An Act to amend certain administrative provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 and related laws, and for other purposes
PL 83-243 (H.R.5877), enacted 08/08/1953

€7 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 243-AUG. 8, 1953 
50T 
Public Law 243 
CHAPTER 397 
^^ 
^^'^ 
August 8, 1953 
To amend certain administrative provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 and 
[H. R. 5877] 
related laws, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ 
SHORT TITLE AND EFFECTIVE DATE 
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the "Customs Simplification 
Act of 1953" and shall be effective, except as otherwise specially pro-
vided for, on and after the thirtieth day following the date of its 
enactment. 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
Short title and effective date. 
Repeal of obsolete accounting provisions. 
Effective dates of rates of duty. 
Marlving. 
Transportation of lead-bearing and zinc-bearing ores. 
Repeal of certain obsolete reciprocal provisions. 
American goods return. 
Free entry provision for travelers. 
Free entry for noncommercial exhibitions. 
Temporary free entry for samples and other articles under bond. 
Supplies and equipment for vessels and aircraft. 
Drawback. 
Administrative exemptions. 
International traffic and rescue work. 
Signing and delivery of manifests. 
Certified invoices and entry of merchandise. 
Verification of documents. 
Amendment of entries. 
Commingled merchandise. 
Correction of errors and mistakes. 
Transfers of goods in bonded warehouse. 
Customs supervision. 
Saving clause. 
Customs Slmpli-
f Ic at i o n Act of 
1953. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
1 
2 
3 
4. 
5 
6 
7 
8. 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 
23. 
REPEAL OF OBSOLETE ACCOUNTING PROVISIONS 
SEC. 2. (a) The following sections of the Revised Statutes (relating 
to obsolete functions of customs officers and functions of such officers 
now provided for by other laws) are herebv repealed: 
Revised Statutes 2621, as amended (U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 19, 
sec. 33). 
Revised Statutes 2622, as amended (U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 19, 
sec. 34). 
Revised Statutes 2623, as amended (U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 19, 
sec. 35). 
Revised Statutes 2626, as amended (U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 19, 
sec. 39). 
Revised Statutes 2639, as amended (U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 19, 
sec. 42). 
Revised Statutes 2640, as amended (U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 19, 
sec. 43). 
Revised Statutes 2641, as amended (U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 19, 
sec. 44). 
Revised Statutes 2643, as amended (U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 19, 
sec. 45). 
(b) Section 439 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C , 1946 edition, 
title 19, sec. 1439) is amended by deleting "the comptroller of customs 
for the district in which the port of entry is located" and substituting 
46 Stat. 712. 
508 
PUBUC LAW 243-AUG. 8, 1953 
[67 STAT. 
therefor "such employee as the Secretary of the Treasury shall desig-
nate", and by deleting "said comptroller of customs" and substituting 
therefor "such employee designated by the Secretary". 
(c) Section 440 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C, 1946 edition, 
46 Stat. 712. 
title 19, scc. 1440) is amended by deleting "the comptroller of customs 
for the district in which the port of entry is located" and substituting 
therefor "such employee as the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
designate". 
(d) Section 523 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C, 1946 edition, 
46 Stat. 740. 
^itle 19, scc. 1523) is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 523. EXAMINATION OF ACCOUNTS. 
"The Secretary of the Treasury or such officer or employee as he 
shall designate, shall, under regulations and instructions prescribed by 
the Secretary— 
"(1) examine the collectors' accounts of receipts and disburse-
ments of money and receipts and disposition of merchandise; and 
"(2) verify, to such extent as the Secretary of the Treasury 
shall direct, assessments of duties and taxes and allowances of 
drawback." 
EFFECTIVE 
DATES 
OF 
RATES 
OF 
DUTY 
SEC. 3. (a) Section 315 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
46 Stat. 695. 
(U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1315), is further amended to read 
as follows: 
"SEC. 
3
1
5
. 
EFFECTIVE 
DATES 
OF 
RATES 
OF 
DUTY. 
