry of such additional period as the port director may allow for good cause shown, the importer of record shall take any action necessary to insure delivery to the port director of the notification described in this paragraph. If the notification is not delivered to the director of the port of entry of the electronic products within 180 days of the date of entry or such additional period as may be allowed by the port director, for good cause shown, the importer of record shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the port director those electronic products which were released. In the event that any electronic products are not redelivered to Customs custody or exported under Customs supervision within the period allowed by the port director in the Notice of Redelivery (Customs Form 4647, or its electronic equivalent), liquidated damages shall be assessed in the full amount of a bond if it is a single entry bond, or if a continuous bond is used, the amount that would have been taken under a single entry bond.
(e) Release without bond—special exemptions. For certain electronic products the Director, National Center for Devices and Radiological Health, has granted special exemptions from the otherwise applicable standards under the Act. Such exempted products may be imported and released without bond if they meet all the criteria of the special exemption. If a special exemption is granted after the product has been imported under bond in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section, the bond conditions pertaining to the notification of compliance from the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall be deemed to have been satisfied.
(f) Merchandise refused entry. If electronic products are denied entry under any provision of this section, the port director shall refuse to release the merchandise for entry into the United States.
(g) Disposition of merchandise refused entry into the United States; redelivered merchandise. Electronic products which are denied entry under paragraph (b) of this section, or which are redelivered in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section, and which are not exported under Customs supervision within 90 days from the date of notice of refusal of admission or date of redelivery, shall be disposed of under Customs laws and regulations. However, no such disposition shall result in an introduction into the United States of an electronic product in violation of the Act (42 U.S.C. 263f, 263h).
§ 12.95   Definitions.
Terms as used in §§ 12.96 through 12.103 of this part are defined as follows:
(a) Switchblade knife. “Switchblade knife” means any imported knife, or components thereof, or any class of imported knife, including “switchblade”, “Balisong”, “butterfly”, “gravity” or “ballistic” knives, which has one or more of the following characteristics or identities:
(1) A blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button or device in the handle of the knife, or any knife with a blade which opens automatically by operation of inertia, gravity, or both;
(2) Knives which, by insignificant preliminary preparation, as described in paragraph (b) of this section, can be altered or converted so as to open automatically by hand pressure applied to a button or device in the handle of the knife or by operation of inertia, gravity, or both;
(3) Unassembled knife kits or knife handles without blades which, when fully assembled with added blades, springs, or other parts, are knives which open automatically by hand pressure applied to a button or device in the handle of the knife or by operation of inertia, gravity, or both; or
(4) Knives with a detachable blade that is propelled by a spring-operated mechanism, and components thereof.
(b) Insignificant preliminary preparation. “Insignificant preliminary preparation” means preparation with the use of ordinarily available tools, instruments, devices, and materials by one having no special manual training or skill for the purpose of modifying blade heels, relieving binding parts, altering spring restraints, or making similar minor alterations which can be accomplished in a relatively short period of time.
(c) Utilitarian use. “Utilitarian use” includes but is not necessarily limited to use:
(1) For a customary household purpose;
(2) For usual personal convenience, including grooming;
(3) In the practice of a profession, trade, or commercial or employment activity;
(4) In the performance of a craft or hobby;
(5) In the course of such outdoor pursuits as hunting and fishing; and
(6) In scouting activities.
§ 12.96   Imports unrestricted under the Act.
(a) Common and special purpose knives. Imported knives with a blade style designed for a primary utilitarian use, as defined in § 12.95(c), shall be admitted to unrestricted entry provided that in condition as entered the imported knife is not a switchblade knife as defined in § 12.95(a)(1). Among admissible common and special purpose knives are jackknives and similar standard pocketknives, special purpose knives, scout knives, and other knives equipped with one or more blades of such single edge nonweapon styles as clip, skinner, pruner, sheep foot, spey, coping, razor, pen, and cuticle.
(b) Weapons with fixed blades. Importations of certain articles having a fixed unexposed or exposed blade are not within the prohibition of 15 U.S.C. 1241 through 1245. However, upon release by Customs, possession of these admissible articles which include such weapons as sword canes, camel whips, swords, sheath knives, machetes and similar devices that may be capable of use as weapons may be in violation of State or municipal laws.
§ 12.97   Importations contrary to law.
Importations of switchblade knives, except as permitted by 15 U.S.C. 1244, are importations contrary to law and are subject to forfeiture under 19 U.S.C. 1595a(c).
§ 12.98   Importations permitted by statutory exceptions.
The importation of switchblade knives is permitted by 15 U.S.C. 1244, when:
(a) Imported pursuant to contract with a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States;
(b) Imported by a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States or any member or employee thereof acting in the performance of his duty; or
(c) A switchblade knife, other than a ballistic knife, having a blade not exceeding 3 inches in length is in the possession of and is being transported on the person of an individual who has only one arm.
§ 12.99   Procedures for permitted entry.
(a) Declaration required. The entry of switchblade knives, the importation of which is permitted under § 12.98 shall be accompanied by a declaration, or its electronic equivalent, in duplicate, of the importer or consignee stating the facts of the import transaction as follows:
(1) Importation pursuant to Armed Forces contract. (i) The names of the contracting Armed Forces branch and its supplier;
(ii) The specific contract relied upon identified by its date, number, or other contract designation; and
(iii) A description of the kind or type of knife imported, the quantity entered, and the aggregate entered value of the importation.
(2) Importation by a branch, member, or employee of the Armed Forces. (i) The name of the Armed Forces branch by or for the account of which entry is made or the branch of the importing member or employee acting in performance of duty; and
(ii) The description, quantity, and aggregate entered value of the importation.
(3) Importation by a one-armed person. A statement that the knife has a blade not exceeding 3 inches in length and is possessed by and transported on the declarant's person solely for his necessary personal convenience, accommodation, and use as a one-armed individual.
(b) Attachments to declaration. Details for purposes of a declaration required under paragraph (a) of this section may be furnished by reference in the declaration, or its electronic equivalent, to attachment of the original or copy of the contract, or its electronic equivalent, or other documentation which contains the information.
