Source: http://logisticswisdom.com/importerdetails.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 14:58:24+00:00

Document:
Currently Importers of record are generally required to file entry information, including CBP Form 3461, with CBP within fifteen calendar days of the date of arrival of a shipment at a United States port of entry and entry summary information, including CBP Form 7501, within 10 working days of the entry of the merchandise.
Entry and entry summary information is submitted to CBP via the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) or via paper forms. Importers are not currently required to submit advance cargo information to CBP.
The interim final rule requires Importer Security Filing (ISF) Importers, or their agents, to transmit an Importer Security Filing to CBP, for cargo other than foreign cargo remaining on board (FROB), no later than 24 hours before cargo is laden aboard a vessel destined to the United States.
An Importer Security Filing is required for each shipment, at the lowest bill of lading level (i.e., at the house bill of lading level, if applicable). The party required to submit the Importer Security Filing is the party causing the goods to enter the limits of a port in the United States.
The ISF Importer, as a business decision, may designate an authorized agent to file the Importer Security Filing on the ISF Importer’s behalf. A party can act as an authorized agent for purposes of filing the Importer Security Filing if that party obtains access to ABI or AMS.
ISF Importers, or their agents, must transmit the Importer Security Filing via a CBP-approved electronic data interchange system. The current approved electronic data interchange systems for the Importer Security Filing is ABI and vessel AMS.
ISF Importers, or their agents, must submit 10 elements to CBP for shipments consisting of goods intended to be entered into the United States and goods intended to be delivered to an FTZ.
Name and address of the entity that last manufactures, assembles, produces, or grows the commodity or name and address of the supplier of the finished goods in the country from which the goods are leaving. In the alternative, the name and address of the manufacturer (or supplier) that is currently required by the import laws, rules and regulations of the United States (i.e., entry procedures) may be provided (this is the information that is used to create the existing manufacturer identification (MID) number for entry purposes). A widely recognized commercially accepted identification number for this party may be provided in lieu of the name and address.
Name and address of the last known entity by whom the goods are sold or agreed to be sold. If the goods are to be imported otherwise than in pursuance of a purchase, the name and address of the owner of the goods must be provided. A widely recognized commercially accepted identification number for this party may be provided in lieu of the name and address.
Name and address of the last known entity to whom the goods are sold or agreed to be sold. If the goods are to be imported otherwise than in pursuance of a purchase, the name and address of the owner of the goods must be provided. A widely recognized commercially accepted identification number for this party may be provided in lieu of the name and address.
Name and address of the first deliver-to party scheduled to physically receive the goods after the goods have been released from customs custody. A widely recognized commercially accepted identification number for this party may be provided in lieu of the name and address.
Name and address(es) of the physical location(s) where the goods were stuffed into the container. For break bulk shipments, the name and address(es) of the physical location(s) where the goods were made ‘‘ship ready’’ must be provided. A widely recognized commercially accepted identification number for this element may be provided in lieu of the name and address.
Name and address of the party who stuffed the container or arranged for the stuffing of the container. For break bulk shipments, the name and address of the party who made the goods ‘‘ship ready’’ or the party who arranged for the goods to be made ‘‘ship ready’’ must be provided. A widely recognized commercially accepted identification number for this party may be provided in lieu of the name and address.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) number, Employer Identification Number (EIN), Social Security Number (SSN), or CBP assigned number of the entity liable for payment of all duties and responsible for meeting all statutory and regulatory requirements incurred as a result of importation. For goods intended to be delivered to an FTZ, the IRS number, EIN, SSN, or CBP assigned number of the party filing the FTZ documentation with CBP must be provided. The importer of record number for Importer Security Filing purposes is the same as ‘‘importer number’’ on CBP Form 3461.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) number, Employer Identification Number (EIN), Social Security Number (SSN), or CBP assigned number of the individual(s) or firm(s) in the United States on whose account the merchandise is shipped. This element is the same as the ‘‘consignee number’’ on CBP Form 3461.
Country of manufacture, production, or growth of the article, based upon the import laws, rules and regulations of the United States. This element is the same as the ‘‘country of origin’’ on CBP Form 3461.
Duty/statistical reporting number under which the article is classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). The HTSUS number is required to be provided to the six-digit level. The HTSUS number may be provided up to the 10-digit level. This element can only be used for entry purposes if it is provided at the 10-digit level or greater by the importer of record or its licensed customs broker. This element is the same as the ‘‘H.S. number’’ on CBP Form 3461 and can only be used for entry purposes, if it is provided at the 10-digit level or greater.
The manufacturer (or supplier), country of origin, and commodity Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) number must be linked to one another at the line item level.
For shipments consisting entirely of foreign cargo remaining on board (FROB) and shipments intended to be transported in-bond as an immediate exportation (IE) or transportation and exportation (T&E), the following elements must be provided for each good listed at the six digit HTSUS number at the lowest bill of lading level (i.e., at the house bill of lading level, if applicable) and five elements to enhance the security of the maritime environment.
Name and address of the party who initiates the reservation of the cargo space for the shipment. A widely recognized commercially accepted identification number for this party may be provided in lieu of the name and address.
Duty/ statistical reporting number under which the article is classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). The HTSUS number must be provided to the six digit level. The HTSUS number may be provided up to the 10-digit level.