"(a) Except as otherwise specially provided for, the rate or rates 
of duty imposed by or pursuant to this Act or any other law on any 
article entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for 
consumption shall be the rate or rates in effect when the documents 
comprising the entry for consumption or withdrawal from warehouse 
for consumption and any estimated or liquidated duties then required 
to be paid have been deposited with the appropriate customs officer in 
the form and manner prescribed by regulations of the Secretary of 
the Treasury, except that— 
"(1) any article released under an informal mail entry shall 
be subject to duty at the rate or rates in effect when the prepara-
tion of the entry is completed; and 
"(2) any article which is not subject to a quantitative or 
tariff-rate quota and which is covered by an entry for imme-
diate transportation made at the port of original importation 
15 ^l^* l'*^* 
under section 552 of this Act, if entered for consumption at 
1Q TTCr^ 1CCO_ 
1 
• 
T
i
l
" 
1 ' 
' 
1 
the port designated by the consignee, or his agent, m such 
transportation entry without having been taken into the custody 
19 %^c ^^90 
^^ ^^^^ collector under section 490 of this Act, shall be subject 
to the rate or rates in effect when the transportation entry was 
accepted at the port of original importation. 
"(b) Any article which has been entered for consumption but 
which, before release from customs custody, is removed from the port 
or other place of intended release because of inaccessibility, over-
carriage, strike, act of God, or unforeseen contingency, shall be sub-
ject to duty at the rate or rates in effect when the entry for consumption 
and any required duties were deposited in accordance with subsection 
(a) of this section, but only if the article is returned to such port or 
])lace within ninety days after the date of removal and the identity 
of the article as that covered by the entry is established in accordance 
with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. 
"(c) Insofar as duties are based upon the quantity of any mer-
62 Stat. 344. 
cliaudise, such duties shall, except as provided in paragraph 813 and 
par. 813. 
19 use 1552. 
67 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 243-AUG. 8, 1953 
509 
section 562 of this Act (relating respectively to certain beverages and 
to manipulating warehouses), be levied and collected upon the quan-
tity of such merchandise at the time of its importation. 
"(d) No administrative ruling resulting in the imposition of a 
higher rate of duty or charge than the Secretary of the Treasury 
shall find to have been applicable to imported merchandise under an 
established and uniform practice shall be effective with respect to 
articles entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for 
consumption prior to the expiration of thirty days after the date of 
publication in the weekly Treasury Decisions of notice of such ruling; 
but this provision shall not apply with respect to the imposition of 
antidumping duties." 
(b) Section 484 (f) of the Tariif Act of 1930, as amended (U. S. C , 
1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1484 (f)), is further amended by changing 
the period at the end to a semicolon and adding "except that, in the 
case of articles not subject to a quantitative or tariff-rate quota, entry 
for the entire quantity covered by an entry for immediate transporta-
tion made under section 552 of this Act may be accepted at the port 
of entry designated by the consignee, or his agent, in such entry after 
the arrival of any part of such quantity at such designated port or 
at such other place of deposit as may be authorized in accordance with 
regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury." 
4 6 Stat. 745. 
19 u s e 1562. 
46 Stat. 723; 52 
Stat. 1083. 
46 Stat. 742. 
19 u s e 1552. 
MARKING 
SEC. 4. (a) Paragraphs 28, 354, 355, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, and 
1553 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C , 1946 edition, title 19, sec. 
1001, pars. 28, 354, 355, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, and 1553) are amended 
as follows: 
Paragraph 28 is amended by deleting from subparagraph (f) "the 
immediate container and". 
Paragraph 354 is amended by deleting the second proviso. 
Paragraphs 355, 357, 358, 359, 360, and 361 are amended by deleting 
the provisos. 
Paragraph 1553 is amended by deleting both provisos. 
(b) The following sections of the Revised Statutes are repealed: 
Revised Statutes 2934 (U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 19, sec. 134). 
Revised Statutes 2885 (U. S. C , 1946 edition, title 19, sec. 273). 
Revised Statutes 2886 (U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 19, sec. 274). 
(c) Section 304 (a) (3) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
(U. S. C , 1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1304 (a) (3)), is further amended 
by deleting "or" at the end of subdivision ( I ) ; by changing the period 
at the end of subdivision (J) to a semicolon and by adding "or"; and 
by adding a new subdivision (K) as follows: 
"(K) Such article cannot be marked after importation 
except at an expense which is economically prohibitive, and 
the failure to mark the article before importation was not 
due to any purpose of the importer, producer, seller, or ship-
per to avoid compliance with this section." 
46 Stat. 594. 
46 Stat. 618. 
46 Stat. 619,620. 
46 Stat. 671. 
Repeals. 
52 Stat. 1077. 
PROCEDURE FOR CUSTOMS EXAMINATION OF CERTAIN COMMODITIES 
SEC. 5. (a) Paragraph 391 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
(U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1001, par. 391), is further amended 
by changing the colon at the end of the first proviso to a period; and 
by amending the rest of the paragraph to read as follows: "The 
Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to make all necessary regula-
tions to enforce the provisions of this paragraph." 