(c) Execution of declaration. Declarations required by paragraph (a) of this section shall be executed as follows:
(1) Contract supplier; Armed Forces branch; member or employee. Declarations made under paragraph (a) or (b) of § 12.98 shall affirm that facts and data furnished are declared on knowledge, information, or belief of a signing officer, partner, or authorized representative of an importing contract supplier or of a commissioned officer, contracting officer, or employee authorized to represent an Armed Forces importing branch. The signature to a declaration shall appear over the declarant's printed or typewritten name, his title or rank, and the identity of the contract supplier or Armed Forces branch he represents or in which he has membership or employment.
(2) One-armed person. Declarations made under paragraph (c) of § 12.98, signed by the eligible person, shall be presented upon his arrival directly to a Customs officer who shall visually confirm the facts declared. An eligible knife shall be released only to the declarant.
(d) Verification of declared information. The importer, consignee, or declarant of knives permitted entry under § 12.98 upon request shall furnish Customs additional documentary evidence from an Armed Forces branch or other relevant source as Customs officers may require in order to:
(1) Verify declared statements;
(2) Resolve differences pertaining to quantity, description, value, or other discrepancy disclosed by the importation, entry, or related documentation;
(3) Establish the declarant's authority to act; or
(4) Authenticate a signature.
§ 12.100   Importations in good faith; common or contract carriage.
(a) Exportation in lieu of seizure. Upon a claim that the importer acted in good faith without knowledge of applicable laws and regulations, Customs officers may authorize detained inadmissible knives to be exported otherwise than in the mails, at no expense to the Government, under the procedures of §§ 18.25 through 18.27 of this chapter.
(b) Common or contract carriers. In accordance with 15 U.S.C. 1244(1), excepted from the penalties of the Act are the shipping, transporting, or delivering for shipment in interstate commerce, in the ordinary course of business of common or contract carriage, of any switchblade knife. However, imported switchblade knives as defined in § 12.95(a) so shipped or transported to a port of entry or place of Customs examination are prohibited importations subject to §§ 12.95-12.103 and disposition as therein required, authorized, or permitted.
§ 12.101   Seizure of prohibited switchblade knives.
(a) Importations contrary to law. Inadmissible importations which are not exported in accordance with § 12.100(a) shall be seized under 19 U.S.C. 1595a(c).
(b) Notice of seizure. Notice of Customs seizure shall be sent or given to the importer or consignee, which shall inform him of his right to file a petition under section 618, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1618), for remission of the forfeiture and permission to export the seized switchblade knives. (See part 171 of this chapter.)
§ 12.102   Forfeiture.
If the importer or consignee fails to submit, within 60 days after being notified of his right to do so, a petition under section 618, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1618), for remission of the forfeiture and permission to export the seized importation, the seized prohibited knives shall be forfeited in accordance with applicable provisions of sections 602 through 611, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1602 through 1611), and the procedures of part 162 of this chapter.
§ 12.103   Report to the U.S. Attorney.
Should circumstances and facts of the import transaction show evidence of deliberate violation of 15 U.S.C. 1241 through 1245, so as to present a question of criminal liability, the evidence, accompanied by reports of investigative disclosures, findings, and recommendation, shall be transmitted to the U.S. Attorney for consideration of criminal prosecution. The port director shall hold the seized switchblade knives intact pending disposition of the case.
§ 12.104   Definitions.
For purposes of §§ 12.104 through 12.104i:
(a) The term, archaeological or ethnological material of the State Party to the 1970 UNESCO Convention means—
(1) Any object of archaeological interest. No object may be considered to be an object of archaeological interest unless such subject—
(i) Is of cultural significance;
(ii) Is at least 250 years old; and
(iii) Was normally discovered as a result of scientific excavation, clandestine or accidental digging, or exploration on land or under water; or in addition to paragraphs (a)(1) (i) and (ii) of this section;
(iv) Meets such standards as are generally acceptable as archaeological such as, but not limited to, artifacts, buildings, parts of buildings, or decorative elements, without regard to whether the particular objects are discovered by exploration or excavation;
(2) Any object of ethnological interest. No object may be considered to be an object of ethnological interest unless such object—
(i) Is the product of a tribal or nonindustrial society, and
(ii) Is important to the cultural heritage of a people because of its distinctive characteristics, comparative rarity, or its contribution to the knowledge of the origins, development or history of that people;
(3) Any fragment or part of any object referred to in paragraph (a) (1) or (2) of this section which was first discovered within, and is subject to export control by the State Party.
(b) The term Convention means the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization at its sixteenth session (823 U.N.T.S. 231 (1972)).
(c) The term cultural property includes articles described in Article 1 (a) through (k) of the Convention, whether or not any such article is specifically designated by any State Party for the purposes of Article 1. Article 1 lists the following categories:
(1) Rare collections and specimens of fauna, flora, minerals and anatomy, and objects of palaeontological interest;
(2) Property relating to history, including the history of science and technology and military and social history, to the life of national leaders, thinkers, scientists and artists and to events of national importance;
(3) Products of archaeological excavations (including regular and clandestine) or of archaeological discoveries;
(4) Elements of artistic or historical monuments or archaeological sites which have been dismembered;
(5) Antiquities more than 100 years old, such as inscriptions, coins and engraved seals;
(6) Objects of ethnological interest;
(7) Property of artistic interest, such as:
(i) Pictures, paintings and drawings produced entirely by hand on any support and in any material (excluding industrial designs and manufactured articles decorated by hand);
(ii) Original works of statuary art and sculpture in any material;
(iii) Original engravings, prints and lithographs;
(iv) Original artistic assemblages and montages in any material;
(8) Rare manuscripts and incunabula, old books, documents and publications of special interest (historical, artistic, scientific, literary, etc.) singly or in collections;
(9) Postage, revenue and similar stamps, singly or in collections;
(10) Archives, including sound, photographic and cinematographic archives;
(11) Articles of furniture more than 100 years old and old musical instruments.
(d) The term designated archaeological or ethnological material means any archaeological or ethnological material of the State Party which—
(1) Is—
(i) Covered by an agreement under 19 U.S.C. 2602 that enters into force with respect to the U.S., or
(ii) Subject to emergency action under 19 U.S.C. 2603 and
(2) Is listed by regulation under 19 U.S.C. 2604.