Four of the proposed Importer Security Filing elements are identical to elements submitted for entry (CBP Form 3461) and entry summary (CBP Form 7501) purposes. These elements are the importer of record number, consignee number, country of origin, and commodity HTSUS number when provided at the 10-digit level.
An importer may submit these elements once to be used for both Importer Security Filing and entry/entry summary purposes. If an importer chooses to have these elements used for entry/entry summary purposes, the Importer Security Filing and entry/entry summary must be self-filed by the importer or filed by a licensed customs broker in a single transmission to CBP no later than 24 hours prior to lading. In addition, the HTSUS number must be provided at the 10-digit level. Two of the Importer Security Filing elements are identical to elements submitted for application to admit goods to an FTZ (CBP Form 214). These elements are the country of origin and commodity HTSUS number when provided at the 10-digit level. The filer may submit the Importer Security Filing and CBP Form 214 in the same electronic transmission to CBP and may submit the country of origin and commodity HTSUS number once to be used for both Importer Security Filing and FTZ admission purposes. If the party submitting the Importer Security Filing chooses to have this element used for FTZ admission purposes, the HTSUS number must be provided at the 10-digit level.
(a) Bulk cargo exempted from filing requirement.
For bulk cargo that is exempt from the requirement set forth in § 4.7(b)(2) of this chapter that a cargo declaration be filed with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 24 hours before such cargo is laden aboard the vessel at the foreign port, ISF Importers, as defined in § 149.1 of this part, of bulk cargo are also exempt from filing an Importer Security Filing with respect to that cargo.
(b) Break bulk cargo exempted from time requirement.
For break bulk cargo that is exempt from the requirement set forth in § 4.7(b)(2) of this chapter for carriers to file a cargo declaration with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 24 hours before such cargo is laden aboard the vessel at the foreign port, ISF Importers, as defined in § 149.1 of this part, of break bulk cargo are also exempt with respect to that cargo from the requirement set forth in § 149.2 of this part to file an Importer Security Filing with CBP 24 hours before such cargo is laden aboard the vessel at the foreign port. Any importers of break bulk cargo that are exempted from the filing requirement of § 149.2 of this part must present the Importer Security Filing to CBP 24 hours prior to the cargo’s arrival in the United States. These ISF Importers must still report 24 hours in advance of loading any containerized or non-qualifying break bulk cargo they will be importing.
In order to provide the trade sufficient time to adjust to the new requirements and in consideration of the business process changes that may be necessary to achieve full compliance, CBP will show restraint in enforcing the rule, taking into account difficulties that importers may face in complying with the rule, so long as importers are making satisfactory progress toward compliance and are making a good faith effort to comply with the rule to the extent of their current ability. This policy will last for twelve months after the effective date and will apply to all aspects of the filing rule.
Two elements of the Importer Security Filings will be subject to flexibility as to timing. These elements are the Container stuffing location and Consolidator (stuffer). The ISF Importer must submit these elements as early as possible, and in any event no later than 24 hours prior to arrival in a U.S. port (or upon lading at the foreign port if that is later than 24 hours prior to arrival in a U.S. port).
Four elements will be subject to flexibility as to interpretation. These elements are the Manufacturer (or supplier), Ship to party, Country of origin, and Commodity HTSUS number. There is no special timing flexibility for these elements; they must be filed 24 hours prior to lading. However, CBP has added flexibility by allowing ISF Importers, in their initial filing, to provide a range of acceptable responses based on facts available to the importer at the time, in lieu of a single specific response (which may become known to the importer only at a later time). ISF Importers will be required to update their filings with respect to these elements as soon as more precise or more accurate information is available, in no event later than 24 hours prior to arrival at a U.S. port (or upon lading at the foreign port if that is later than 24 hours prior to arrival in a U.S. port).
The ISF Importer could submit the identity of the importer, consignee, or the facility where the goods will be unladen in the event that the ship to party is unavailable (e.g., ‘‘to order’’ shipments).
If the ISF Importer is, in good faith, unable to determine whether the country where the final stage of production of an article took place is the country of origin, the ISF Importer may provide the country where the final stage of production of the article took place in lieu of the country of origin, and update the ISF submission as soon as more accurate data are available.
The purpose of these flexibilities is to allow CBP to conduct a structured review of the elements, including an evaluation of any specific compliance difficulties that the trade may be encountering with respect to these elements. CBP may gather information by conducting reviews of particular importers to determine whether submission of all 10 data elements 24 hours prior to lading was in fact feasible and, if not, what barriers the importer encountered. The structured review will cover a range of enterprises, from small to large, and will include both integrated and nonintegrated supply chains.
On the basis of information obtained during the structured review and public comments, DHS will undertake an analysis of the elements subject to flexibilities. The analysis will examine compliance costs for various industry segments, the impact of the flexibilities, the barriers to submitting these data 24 hours prior to lading, and the benefits of collecting these data. Based on that analysis, DHS, in coordination with other parts of the Executive Branch, will determine whether to eliminate, modify, or leave unchanged these requirements.
If, after an Importer Security Filing is submitted pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, the goods associated with the Importer Security Filing are no longer intended to be imported to the United States, the party who submitted the importer Security Filing must withdraw the Importer Security Filing and transmit to CBP the reason for such withdrawal.

References: § 4
 § 149
 § 4
 § 149
 § 149
 § 149