46 Stat. 628. 
27000 O - 53 - 35 
510 
PUBLIC L
A
W 243-AUG. 8, 1953 
[67 STAT. 
(b) Paragraph 393 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (U. S. C , 
46 Stat. 628. 
1946 cditioii, title 19, sec. 1001, par. 393), is further amended by 
changing the colon at the end of the first proviso to a period; and by 
amending the rest of the paragraph to read as follows: "The Secre-
tary of the Treasury is authorized to make all necessary regulations 
to enforce the provisions of this paragraph." 
(c) Paragraph 783 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (U. S. C, 
46 Stat. 639. 
1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1001, par. 783), is amended by inserting 
" ( a ) " after "783." and by adding thereto the following new sub-
section : 
"(b) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, 
the staple length of cotton shall be determined for all customs pur-
poses by application of the Official Cotton Standards of the United 
States for length of staple, as established by the Secretary of Agri-
culture and in effect when the determination is to be made." 
REPEAL 
OF 
CERTAIN 
OBSOLETE 
RECIPROCAL 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 6. (a) Paragraph 812 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C, 1946 
46 Stat. 640. 
edition, title 19, sec. 1001, par. 812) is amended by deleting the proviso 
(relating to the importation of spirits in certain containers). 
(b) Section 320 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C , 1946 edition, title 
46 Stat. 696. 
19^ gee. 1320), relating to reciprocal agreements covering advertising 
matter, is repealed. 
AMERICAN GOODS RETURNED 
SEC. 7. Paragraph 1615 (f) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
52 Stat. 1092. 
(U. S. C , 1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1201, par. 1615 (f)), is further 
amended by adding at the end thereof the following new sentences: 
"When because of the destruction of customs records or for other cause 
it is impracticable to establish whether drawback was allowed, or 
to determine the amount of drawback allowed, on a reimported article 
excepted under subparagraph (e), there shall be assessed thereon 
an amount of duty equal to the estimated drawback and internal-
revenue tax which would be allowable or refundable if the imported 
merchandise used in the manufacture or production of the reimported 
article were dutiable or taxable at the rate applicable to such merchan-
dise on the date of importation, but in no case more than the duty 
and tax that would apply if the article were originally imported. In 
order to facilitate the ascertainment and collection of the duty pro-
vided for in this subparagraph, the Secretary of the Treasury is 
authorized to ascertain and specify the amounts of duty equal to 
drawback or internal-revenue tax which shall be applied to articles or 
classes or kinds of articles, and to exempt from the assessment of duty 
articles or classes or kinds of articles excepted under subparagraph 
(e) with repect to which the collection of such duty involves expense 
and inconvenience to the Government which is disproportionate to the 
probable amount of such duty." 
FREE ENTRY PROVISIONS FOR TRAVELERS 
SEC. 8. Paragraph 1798 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
46 Stat. 683. 
(U. S. C , 1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1201, par. 1798), is further amended 
to read as follows: 
"PAR. 1798. (a) Professional books, implements, instruments, and 
tools of trade, occupation, or employment, when imported by or for 
the account of any person arriving in the United States by whom 
or for whose account they were taken abroad. 
67 S T A T . ] 
P U B U C LAW 243-AUG. 8, 1953 
611 
"(b) In the case of any person arriving in the United States who is 
not a returning resident thereof— 
"(1) wearing apparel, articles of personal adornment, toilet 
articles, and similar personal effects; all the foregoing, if actually 
owned by and in the possession of such person abroad at the time 
of or prior to his departure for the United States, and if appropri-
ate for his own personal use and intended only for such use and 
not for any other person nor for sale; 
"(2) automobiles, trailers, aircraft, motorcycles, bicycles, baby 
carriages, boats, horse-drawn conveyances, horses, and similar 
means of transportation, and the usual equipment accompanying 
the foregoing; any of the foregoing imported in connection with 
the arrival of such person and to be used in the United States only 
for the transportation of such person, his family and guests, and 
such incidental carriage of articles as may be appropriate to his 
personal use of the conveyance; and 
"(3) not exceeding $200 in value of articles accompanying such 
a person who is in transit to a place outside United States customs 
territory and who will take the articles with him to such place. 
