Procedures of Advance Filing Rules on
Maritime Container Cargo Information

November 2013

Nippon Automated Cargo and Port
Consolidated System, Inc.

 On March 30, 2012, a bill to amend part of the Customs Law passed throughthe Diet in Japan.
 This amendment enacts the Advance Filing Rules, which require a vessel
operator or a non vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) to electronicallysubmit information on maritime container cargoes to be loaded on a vessel
intended to entry into a port in Japan, to Japan Customs in principle no later
than 24 hours before departure of the vessel from a port of loading.
 The Rules will be implemented in March 2014.
 The operational test will be conducted during Nov. 5th 2013 (Tue) and Feb.
28th 2014 (Fri).
 The implementation of the advance filing of maritime container cargo
information shall be executed using electronic data processing systemmanaged and operated by Nippon Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated
System, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “NACCS”).
1Outside Japan

In Japan

1. Gateway connection using filers’ own systems
Carrier,
NVOCC

Same corporation

NACCS

Carrier, Shipping
Agent and NVOCC inJAPANEDI
DedicatedlineEDI2. Connection via Service Provider(SP)Carrier,
NVOCC

Connection between
NACCS and filer’s own
system is established onlythrough servers located inJapan, not outside Japan.
Dedicatedline

Service Provider (SP)EDIWeb2Web Entry

Web application
provided by SPJapan
Customs

Outside Japan

Filers operating outside Japanneed to obtain ”Reporter ID”
and PW(Password) beforehand.

(1) Apply for Reporter ID

Carrier,
NVOCC
Reporter ID& PW

In Japan

ID Issuance
System（WEB）(2) Issue Reporter ID
and PW(Password)

NACCS(3) UserAgreement(4) Reporter ID and PWService Provider(SP)SP needs to conclude a connection
agreement with NACCS Center.
List of SP can be found at:
http://www.naccscenter.com/afr/lsp.html

3Search site
NACCS AFR

GOReporter ID Issuance System was released on Aug 26.

4

5

Through SP, following 5 procedures can be implemented.

・AMR: Procedure to Register Advance Cargo Information
・CMR: Procedure to Correct Advance Cargo Information
・AHR: Procedure to Register Advance Cargo Information（House B/L)
・CHR: Procedure to Correct Advance Cargo Information (House B/L)・ATD: Procedure to Report Departure Date and Time

Reporter ID and passwordSP code

NACCS EDI Message
Common Field

JJYYY
Outside Japan
Password:
XXXXXXCarrier,
NVOCC

Service Provider

Procedure-byprocedure Field

PEZZZ(2) B/L data

(SP)(1) Register B/L data

Web Entry

Reporter ID:

SP code
PEZZZ

JJYYY
(3) Processing Result

6In Japan

NACCS

Outside Japan

24 hours before theloading of cargo

AMR

AMR: Advance Cargo Information Registration

Departure

ATD
ATD: Departure Time Registration

When tofile?

24 hours before the loading of cargo

OutlineAdvance Cargo Information Registration ofOcean（Master）B/L’s

Unit offiling

For each Ocean（Master）B/L

Whoobliged
to file?

・Carrier (in the case of joint operation, eachcarrier needs to report)
・Shipping Agents

Remarks

・The time and date of advanced filing of cargo
for each B/L match those specified in the AMR
procedure.
・Break bulk cargos and empty containers areexempted from being reported.

When tofile?

After the departure date and time are finalized.
（Data input must be completed before
processing the DMF procedure.）

OutlineRegistration of the time and date of departurefrom the port of cargo loading

Unit offiling

For each vessel and port of cargo loadingWhoobliged tofile?

・Carriers (in the case of joint vessel operation,each carrier needs to report)
・Shipping Agents* ATD procedure is used to correct data registeredin the original ATD procedure.

When to add, correct, or delete data?

Add

AMR

CMR

A
Add

Correct
Delete

7

CMRC

A
Add

DCorrect Delete

When ATD is completed, data can be corrected or deleted in CMR only
when any of the following advance notice is sent from Customs:
HLD, DNL, DNU, SPD2.サービスプロバイダー経由接続

Connection via Service Provider(SP)Outside Japan

In JapanIssue Reporter ID and PW(Password)

Company A(Carrier)××No Local Officein Japan×No Gateway connection
with NACCS

Service Provider (SP)EDIWebAMR
Processing Result

Customs Notice

8If there is any problem, Customs Notice (HLD, DNL, DNU, SPD)will be sent within 24 hours after AMR registration:

NACCS
ID Issuance
System（WEB）

JapanCustoms

Outside Japan

24 hours before theloading of cargo

AHR

Departure

AHR: Advance Cargo Information Registration (House B/L)
When to file?