(e) The term museum means a public or private nonprofit agency or institution organized on a permanent basis for essentially educational or esthetic purposes, which, utilizing a professional staff, owns or utilizes tangible objects, cares for them, and exhibits them to the public on a regular basis (Museum Services Act; Pub. L. 94-462; 20 U.S.C. 968). For the purposes of these regulations, the term recognized museum under the Cultural Property Implementation Act shall be synonymous with museum.
(f) The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate, the Commissioner of Customs.
(g) The term State Party means any nation which has ratified, accepted, or acceded to the 1970 UNESCO Convention.
(h) The term United States or U.S., includes the customs territory of the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands and any territory or area the foreign relations for which the U.S. is responsible.
§ 12.104a   Importations prohibited.
(a) No article of cultural property documented as appertaining to the inventory of a museum or religious or secular public monument or similar institution in any State Party which was stolen from such museum, monument, or institution after April 12, 1983, or after the date of entry into force of the Convention for the State Party, whichever date is later, may be imported into the U.S.
(b) No archaeological or ethnological material designated pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 2604 and listed in § 12.104g, that is exported (whether or not such exportation is to the U.S.) from the State Party after the designation of such material under 19 U.S.C. 2604 may be imported into the U.S. unless the State Party issues a certificate or other documentation which certifies that such exportation was not in violation of the laws of the State Party.
§ 12.104b   State Parties to the Convention.
(a) The following is a list of State Parties which have deposited an instrument of ratification, acceptance, accession or succession, the date of such deposit and the date of entry into force for each State Party:
Code for reading second column: Ratification (R); Acceptance (Ac); Accession (A); Succession (S).
Notes:
1. The Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Georgia, and the Republic of Tadjikistan each deposited a notification of succession in which each declared itself bound by the Convention as ratified by the USSR on April 28, 1988 and which entered into force on July 28, 1988.
2. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia each deposited notification of succession in which each declared itself bound by the Convention as ratified by Yugoslavia on Oct. 3, 1972 and entered into force on January 3, 1973.
3. The Government of the Russian Federation informed the Director General of UNESCO that the Russian Federation continues without interruption the participation of the USSR in all UNESCO Conventions. The instrument of ratification was deposited by the former USSR on April 28, 1988. and entered into force on July 28, 1988.
4. The Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic each deposited a notification of succession in which each declared itself bound by the Convention as accepted by Czechoslovakia on Feb. 14, 1977 and which entered into force on May 14, 1977.
(b) Additions to and deletions from the list of State Parties will be accomplished by Federal Register notice, from time to time, as the necessity arises.
§ 12.104c   Importations permitted.
Designated archaeological or ethnological material for which entry is sought into the U.S., will be permitted entry if at the time of making entry:
(a) A certificate, its electronic equivalent, or other documentation, issued by the Government of the country of origin of such material in a form acceptable to the Secretary is filed with the port director, such form being, but not limited to, an affidavit, license, or permit, or their electronic equivalents, from an appropriate, authorized State Party official under seal, certifying that such exportation was not in violation of the laws of that country, or
(b) Satisfactory evidence is presented to the port director that such designated material was exported from the State Party not less than 10 years before the date of such entry and that neither the person for whose account the material is imported (or any related person) contracted for or acquired an interest, directly or indirectly, in such material more than 1 year before that date of entry, or
(c) Satisfactory evidence is presented to the port director that such designated material was exported from the State Party on or before the date on which such material was designated under 19 U.S.C. 2604.
(d) The term “satisfactory evidence” means—
(1) For purposes of paragraph (b) of this section—
(i) One or more declarations under oath, or their electronic equivalents, by the importer, or the person for whose account the material is imported, stating that, to the best of his knowledge—
(A) The material was exported from the State Party not less than 10 years before the date of entry into the U.S., and
(B) Neither such importer or person (or any related person) contracted for or acquired an interest, directly or indirectly, in such material more than 1 year before the date of entry of the material; and
(ii) A statement, or its electronic equivalent, provided by the consignor, or person who sold the material to the importer, which states the date, or, if not known, his belief, that the material was exported from the State Party not less than 10 years before the date of entry into the U.S. and the reasons on which the statement is based; and
(2) For purposes of paragraph (c) of this section—
(i) One or more declarations under oath, or their electronic equivalents, by the importer or the person for whose account the material is to be imported, stating that, to the best of his knowledge, the material was exported from the State Party on or before the date such material was designated under 19 U.S.C. 2604, and
(ii) A statement, or its electronic equivalent, by the consignor or person who sold the material to the importer which states the date, or if not known, his belief, that the material was exported from the State Party on or before the date such material was designated under 19 U.S.C. 2604, and the reasons on which the statement is based.
(e) Related persons. For purposes of paragraphs (b) and (d) of this section, a person shall be treated as a related person to an importer, or to a person for whose account material is imported, if such person—
(1) Is a member of the same family as the importer or person of account, including, but not limited to, membership as a brother or sister (whether by whole or half blood), spouse, ancestor, or lineal descendant;
(2) Is a partner or associate with the importer or person of account in any partnership, association, or other venture; or
(3) Is a corporation or other legal entity in which the importer or person of account directly or indirectly owns, controls, or holds power to vote 20 percent or more of the outstanding voting stock or shares in the entity.
§ 12.104d   Detention of articles; time in which to comply.
In the event an importer cannot produce the certificate, documentation, or evidence, or the electronic equivalent, required in § 12.104c at the time of making entry, the port director shall take the designated archaeological or ethnological material into Customs custody and send it to a bonded warehouse or public store to be held at the risk and expense of the consignee until the certificate, documentation, or evidence, or the electronic equivalent, is presented to such officer. The certificate, documentation, or evidence, or the electronic equivalent, must be presented within 90 days after the date on which the material is taken into Customs custody, or such longer period as may be allowed by the port director for good cause shown.
§ 12.104e   Seizure and forfeiture.
(a) Whenever any designated archaeological or ethnological material is imported into the U.S. in violation of 19 U.S.C. 2606, and the importer states in writing that he will not attempt to secure the certificate, documentation, or evidence, or the electronic equivalent, required by § 12.104c, or such certificate, documentation, or evidence, or the electronic equivalent, is not presented to the port director before the expiration of the time provided in § 12.104d, the material shall be seized and summarily forfeited to the U.S. in accordance with part 162 of this chapter.