"(c) In the case of any person arriving in the United States who 
is a returning resident thereof— 
"(1) all personal and household effects taken abroad by him 
or for his account and brought back by him or for his account; 
and 
"(2) articles (including not more than one wine gallon of 
alcoholic beverages and not more than one hundred cigars) 
acquired abroad as an incident of the journey from which he is 
returning, for his personal or household use, but not imported for 
the account of any other person nor intended for sale, if declared 
in accordance with regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury, 
up to but not exceeding in aggregate value— 
"(A) $200, if such person arrives from a contiguous 
country which maintains a free zone or free port (see sub-
paragraph (d)), or arrives from any other country after hav-
ing remained beyond the territorial limits of the United 
States for a period of not less than forty-eight hours, and 
in either case has not claimed an exemption under this sub-
division (A) within the thirty days immediately preceding 
his arrival; and 
"(B) $300 in addition, if such person has remained 
beyond the territorial limits of the United States for a period 
of not less than twelve days and has not claimed an exemp-
tion under this subdivision (B) within the six months imme-
diately preceding his arrival. 
" (d) In the case of persons arriving from a contiguous country which 
maintains a free zone or free port, if the Secretary of the Treasury 
deems it necessary in the public interest and to facilitate enforcement 
of the requirement that the exemption shall apply only to articles 
acquired as an incident of the foreign journey, he shall prescribe by 
regulation or instruction, the application of which may be restricted 
to one or more ports of entry, that the exemption authorized by sub-
division (2) (A) of subparagraph (c) shall be allowed only to resi-
dents who have remained beyond the territorial limits of the United 
States for not less than a specified period, not to exceed twenty-four 
hours, and after the expiration of ninety days after the date of such 
regulation or instruction allowance of the said exemption shall be 
subject to the limitations so prescribed. 
512 
PUBLIC LAW 243-AUG. 8, 1953 
[67 STAT. 
"(e) Any article imported to replace a like article of comparable 
value previously exempted from duty under subdivision (c) of this 
paragraph shall be allowed free entry if the article previously exempted 
shall have been exported, under such supervision as the Secretary may 
prescribe, within sixty days after its importation because it was found 
by the importer to be unsatisfactory. 
"(f) All articles exempted by this paragraph from the payment of 
duty shall be exempt also from the payment of any internal-revenue 
tax imposed upon or by reason of importation. 
"(g) If any jewelry or similar articles of personal adornment hav-
ing a value of $300 or more which have been exempted from duty 
under subdivision (1) of subparagraph (b) or any article which 
has been exempted from duty under subdivision (2) (B) of subpara-
graph (c) is sold within three years after the date of importation, or 
if any article which has been exempted from duty under subdivision 
(2) of subparagraph (b) is sold within one year after the date of 
importation, without prior payment to the United States of the duty 
which would have been payable at the time of entry if the article had 
been entered without the benefit of this paragraph, such article, or its 
value (to be recovered from the importer), shall be subject to for-
feiture. A sale pursuant to a judicial order or in liquidation of the 
estate of a decedent shall not be subject to the provisions of this sub-
paragraph. 
"(h) The Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe methods and 
regulations for carrying out the provisions of this paragraph. 
No 
exemption provided for in this paragraph shall be applied to any 
article which is not declared in accordance with such regulations." 
FREE ENTRY FOR NONCOMMERCIAL EXHIBITIONS 
SEC. 9. (a) Paragraph 1809 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C, 1946 
46 Stat. 684. 
editiou, title 19, sec. 1201, par. 1809), is amended by inserting "within 
five years after the date of entry hereunder" after "used contrary to 
this provision"; by inserting "within such five-year period" after "at 
any time"; and by deleting "and the preceding". 
(b) The conditions of any bond in force on the effective date of 
this Act in respect of articles previously entered under the provisions 
of paragraph 1809 or the corresponding provisions of any Tariff Act 
prior to the Tariff Act of 1930 shall be deemed to have been satisfied 
upon the effective date of this Act or upon the expiration of five years 
from the date such articles were entered, whichever is later, except 
with respect to any violation which has occurred or which shall have 
occurred before such time. 
TEMPORARY FREE ENTRY FOR SAMPLES AND OTHER ARTICLES UNDER BOND 
SEC. 10. (a) (1) The part of section 308 of the Tariff Act of 1930, 
46 Stat. 690. 
as amended (U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1308), following the 
heading and preceding the numbered items is amended to read as 
follows: 
"The following articles, when not imported for sale or for sale 
on approval, may be admitted into the United States under such 
rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe, 
without the payment of duty, under bond for their exportation within 
one year from the date of importation, which period, in the discretion 
of the Secretary of the Treasury, may be extended, upon application, 
for one or more further j^eriods which, when added to the initial one 
year, shall not exceed a total of three years:". 