24 hours before the loading of cargo

Outline・Advanced Cargo Information Registration regarding House B/L’s
・House END (registration complete) is executed when all the House B/L’s under a Master B/L are filed.

Unit of filing

For each House B/LWho obliged to file

NVOCCRemarks

・The time and date of advance filing of cargo for each B/L match those specified in the AHR procedure.
・Break bulk cargos are exempted from being reported.

ATD is registered by Carrier.

When to add, correct, or delete data?

Add

AHR

CHR

A
Add

Correct
DeleteCHRCCorrect

Add

DDeleteHouse END is registered9A

When ATD is completed, data can be corrected or deleted in CHR only
when any of the following advance notice is sent from Customs:
HLD, DNL, DNU

2.サービスプロバイダー経由接続

Connection via Service Provider(SP)Outside Japan

In JapanCompany B(NVOCC)

Issue Reporter ID and PW(Password)××No Local Officein Japan×No Gateway connection
with NACCS

Service Provider (SP)EDIWeb

AHR
Processing ResultCustoms Notice

10If there is any problem, Customs Notice (HLD, DNL, DNU)
will be sent within 24 hours after AHR registration:

NACCS
ID IssuanceSystem（WEB）

JapanCustoms

1.

AMR
The obliged filer of “AMR” is the contractors of carriage and knows thecargo information based on Ocean (Master) B/L level at the time ofdeparture from a port of loading on a foreign trading vessel intended forentry into a port in Japan. (Such as Carriers)

2.

AHR
The obliged filer of “AHR” is consignors (Such as NVOCCs) who know thecargo information based on House B/L level at the time of departure andalso the contractor of consigned freight forwarding business with theshipping companies.

Please refer to "FAQs about Advance Filing Rules on Maritime Container CargoInformation" on the website by Japan Customs!
11(Source)http://www.customs.go.jp/english/summary/advance/

The following cargo information shall be filed under the Advance Filing Rules on Maritime
Container Cargo Information.
AMR Procedure(M B/L)level

12

AHR Procedure(H B/L)level

Consignor Name

Consignor Name

Consignor Address

Consignor Address

Consignor Telephone Number

Consignor Telephone Number

Consignor Country code

Consignor Country code

Consignee Name

Consignee Name

Consignee Address

Consignee Address

Consignee Telephone Number

Consignee Telephone Number

Consignee Country code

Consignee Country code

Notify Party Name

Notify Party Name

Notify Party Address

Notify Party Address

Notify Party Telephone Number

Notify Party Telephone Number

Notify Party Country code

Notify Party Country code

Description of Goods

Description of Goods

Harmonized System Code (6-digit )Harmonized System Code (6-digit )Number of Packages

Number of Packages

Total Gross Weight

Total Gross Weight

VolumeVolumeMark and Number of CargoMark and Number of Cargo

Carrier code

Carrier code

(Source)http://www.customs.go.jp/english/summary/advance/

AMR Procedure(M B/L)level

AHR Procedure(H B/L)level

Vessel Code (Call Sign)

Vessel Code (Call Sign)

Voyage Number

Voyage Number

Port of Loading

Port of Loading

Estimated Date and Time of Departure (from port of loading)-Port of Origin

Port of Origin

Port of Discharge

Port of Discharge

Estimated Date of Arrival (at port of discharge)

Estimated Date of Arrival (at port of discharge)

Place of Delivery

Place of Delivery

Master Bill of Lading Number

Master Bill of Lading Number-

House Bill of Lading Number

Container Number

Container Number

Seal Number

Seal Number

Whether each container is empty or full

Whether each container is empty or fullContainer Size CodeContainer Size CodeContainer Type CodeContainer Type CodeContainer Ownership CodeContainer Ownership CodeIMDG Class Number

IMDG Class Number

United Nations Dangerous Goods (UNDG) identifier

United Nations Dangerous Goods (UNDG) identifier

Distinguishing the presence or absence of information aboutrelaxed application to the deadline for filing
Distinguishing the presence or absence of information about
House Bill of Lading

13(Source)http://www.customs.go.jp/english/summary/advance/

Advance Filing Rules are applied at the last foreign port where cargo is loaded on a vessel
heading for a port in Japan.

