CUSTOMS DIRECTIVE
ORIGINATING OFFICE: IM:C:C

DISTRIBUTION: F-01, F-02, G-25
CUSTOMS DIRECTIVE NO. 3550-055
OLD NUMBER: 3500-13
DATE: November 24, 1986

SUBJECT: INSTRUCTIONS FOR DERIVING MANUFACTURER/SHIPPER
IDENTIFICATION CODE
1.

PURPOSEThis directive establishes a new method for deriving an identification code formanufacturers and shippers.

2.

BACKGROUND
The identification of a manufacturer or shipper by a unique code is an important
enforcement tool, and is critical for continued monitoring of key commodities.
The use of a telex number plus answerback code was the first attempt to meetthese goals by obtaining the manufacturer identification from part of the normal
invoice material.
However, this operating procedure has been largely unsuccessful for a variety ofreasons, primary among them being consistent lack of a complete
telex/answerback code on commercial invoices.
Through a technique known as "keylining," the manufacturer code will now bederived from the name and address on the commercial invoices by applying analgorithm, or set of rules. The rules are easy to apply and should result in aunique code for each manufacturer. The rules for constructing the newmanufacturer code are described in Attachment A.

3.

ACTION
Since the name and address of a manufacturer is an integral part of virtually allcommercial invoices, the code derived from "keylining" will be a necessary data
element for all entry release processing and entry summaries. CustomsACS/Cargo) Selectivity processing will not be possible for entries that do nothave the necessary manufacturer ID's. Such entries will thus encountersignificant processing delays.
The new manufacturer code will replace the current telex/answerback code in allof the following Customs applications:1.

CF 3461 Entry/Immediate Delivery Block 26. The instructions for Block 26
are hereby updated in Customs Directive 3550-15 to reflect the newcoding scheme. The next amendment to this directive will reflect thenew coding scheme.

2.

CF 7501 Entry Summary. Effective with this directive, the instructions for
Block 21 in the update dated July 23, 1985, to Directive 3550-03 aremodified as follows:
Record the text "see below" in Block 21. Record each manufacturer codefor each line immediately below the tariff number for the line. Neverrecord more than one manufacturer code for a single given line.
In situations where there is only one manufacturer on the Entry Summary,it is acceptable to record the manufacturer code in Block 21 rather than
the text "see below". In this case, the requirement to record themanufacturer code in each line item becomes optional.

3.

ABI Cargo Release and Entry Summary transmissions. Transmit themanufacturer code for each line in record reference number G05 (H5) for
cargo release and in record reference number A60 (60) for entrysummary. The manufacturer code should always be left justified withtrailing spaces. These rules will be reflected in Amendment 6 of theBroker Requirements Document.
In cases where Customs personnel determine the code to be incorrect,
entry documents may be returned to brokers or importers forcorrection.

4.

SUPERSEDED MATERIAL
This directive supersedes instructions regarding manufacturer/shipper containedin Customs memorandum of February 28, 1986, file ACS-l-lSB MRB.

5.

RESPONSIBILITY
It is the responsibility of all Regional Commissioners, District, Area, and Port
Directors to assure compliance with this directive. The information contained inthe directive should be made available to all persons conducting Customs
business.

6.

EFFECTIVE DATEThe use of the new manufacturer/shipper identification ending system will beeffective in two stages:

In the New York Region, upon implementation of Tier II Cargo Selectivity December 15, 1986.
In all other Customs Regions, upon expansion of Tier II Cargo Selectivity February 2, 1987.
The directive will continue to be in effect until revoked.

Gerald J. McManus
Acting Assistant Commissioner
Office of Commercial Operations
Attachments

Attachment A
RULES FOR CONSTRUCTING THE MANUFACTURER CODE
These instructions provide for the construction of an identifying code for a manufacturer
or shipper from his name and address. The code can be up to 15 characters in length,with no inserted spaces. However, it may be thought of as five "pieces" as follows:
COUNTRY (Piece 1: 2 characters)
Use the ISO code for the country, such as "PE" for Peru.
MANUFACTURER NAME (Pieces 2 and 3: up to 3 characters each)
Use of the first three characters from each of the first two words of the name.
There will be no third piece if the name is one word. Amalgamated Plastics Corp. wouldgive "AMAPLA"; Bergstrom would give "BER".
If there are two or more initials together, treat them as a single word. For
example, ABC Company, A.B.C. Company, or A B C Company would all yield"ABCCOM."ADDRESS LINE WITH STREET NAME and/or BOX NUMBER (Piece 4: up to 4characters)
Find the largest number on this line and use up to the first four digits. For
example, 11455 Main Street Suite 9999 would yield "1145". A suite number or a post
office box should be used if it contains the largest number. However, use no number inthe case of One Hundred Century Plaza. There will be no fourth piece if there is nonumeric on the address line.
When numbers are separated by commas or hyphens, ignore all punctuation anduse the number that remains. For example, either "12,34,56 Akasaka Road" or '12-3456 Akasaka Road" would yield "1234". Note that the address line on the invoice may
be after the line containing the city and zip code (or equivalent). For example, German
invoices frequently place the city and its numeric code before the street address. Be
sure to identify the address line numeric and use it, not the city numeric.
CITY (Piece 5: up to 3 characters)
Use the first three letters from the city name. Tokyo would be "TOK," St. Michel
would be "STM."
Apply these general rules to construct a manufacturer code
1)
Ignore all punctuation, such as commas, periods, ampersands.
2)
Ignore all single character initials, such as the "S." in Thomas S. Delvaux
Company.
3)
Ignore the English words "a", "an", "and", " of", "the".
4)
In the case where multiple company names and/or addresses appear on theinvoice, use the name and address associated with the corporate headquarters
as opposed to the division, office, etc.

Examples of some manufacturer names and addresses and their codes:
LA VIE DE FRANCE
243 Rue de la Payees
62591 Bremond, France

FRLAVIE243BRE

20TH CENTURY TECHNOLOGIES
5 Ricardo Munoz, Suite 5880
Caracas, Venezuela

VE20TCEN5880CAR

THE E.K. RODGERS COMPANIESOne World Trade Center
London, England SWLY 5HQ

GBEKRODLONTHE GREENHOUSE
45 Royal Crescent
Birmingham, Alabama, 35204

USGRE45BIR

CARDUCCIO AND JONES
88 Canburra AvenueSidney, Australia

AUCARJON88SID

N. MINAMI & CO.,LTD.
2-6, 8-Chome Isogami-Dori,Fukiai-Ku
Kobe, JapanJPMINCO268KOB

BOCCHACCIO S.P.A.
Via Mendotti, 61
8320 Verona, Italy

ITBOCSPA61VERMURLA-PRAXITELES INC.
Athens, Greece
SIGMA COY E.X.T.
4000 Smyrna, Italy
1640 Delgado

GRMURINCATHITSIGCOY1640SMY