(1) Any designated archaeological or ethnological material which is forfeited to the U.S. shall, in accordance with the provisions of Title III of Pub. L. 97-446, 19 U.S.C. 2609(b):
(i) First be offered for return to the State Party;
(ii) If not returned to the State Party be returned to a claimant with respect to whom the designated material was forfeited if that claimant establishes—
(A) Valid title to the material;
(B) That the claimant is a bona fide purchaser for value of the material; or
(iii) If not returned to the State Party under paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section or to a claimant under paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section, be disposed of in the manner prescribed by law for articles forfeited for violation of the customs laws. No return of material may be made under paragraph (a)(1) (i) or (ii) of this section unless the State Party or claimant, as the case may be, bears the expenses incurred incident to the return and delivery, and complies with such other requirements relating to the return as the Secretary shall prescribe.
(b) Whenever any stolen article of cultural property is imported into the U.S. in violation of 19 U.S.C. 2607, such cultural property shall be seized and forfeited to the U.S. in accordance with part 162 of this chapter.
(1) Any stolen article of cultural property which is forfeited to the U.S. shall, in accordance with the provisions of Title III of Pub. L. 97-446, 2609(c):
(i) First be offered for return to the State Party in whose territory is situated the institution referred to in 19 U.S.C. 2607 and shall be returned if that State Party bears the expenses incident to such return and delivery and complies with such other requirements relating to the return as the Secretary prescribes; or
(ii) If not returned to such State Party, be disposed of in the manner prescribed by law for articles forfeited for violation of the customs laws.
§ 12.104f   Temporary disposition of materials and articles.
Pending a final determination as to whether any archaeological or ethnological material, or any article of cultural property, has been imported into the U.S. in violation of 19 U.S.C. 2606 or 19 U.S.C. 2607, the Secretary may permit such material or article to be retained at a museum or other cultural or scientific institution in the U.S. if he finds that sufficient safeguards will be taken by the museum or institution for the protection of such material or article; and sufficient bond is posted by the museum or institution to ensure its return to the Secretary.
§ 12.104g   Specific items or categories designated by agreements or emergency actions.
(a) The following is a list of agreements imposing import restrictions on the described articles of cultural property of State Parties. The listed Treasury Decision contains the Designated Listing with a complete description of specific items or categories of archaeological or ethnological material designated by the agreement as coming under the protection of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act. Import restrictions listed below shall be effective for no more than five years beginning on the date on which the agreement enters into force with respect to the United States. This period may be extended for additional periods of not more than five years if it is determined that the factors which justified the initial agreement still pertain and no cause for suspension of the agreement exists. Any such extension is indicated in the listing.
(b) The following is a list of emergency actions imposing import restrictions on the described articles of cultural property of State Parties. The listed decision contains a complete description of specific items or categories of archaeological or ethnological material designated by the emergency actions as coming under the protection of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act. Import restrictions listed below shall be effective for no more than five years from the date on which the State Party requested those restrictions. This period may be extended for three more years if it is determined that the emergency condition continues to apply with respect to the archaeological or ethnological material. Any such extension is indicated in the listing.
§ 12.104h   Exempt materials and articles.
The provisions of these regulations shall not apply to—
(a) Any archaeological or ethnological material or any article of cultural property which is imported into the U.S. for temporary exhibition or display, if such material or article is rendered immune from seizure under judicial process by the U.S. Information Agency, Office of the General Counsel and Congressional Liaison, pursuant to the Act entitled “An Act to render immune from seizure under judicial process certain objects of cultural significance imported into the United States for temporary display or exhibition, and for other purposes”, approved October 19, 1965 (22 U.S.C. 2459); or
(b) Any designated archaeological or ethnological material or any article of cultural property imported into the U.S. if such material or article—
(1) Has been held in the U.S. for a period of not less than 3 consecutive years by a recognized museum or religious or secular monument or similar institution, and was purchased by that institution for value, in good faith, and without notice that such material or article was imported in violation of these regulations, but only if—
(i) The acquisition of such material or article has been reported in a publication of such institution, any regularly published newspaper or periodical with a circulation of at least 50,000, or a periodical or exhibition catalog which is concerned with the type of article or materials sought to be exempted from these regulations,
(ii) Such material or article has been exhibited to the public for a period or periods aggregating at least 1 year during such 3-year period, or
(iii) Such article or material has been cataloged and the catalog material made available upon request to the public for at least 2 years during such 3-year period;
(2) If paragraph (b)(1) of this section does not apply, has been within the U.S. for a period of not less than 10 consecutive years and has been exhibited for not less than 5 years during such period in a recognized museum or religious or secular monument or similar institution in the U.S. open to the public;
(3) If paragraphs (b) (1) and (2) of this section do not apply, has been within the U.S. for a period of not less than 10 consecutive years and the State Party concerned has received or should have received during such period fair notice (through such adequate and accessible publication, or other means, as the Secretary or his designee shall prescribe) of its location within the U.S.; and
(4) If none of the preceding subparagraphs apply, has been within the U.S. for a period of not less than 20 consecutive years and the claimant establishes that it purchased the material or article for value without knowledge or reason to believe that it was imported in violation of law.
§ 12.104i   Enforcement.
In the customs territory of the United States, and in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the provisions of these regulations shall be enforced by appropriate customs officers. In any other territory or area within the U.S., but not within such customs territory or the U.S. Virgin Islands, such provisions shall be enforced by such persons as may be designated by the President.
§ 12.104j   Emergency protection for Iraqi cultural antiquities.
(a) Restriction. Importation of archaeological or ethnological material of Iraq is restricted pursuant to the Emergency Protection for Iraqi Cultural Antiquities Act of 2004 (title III of Pub. L. 108-429) and section 304 of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 2603).
(b) Description of restricted material. The term “archaeological or ethnological material of Iraq” means cultural property of Iraq and other items of archaeological, historical, cultural, rare scientific, or religious importance illegally removed from the Iraq National Museum, the National Library of Iraq, and other locations in Iraq, since the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 661 of 1990. CBP Decision 08-17 sets forth the Designated List of Archaeological and Ethnological Material of Iraq that describes the types of specific items or categories of archaeological or ethnological material that are subject to import restrictions.