(Example) Cargo from Europe is unloaded and transshipped at the port of Pusan, South Korea,and heads for a port of Kobe.
EuropeSouth Korea

JapanCarrier

AMRAMR

NVOCC

AHR

AHR

In the case of transshipment, cargo information is required
to be filed with AMR and AHR procedures by no later than 24hours before departure from the port where transshipment
is made, regardless of the filing at the original port.

14Pusan

KobeFor EuropeQ : If an unscheduled transshipment of a cargo is conducted due to vessel
schedule changes, is it required to be filed not only the cargo information basedon Master B/L level from a shipping company, but also the cargo information
based on House B/L level from a NVOCC linked to relevant Master B/L at least
24 hours before departure from a port of transshipment?
A : Even if an unscheduled transshipment of a cargo is suddenly conducted, asa general rule, both the cargo information based on Master B/L level andthe cargo information based on House B/L level are required to be filed
again at least 24 hours before departure from a port of transshipment.
☆Even if an unscheduled transshipment of a cargo is suddenly conducted

15Carrier

AMR

NVOCC

AHR

Both the cargo information based on
Master B/L level and House B/L level
are required to be filed！

(Source)http://www.customs.go.jp/english/summary/advance/

●After the advance filing of cargo information based on the Ocean (Master) B/L level, risk assessment
results may be notified from Customs.

●Unless significant risks are recognized, no advance notice will be sent.
AMR

ATD
CMR

1
In JapanJapan
Customs

Carrier

12

DNL

DNU

HLD

HLD

Those
who filed
AMR

Confirm the code of message and addor correct data in the CMR procedure
as required.

Those
who filedAMR/DMF

Confirm the code of message and add
or correct data in the CMR procedure
as required.

CodeSummary of the Advance Notice

ＤＮＬ

This code of message is notified for recommending to abandon the loading of cargo on a vessel in case theJapan Customs identify the high-risk cargo from the viewpoint of Japanese security as a result of risk
analysis of the cargo information filed 24 hours before loading of the cargo.

ＨＬＤ

This code of message is notified for requiring addition or correction of information to complete risk
assessment of informed cargo.

ＤＮＵ

16OutsideJapan

2

This code of message is notified for requiring to suspend the discharge of cargo from the vessel in Japan.
in case the Japan Customs identify the high-risk cargo from the viewpoint of Japanese security as a resultof risk analysis of the cargo information after the vessel departed from a port of loading,This code of message is notified when the vessel departed from a port of loading without canceling thecode of message of the “HLD”.

(Source)http://www.customs.go.jp/english/summary/advance/

●After the advance filing of cargo information based on the House B/L level, risk assessment results
may be notified from Customs.

●Unless significant risks are recognized, no advance notice will be sent.
AHR

ATD
CHR

1
Outside
Japan

2
NVOCC

(1)
DNL

In Japan

HLD

(2)

DNU

HLD

Confirm the code of message and add
or correct data in the CHR procedure
as required.

Confirm the code of message and add
or correct data in the CHR procedure
as required.

JapanCustoms
OutsideJapan

In JapanCarrier

(1)

(2)

17

DNL

HLD

DNU

HLD

When the AMR procedure has
already been completed, notification
message will also be sent to the filerof AMR for reference.

When the AMR（DMF）procedure has
already been processed, notification
message will also be addressed to thefiler of AMR (DMF) for reference.

(Source)http://www.customs.go.jp/english/summary/advance/Outside
JapanIn Japan

Carriers

In Japan

SPDCarriers or Shipping Agents

Cargo Discharge

DNC: Application for
Cargo Discharge Permission
JapanCustoms

Permission by Japan Customs

If No file by AMR or by AHR SPD

This code of message is notified when the cargo information is not filed.
※Also, penal provisions could be applied. An operator must file the cargo information and cannot unload
the cargo without the permission of discharge by Customs.

If Filed after the Deadline by AMR or by AHR SPD

This code of message is notified when the cargo information was filed after the deadline.
※ Also, penal provisions could be applied. An operator cannot unload the cargo without the permissionof discharge by Customs.