§ 12.104k   Emergency protection for Syrian cultural antiquities.
(a) Restriction. Importation of archaeological or ethnological material of Syria is restricted pursuant to the Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act (Pub. L. 114-151) and section 304 of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 2603), unless a restriction is waived pursuant to section 3(c) of the Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act.
(b) Description of restricted material. The term “archaeological or ethnological material of Syria” means cultural property as defined in section 302 of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 2601) that is unlawfully removed from Syria on or after March 15, 2011. CBP Decision 16-10 sets forth the Designated List of Archaeological and Ethnological Material of Syria that describes the types of objects or categories of archaeological or ethnological material that are subject to import restrictions.
§ 12.105   Definitions.
For purposes of §§ 12.106 through 12.109:
(a) The term pre-Columbian monumental or architectural sculpture or mural means any stone carving or wall art listed in paragraph (b) of this section which is the product of a pre-Columbian Indian culture of Belize, Bolivia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, or Venezuela.
(b) The term stone carving or wall art includes:
(1) Such stone monuments as altars and altar bases, archways, ball court markers, basins, calendars, and calendrical markers, columns, monoliths, obelisks, statues, stelae, sarcophagi, thrones, zoomorphs;
(2) Such architectural structures as aqueducts, ball courts, buildings, bridges, causeways, courts, doorways (including lintels and jambs), forts, observatories, plazas, platforms, facades, reservoirs, retaining walls, roadways, shrines, temples, tombs, walls, walkways, wells;
(3) Architectural masks, decorated capstones, decorative beams of wood, frescoes, friezes, glyphs, graffiti, mosaics, moldings, or any other carving or decoration which had been part of or affixed to any monument or architectural structure, including cave paintings or designs;
(4) Any fragment or part of any stone carving or wall art listed in the preceding subparagraphs.
(c) The term country of origin, as applied to any pre-Columbian monumental or architectural sculpture or mural, means the country where the sculpture or mural was first discovered.
§ 12.106   Importation prohibited.
Except as provided in section 12.107, no pre-Columbian monumental or architectural sculpture or mural which is exported (whether or not such exportation is to the United States) from its country of origin after June 1, 1973, may be imported into the United States.
§ 12.107   Importations permitted.
Pre-Columbian monumental or architectural sculpture or mural for which entry is sought into the Customs territory of the United States will be permitted entry if at the time of making entry:
(a) A certificate, or its electronic equivalent, issued by the Government of the country of origin of such sculpture or mural, in a form acceptable to the Secretary, certifying that such exportation was not in violation of the laws of that country, is filed with the port director; or
(b) Satisfactory evidence is presented to the port director that such sculpture or mural was exported from the country of origin on or before June 1, 1973; or
(c) Satisfactory evidence is presented to the port director that such sculpture or mural is not an article listed in § 12.105.
§ 12.108   Detention of articles; time in which to comply.
If the importer cannot produce the certificate or evidence required in § 12.107 at the time of making entry, the port director shall take the sculpture or mural into Customs custody and send it to a bonded warehouse or public store to be held at the risk and expense of the consignee until the certificate or evidence is presented to such officer. The certificate or evidence must be presented within 90 days after the date on which the sculpture or mural is taken into Customs custody, or such longer period as may be allowed by the port director for good cause shown.
§ 12.109   Seizure and forfeiture.
(a) Whenever any pre-Columbian monumental or architectural sculpture or mural listed in § 12.105 is detained in accordance with § 12.108 and the importer states in writing that he will not attempt to secure the certificate or evidence required, or such certificate or evidence is not presented to the port director prior to the expiration of the time provided in § 12.108, the sculpture or mural shall be seized and summarily forfeited to the United States in accordance with part 162 of this chapter.
(b) Any pre-Columbian monumental or architectural sculpture or mural which is forfeited to the United States shall in accordance with the provisions of Title II of Pub. L. 92-587, 19 U.S.C. 2093(b):
(1) First be offered for return to the country of origin, and shall be returned if that country presents a request in writing for the return of the article and agrees to bear all expenses incurred incident to such return; or
(2) If not returned to the country of origin, be disposed of in accordance with law, pursuant to the provisions of section 609, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1609), and § 162.46 of this chapter.
§ 12.110   Definitions.
Except as otherwise provided below, the terms used in §§ 12.111 through 12.117 have the meanings set forth for those terms in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq. ), hereinafter referred to as “the Act.” The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
§ 12.111   Registration.
Certain imported pesticides are required to be registered under the provisions of section 3 of the Act, and under the regulations (40 CFR part 152) promulgated thereunder by the Administrator before being permitted entry into the United States. Devices, although not required to be registered, must not bear any statement, design, or graphic representation that is false or misleading in any particular.
§ 12.112   Notice of arrival of pesticides and devices.
(a) General. An importer or the importer's agent desiring to import pesticides or devices into the United States must submit to the Administrator, prior to the arrival of the shipment in the United States, a Notice of Arrival of Pesticides and Devices (Notice of Arrival) on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Form 3540-1. The Administrator will complete the Notice of Arrival and provide notification to the importer or the importer's agent indicating the disposition to be made of a pesticide or device upon its entry into the United States. In the alternative, the importer or the importer's agent may file an electronic alternative to the Notice of Arrival, with the filing of the entry documentation, via any CBP-authorized electronic data interchange system.
(b) Chemicals imported for use other than as pesticides. Chemicals which can be used as pesticides but which are not imported for such use and are not shown on the Index of Pesticide Products located in the Environmental Protection Agency's handbook entitled Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings, found at http://www.epa.gov , may be entered without the submission of the Notice of Arrival.
§ 12.113   Arrival and entry of shipment of pesticides and devices.
(a) Notice of Arrival form filed with CBP. Upon entry of a shipment of pesticides or devices into the United States, and concurrent with the filing of the entry documentation, CBP must be in receipt of a completed Notice of Arrival of Pesticides and Devices (Notice of Arrival) on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Form 3540-1 or its electronic alternative submitted via any CBP-authorized electronic data interchange system. A completed Notice of Arrival must have been signed by the Administrator and indicate any action to be taken by CBP with respect to the shipment. CBP will compare entry information for the shipment of pesticides or devices with the information in the Notice of Arrival and notify the Administrator of any discrepancies.