18(Source)http://www.customs.go.jp/english/summary/advance/

For the time being until the implementation of the rules is well-established, the deadline will be relaxed to by no later
than before departure of the vessels from the ports of loading according to the following list with regard to the certain
short-distance shipping routes, i.e., in the case maritime container cargoes to be loaded on vessels at certain ports ofneighboring countries/territories (e.g., South Korea and China) which are destined for certain Japanese ports.
A foreign place ofloading cargoes

Russian Far East

South Korea

China

TaiwanA Japanese place（First port of arrival）

Vostochniy(RUVYP)

Vladivostok(RUVVO)

Pusan(KRPUS)

Kwangyang(KRKAN)

Inchon(KRINC)

Tianjin Xingang(CNTXG)

Dalian(CNDLC)

Qingdao(CNTAO)

Shanghai(CNSHA)

Ningbo(CNNGB)

Hong Kong(HKHKG)

Kaohsiung(TWKHH)

Keelung(TWKEL)

Hokkaido

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
beforeAomori , Akita , Yamagata andNiigata

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
beforeIwate and Miyagi

24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
beforeFukushima and Ibaraki

24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
beforeToyama, Ishikawa , Fukui, Kyouto andHyougo （Sea of Japan side）

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
beforeTokyo, Kanagawa and Chiba

24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
beforeShizuoka, Aichi and Mie

24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hoursbefore

24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
beforeTottori and Shimane

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
beforeWakayama, Osaka andHyougo（Seto Inland Sea side）

24 hours
before24 hours
beforebefore thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
beforeOkayama, Hiroshima, Tokushima,Kagawa, Ehime and Kouchi

24 hours
before24 hours
beforebefore thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
beforeYamaguchi, Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki,
Kumamoto, Oita and Miyazaki

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
beforeKagoshima

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
beforebefore thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

24 hours
before24 hours
beforebefore thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

24 hours
beforebefore thedeparture

before thedeparture

24 hours
before24 hours
beforebefore thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

24 hours
before24 hours
beforebefore thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

24 hours
beforebefore thedeparture

before thedeparture

24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
before24 hours
beforebefore thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

before thedeparture

Amami city andOshima country
Okinawa
Ishigaki city, Miyakojima city, Tarama
village of Miyako country, and Taketomi
town and Yonaguni town of Yaeyama
country only

19（NB） “before the departure” : The deadline will be relaxed to by no later than before departure of the vessel from the port of loading“24hours before” : The deadline of filing will be 24 hours before departure of the vessel from the port of loading.

【 Main Schedule】‐ The operational test will be conducted during Nov. 5th 2013 (Tue)and Feb. 28th 2014 (Fri).
‐ Receiving cargo information will start from March 1, 2014 at 12 a.m.(midnight) in Japan Time
(Greenwich Mean Time : February 28, 2014 at 3 p.m.).
- The filers are obliged to file cargo information for container cargoes whose deadline offiling is on/after March 10, 2014 at 12 a.m. (midnight) in Japan Time
(Greenwich Mean Time : March 9, 2014 at 3 p.m.).
2013

2014
Sep20

Oct

Nov

Dec

JanFebMar

Apr

Operational
phasesDesigning a detailed operational plan and preparing
for its implementation

Implementation of the Advance Filing Rules
on Maritime Container Cargo Information

IT System

Designing, developing and testing ofoperational programs / Selection andregistration of service providers

Receiving cargo information

Publicity totherelevantindustries

Publicity of the Advance Filing Rules to therelevant industries

Operational test

１．Purpose
The purpose of the operational test is to conduct training of AFR operationin similar condition to real operation.
2. ParticipantsService Provider (SP), Filer via SP, Japan Customs

3. Duration of the operational test
From Nov 5th 2013 (Tue) to Feb 28th 2014 (Fri) 23:59（except Initialization day and maintenance time）※ Duration of the operational test might be vary among the Service providers.
Please contact Service provider and follow the instruction.

4. Notes
While Customs advance notice message may be coming for your training
during this test, Japan Customs does not always conduct risk assessment
and send messages totally in the same conditions with the operational
phase after March 2014.

21

Please visit Advance Filing Rules website of NACCS Center for detailed information on
the connection scheme, specifications, and Service Providers.
http://www.naccscenter.com/afr/

For more information on Advance Filing Rules, please also visit Japan Customs website.
http://www.customs.go.jp/english/summary/advance/index.htm
For inquiries on this material, please contact us.
Global Business Division
Planning & Global Business Department
Nippon Automated Cargo and Port
Consolidated System, Inc. (NACCS Center）

E-mail: afr-c@naccs.jp