(b) EPA Notice of Arrival declaration form not presented. When a shipment of pesticides or devices arrives and entry is attempted in the United States without a completed Notice of Arrival having been filed with CBP pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, the shipment will be detained by CBP at the importer's risk and expense until the completed Notice of Arrival is presented to CBP or until other disposition is ordered by the Administrator. Such detention is not to exceed a period of 30-calendar days, or such additional extended 30-calendar day detention period as CBP may for good cause authorize. An importer or its agent may request an extension of the initial 30-calendar day detention period by filing a request with the director of the CBP port of entry.
(c) Disposition of pesticides or devices remaining under detention. A shipment of pesticides or devices that remains detained or undisposed of due to the failure to timely submit to CBP a completed Notice of Arrival will be treated as a prohibited importation. CBP will cause the destruction of any such shipment not exported by the consignee within 90-calendar days after the expiration of the detention period specified or authorized by paragraph (b) of this section.
§ 12.114   Release or refusal of delivery.
If the EPA directs the port director to release the shipment of pesticides or devices, the shipment will be released to the consignee. If the EPA directs the port director to refuse delivery of the shipment, the shipment will be refused delivery and treated as a prohibited importation. The port director will cause the destruction of any shipment refused delivery and not exported by the consignee within 90-calendar days after notice of such refusal of delivery.
§ 12.115   Release under bond of shipment detained for examination.
If the EPA so directs, a shipment of pesticides or devices will be detained at the importer's risk and expense by the port director pending an examination by the Administrator to determine whether the shipment complies with the requirements of the Act. However, a shipment detained for examination may be released to the consignee prior to a determination by the Administrator provided a bond is furnished on CBP Form 301, or its electronic equivalent, containing the bond conditions set forth in § 113.62 of this chapter, for the return of the merchandise to CBP custody, and upon entry of the merchandise and the satisfaction of all other applicable laws. The bond will be in an amount deemed appropriate by CBP. When a shipment of pesticides or devices is released to the consignee under bond, the pesticides or devices must not be used or otherwise disposed of until the determination on compliance with the requirements of the Act is made by the Administrator.
§ 12.116   Samples.
Upon the request of the Administrator, either on the completed Notice of Arrival or otherwise, the port director will deliver to the Administrator samples of the imported pesticides or devices, together with all accompanying labels, circulars, and advertising matter pertaining to such merchandise. The port director will notify the consignee that the samples of imported pesticides or devices, together with all accompanying labels, circulars, and advertising matter pertaining to such merchandise have been delivered to the Administrator.
§ 12.117   Procedure after examination.
(a) Merchandise complying with the Act. If, upon examination or analysis of a sample from a shipment of pesticides or devices, the sample is found to be in compliance with the Act, the Administrator will notify the port director that the shipment may be released to the consignee.
(b) Merchandise not complying with the Act. If, upon examination or analysis of a sample from a shipment of pesticides or devices, the sample is found to be in violation of the Act, the consignee will be notified promptly by the Administrator of the nature of the violation and be given a reasonable time, not to exceed 20 days, to submit written material or, at his option, to appear before the Administrator and introduce testimony, to show cause why the shipment should not be destroyed or refused entry. If, after consideration of all the evidence presented, it is still the opinion of the Administrator that the merchandise is in violation of the Act, the Administrator will notify the port director of this opinion and the port director will either (1) refuse delivery to the consignee, or (2) if the shipment has been released to the consignee under bond, demand redelivery of the shipment under the terms of the bond. If the merchandise is not redelivered within 30 days after the date of demand by the port director, the port director will issue a demand for liquidated damages in the full amount of the bond if it is a single entry bond, or if a continuous bond is used, the amount that would have been taken under a single entry bond. The port director will cause the destruction of any merchandise refused delivery to the consignee, or redelivered by the consignee pursuant to a demand therefor, and not exported by the consignee within 90 days after notice of such refusal of delivery or within 90 days after such redelivery, as applicable.
§ 12.118   Toxic Substances Control Act.
The Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”) (15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq. ) governs the importation into the customs territory of the United States of a chemical substance in bulk form or as part of a mixture, and articles containing a chemical substance or mixture. Such importations are also governed by these regulations which are issued under the authority of section 13(b) of TSCA (15 U.S.C. 2612(b)).
§ 12.119   Scope.
Sections 12.120 through 12.127 apply to the importation into the customs territory of the United States of:
(a) Chemical substances in bulk form and as part of a mixture under TSCA;
(b) TSCA-excluded chemicals; and
(c) Articles containing a chemical substance or mixture if so required by the Administrator by specific rule under TSCA.
§ 12.120   Definitions.
Except as otherwise provided below, the terms used in §§ 12.121 through 12.127 have the meanings set forth for those terms in TSCA.
(a) Article —(1) Article means a manufactured item which:
(i) Is formed to a specific shape or design during manufacture,
(ii) Has end use functions dependent in whole or in part upon its shape or design during the end use, and
(iii) Has either no change of chemical composition during its end use or only those changes of composition which have no commercial purpose separate from that of the article and that may occur as described in § 12.120(a)(2); except that fluids and particles are not considered articles regardless of shape or design.
(2) The allowable changes of composition, referred to in § 12.120(a)(1), are those which result from a chemical reaction that occurs upon the end use of other chemical substances, mixtures, or articles such as adhesives, paints, miscellaneous cleaners or other household products, fuels and fuel additives, water softening and treatment agents, photographic films, batteries, matches, and safety flares in which the chemical substance manufactured upon end use of the article is not itself manufactured for distribution in commerce or for use as an intermediate.
(b) TSCA chemical substance in bulk form. “TSCA chemical substance in bulk form” means a chemical substance as set forth in section 3(2) of TSCA, (15 U.S.C. 2602(2)) (other than as part of an article) in containers used for purposes of transportation or containment, provided that the chemical substance is intended to be removed from the container and has an end use or commercial purpose separate from the container.
(c) TSCA chemical substance as part of a mixture. “TSCA chemical substance as part of a mixture” means a chemical substance as set forth in section 3(2) of TSCA, (15 U.S.C. 2602(2)) that is part of a combination of two or more chemical substances as set forth in section 3(10) of TSCA.
(d) TSCA-excluded chemicals. “TSCA-excluded chemicals” means any chemicals that are excluded from the definition of TSCA chemical substance by section 3(2)(B) (ii)-(vi) of TSCA, (15 U.S.C. 2602(2) (B) (ii)-(vi)) (other than as part of a mixture), regardless of form.
(e) Covered commodity. “Covered commodity” means merchandise that meets the terms of one of the definitions specified in paragraph (a), (b), or (d) of this section or that is a mixture as defined in TSCA.
(f) Administrator. “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
§ 12.121   Reporting requirements.
(a) Certification required. (1) The importer or the authorized agent of such an importer of a TSCA chemical substance in bulk form or as part of a mixture, must certify in writing or electronically that the chemical shipment complies with all applicable rules and orders under TSCA by filing with CBP the following statement:
I certify that all chemical substances in this shipment comply with all applicable rules or orders under TSCA and that I am not offering a chemical substance for entry in violation of TSCA or any applicable rule or order thereunder.
(2) The importer or the authorized agent of such an importer of any TSCA-excluded chemical not clearly identified as such must certify in writing or electronically that the chemical shipment is not subject to TSCA by filing with CBP the following statement:
I certify that all chemicals in this shipment are not subject to TSCA.
(3) Filing of certification. (i) The appropriate certification required under paragraph (a) of this section must be filed with the director of the port of entry in writing or electronically to the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system or any other CBP-authorized EDI system prior to release of the shipment. For each entry subject to certification under paragraph (a), the name, phone number, and email address of the certifier (the importer or the importer's authorized agent) shall be included.
(ii) Written certifications must appear as a typed or stamped statement:
(A) On an appropriate entry document or commercial invoice or on an attachment to that entry document or invoice; or
(B) In the event of release under a special permit for an immediate delivery as provided for in § 142.21 of this chapter or in the case of an entry as provided for in § 142.3 of this chapter, on the commercial invoice or on an attachment to that invoice.
(b) TSCA chemical substances or mixtures as parts of articles. An importer of a TSCA chemical substance or mixture as part of an article must comply with the certification requirements set forth in paragraph (a) of this section only if required to do so by a rule or order issued under TSCA.
(c) Facsimile signatures. The certification statements required under paragraph (a) of this section may be signed by means of an authorized facsimile signature.
§ 12.122   Detention of certain shipments.
(a) The director of the port of arrival will detain, at the importer's risk and expense, shipments of covered commodity:
(1) Which have been banned from the customs territory of the United States by a rule or order issued under section 5 or 6 of TSCA (15 U.S.C. 2604 or 2605) or
(2) Which have been ordered seized because of imminent hazards as specified under section 7 of TSCA (15 U.S.C. 2606).
(b) The director of the port of entry will detain shipments of covered commodity at the importer's risk and expense, in the following situations:
(1) Whenever the Administrator has reasonable grounds to believe that the shipment is not in compliance with TSCA and notifies the port director to detain the shipment.
(2) Whenever the port director has reasonable grounds to believe that the shipment is not in compliance with TSCA; or
(3) Whenever the importer fails to certify compliance with TSCA as required by § 12.121.
(c) Upon detention of a shipment, the port director will give prompt notice to the Administrator and the importer. The notice will include the reasons for detention.
(d) A detained shipment will not be held in the custody of the port director for more than 48 hours after the date of detention. Thereafter, the shipment will be promptly turned over to the Administrator for storage or disposition as provided for in §§ 12.127 and 127.28(i), unless previously released to the importer under bond as provided in § 12.123(b). Notice of intent to abandon the shipment by the importer will constitute a waiver of all time periods specified in parts 12 and 127.
§ 12.123   Procedure after detention.
(a) Submission of written documentation. If a shipment is detained by a port director under § 12.122, the importer may submit written documentation to the Administrator with a copy to the port director within 20 days from the date of notice of detention, to show cause why the shipment should not be refused entry. If an importer submits that documentation, the Administrator will allow or deny entry of the shipment within 10 days of receipt of the documentation, and in any case will allow or deny entry of the shipment within 30 days of the date of notice of detention.
(b) Release under Bond. The port director may release to the importer a shipment detained for any of the reasons given in § 12.122 when the port director has reasonable grounds to believe that the shipment may be brought into compliance, or when the port director deems it appropriate under § 141.66 of this chapter. Any such release will be conditioned upon furnishing a bond on CBP Form 301, containing the conditions set forth in § 113.62 of this chapter for the return of the shipment to CBP custody. If a shipment of a covered commodity is released to the importer under bond, the shipment will be held intact and will not be used or otherwise disposed of until the Administrator makes a final determination on entry as provided for in paragraph (c) of this section.
(c) Determination by the Administrator. After consideration of the available evidence and within 30 days from the notice of detention, the Administrator will notify the port director and the importer of his decision either to permit or refuse entry of the shipment. If the Administrator finds that the shipment is in compliance with TSCA, the port director will release the shipment to the importer. If the Administrator finds that the shipment is not in compliance, the port director will:
(1) Refuse delivery to the importer, giving reasons for such refusal, or
(2) If the shipment has been released on bond, demand its redelivery under the terms of the bond, giving reasons for such demand. If the merchandise is not redelivered within 30 days from the date of the redelivery notice, the port director will assess liquidated damages in the full amount of the bond.
§ 12.124   Time limitations and extensions.
(a) Time limitations. The importer of a shipment of a covered commodity which has been detained under § 12.122 must bring the shipment into compliance with TSCA or export the shipment from the customs territory of the United States within 90 days after notice of detention or 30 days of demand for redelivery, whichever comes first.
(b) Time extensions. The port director, upon notification by the Administrator, may grant an extension of not more than 30 days if, due to delays caused by the Environmental Protection Agency or the CBP:
(1) The importer is unable, for good cause shown, to bring a shipment into compliance with the Act within the required time period; or
(2) The importer is unable to export the shipment from the customs territory of the United States within the required time period.
§ 12.125   Notice of exportation.
Whenever the Administrator directs the port director to refuse entry under § 12.123 and the importer exports the non-complying shipment within the 30 day period of notice of refusal of entry or within 90 days of demand for redelivery, the importer must submit notice of the exportation either in writing to the port director or electronically to ACE or any other CBP-authorized EDI system. The importer must include the following information in the notice of exportation:
(a) The name and address of the exporter or his agent;
(b) A description of the covered commodity exported;
(c) The destination (country);
(d) The port of arrival at the destination;
(e) The carrier;
(f) The date of exportation; and
(g) The bill of lading or the air way bill number.
§ 12.126   Notice of abandonment.
If the importer intends to abandon the shipment after receiving notice of refusal of entry, the importer must present a notice of intent to abandon in writing to the port director or electronically to ACE or any other CBP-authorized EDI system. Notification under this section is a waiver of any right to export the merchandise. The importer will remain liable for any expense incurred in the storage and/or disposal of abandoned merchandise.
§ 12.127   Decision to store or dispose.
A shipment detained under § 12.122 will be considered to be unclaimed or abandoned and will be turned over to the Administrator for storage or disposition as provided for in § 127.28(i) of this chapter if the importer has not brought the shipment into compliance with TSCA and has not exported the shipment within the time limitations or extensions specified according to § 12.124. The importer will remain liable for any expense in the storage and/or disposal of abandoned merchandise.
§ 12.140   Entry of softwood lumber products from Canada.
The requirements set forth in this section are applicable for as long as the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA 2006), entered into on September 12, 2006, by the Governments of the United States and Canada, remains in effect.
(a) Definitions. The following definitions apply for purposes of this section:
(1) British Columbia Coast. “British Columbia Coast” means the Coastal Forest Regions as defined by the existing Forest Regions and Districts Regulation, B.C. Reg. 123/2003.
(2) British Columbia Interior. “British Columbia Interior” means the Northern Interior Forest Region and the Southern Interior Forest Region as defined by the existing Forest Regions and Districts Regulation, B.C. Reg. 123/2003.
(3) Date of shipment. “Date of shipment” means, in the case of products exported by rail, the date when the railcar that contains the products is assembled to form part of a train for export; otherwise, the date when the products are loaded aboard a conveyance for export. If a shipment is transshipped through a Canadian reload center or other inventory location, the date of shipment is the date the merchandise leaves the reload center or other inventory location for final shipment to the United States.
(4) Maritimes. “Maritimes” means New Brunswick, Canada; Nova Scotia, Canada; Prince Edward Island, Canada; and Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
(5) Region. “Region” means British Columbia Coast or British Columbia Interior as defined in paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section; Alberta, Canada; Manitoba, Canada; Maritimes, Canada; Northwest Territories, Canada; Nunavut Territory, Canada; Ontario, Canada; Saskatchewan, Canada; Quebec, Canada; or Yukon Territory, Canada.
(6) Region of Origin. “Region of Origin” means the Region where the facility at which the softwood lumber product was first produced into such a product is located, regardless of whether that product was further processed (for example, by planing or kiln drying) or was transformed from one softwood lumber product into another such product (for example, a remanufactured product) in another Region, with the following exceptions:
(i) The Region of Origin of softwood lumber products first produced in the Maritime Provinces from logs originating in a non-Maritime Region will be the Region, as defined above, where the logs originated; and
(ii) The Region of Origin of softwood lumber products first produced in the Yukon, Northwest Territories or Nunavut (the ‘Territories’) from logs originating outside the Territories will be the Region where the logs originated.
(7) SLA 2006. “SLA 2006” or “SLA” means the Softwood Lumber Agreement entered into between the Governments of Canada and the United States on September 12, 2006.
(8) Softwood lumber products. “Softwood lumber products” mean those products described as covered by the SLA 2006 in Annex 1A of the Agreement.
(b) Reporting requirements. In the case of softwood lumber products from Canada listed in Annex 1A of the SLA 2006 as covered by the scope of the Agreement, the following information must be included on the electronic entry summary documentation (CBP Form 7501, or its electronic equivalent) for each entry (except for entries of softwood lumber products whose Region of Origin is the Maritimes, in which case entry summary documentation must be submitted in paper as set forth in paragraph (c) of this section):
(1) Region of Origin. The letter code representing a softwood lumber product's Canadian Region of Origin, as posted on the Administrative Message Board in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) or any other CBP-authorized electronic data interchange system. (For example, the letter code “XD” designates softwood lumber products whose Region of Origin is British Columbia Coast. The letter code “XE” designates softwood lumber products whose Region of Origin is British Columbia Interior.)
(2) Export Permit Number —(i) Export Permit Number issued by Canada at time of filing entry summary documentation. The 8-digit Canadian-issued Export Permit Number, preceded by one of the following letter codes:
(A) The letter code assigned to represent the date of shipment ( i.e. , “A” represents January, “B” represents February, “C” represents March, etc. ), except for those softwood lumber products produced by a company listed in Annex 10 of the SLA 2006 or whose Region of Origin is the Maritimes, Yukon, Northwest Territories or Nunavut;
(B) The letter code “X”, which designates a company listed in Annex 10 of the SLA 2006; or
(C) The letter code assigned to represent the Maritimes (code M); Yukon (code Y); Northwest Territories (code W); or Nunavut (code N), for softwood lumber products originating in these regions.
(ii) No Export Permit Number required due to softwood lumber product's exempt status. Where an Export Permit Number is not required because the imported softwood lumber product is specifically identified as exempt from SLA 2006 export measures pursuant to Annex 1A of the Agreement, notwithstanding the fact that the exempt goods are classifiable in residual Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States provisions otherwise listed as covered by the SLA 2006, the alpha-numeric code “P88888888” must be used in the Export Permit Number data entry field on the CBP Form 7501, or its electronic equivalent.
(c) Original Maritime Certificate of Origin. Where a softwood lumber product's Region of Origin is the Maritimes, the original paper copy of the Certificate of Origin issued by the Maritime Lumber Bureau must be submitted to CBP and the entry summary documentation for each such entry must be in paper and not electronic. The Certificate of Origin must specifically state that the corresponding CBP entries are for softwood lumber products first produced in the Maritimes from logs originating in the Maritimes or State of Maine.
(d) Recordkeeping. Importers must retain copies of export permits, certificates of origin, and any other substantiating documentation issued by the Canadian Government pursuant to the recordkeeping requirements set forth in part 163 of title 19 to the CFR.