(2) The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall be effective with 
respect to articles imported before or after this section is enacted. 
67 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 243-AUG. 8, 1953 
513 
(b) Section 308 (3) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C, 1946 edition, 
title 19, sec. 1308 (3)) is amended by inserting immediately after the 
word "Samples" the following: "(but not including photoengraved 
printing plates imported to be reproduced)". 
(c) Section 308 (4) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C, 1946 edition, 
title 19, sec, 1308 (4)) is amended to read as follows: 
"(4) Articles intended solely for testing, experimental, or 
review purposes, including plans, specifications, drawings, blue-
prints, photographs, and similar articles for use in connection 
with experiments or for study, and upon satisfactory proof that 
any such article has been destroyed because of its use for any such 
\ 
purpose the obligation under such bond to export such articles 
shall be treated as satisfied;". 
(d) Section 308 (5) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (U. S. C , 
1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1308 (5)), is further amended to read as 
52 stat. 1079. 
follows: 
I 
"(5) Automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, airplanes, airships, 
1 
balloons, boats, racing shells, and similar vehicles and craft, and 
the usual equipment of the foregoing; all the foregoing which are 
brought temporarily into the United States by nonresidents for 
the purpose of taking part in races or other specific contests;". 
(e) Section 308 (7) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C, 1946 edi-
tion, title 19, sec. 1308 (7)), is amended to read as follows: 
•! 
"(7) Containers for compressed gases, filled or empty, and 
containers or other articles in use for covering or holding mer-
chandise (including personal or household effects) during trans-
portation and suitable for reuse for that purpose;". 
(f) Section 308 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (U. S. C , 
1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1308), is further amended by changing the stlf.^mg ^^°' ^^ 
period at the end thereof to a semicolon and adding the following new 
subdivisions: 
"(10) Animals and poultry brought into the United States for 
the purpose of breeding, exhibition, or competition for prizes, 
and the usual equipment therefor; 
"(11) Theatrical scenery, properties, and apparel brought into 
the United States by proprietors or managers of theatrical exhibi-
tions arriving from abroad for temporary use by them in such 
exhibitions; and 
"(12) Works of art, drawings, engravings, photographic pic-
tures, and philosophical and scientific apparatus brought into the 
United States by professional artists, lecturers, or scientists arriv-
ing from abroad for use by them for exhibition and in illustration, 
promotion, and encouragement of art, science, or industry in the 
United States." 
(g) Paragraph 1607 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C, 1946 edi-
tion, title 19, sec. 1201, par. 1607), is amended to read as follows: 
^^ stat. 673. 
"PAR. 1607. (a) Teams of animals, including their harness and 
tackle, and the wagons or other vehicles actually owned by persons 
•. 
! 
emigrating from foreign countries to the United States with their 
families, and in actual use for the purpose of such emigration, under 
such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe. 
"(b) Wild animals and birds intended for exhibition in zoological 
collections for scientific or educational purposes, and not for sale or 
profit." 
(h) Paragraph 1747 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C, 1946 edi-
tion, title 19, sec. 1201, par. 1747), is amended by changing the second 
"
^
^ ®
*
°
*
* ^^^' 
semicolon to a period and deleting the remainder of the paragraph. 
(i) Paragraph 1808 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C, 1946 edi- 
R«P««J; ^^^ 
tion, title 19, sec. 1201, par. 1808), is repealed. 
614 
PUBLIC LAW 243-AUG. 8, 1953 
[67 STAT. 
SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR VESSELS AND AIRCRAFT 
SEC. 11. (a) Subsections (a) and (b) of section 309 of the Tariff 
Act of 1930, as amended (U. S. C , 1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1309 (a) 
52 Stat. 1080,55 and (b)), relating to articles for certain vessels and aircraft, are fur-
tat. 602. 
^YiQY amended to read as follows: 
"(a) EXEMPTION FROM DUTIES AND TAXES.—^Articles of foreign or 
domestic origin may be w^ithdrawn, under such regulations as the Sec-
retary of the Treasury may prescribe, from any customs bonded ware-
house, from continuous customs custody elsew^here than in a bonded 
warehouse, or from a foreign-trade zone free of duty and internal-
revenue tax, or from any internal-revenue bonded warehouse, from 
any brewery, or from any winery premises or bonded premises for the 
storage of wine, free of internal-revenue tax— 
"(1) for supplies (not including equipment) of (A) vessels or 
aircraft operated by the United States, (B) vessels of the United 
States employed in the fisheries or in the whaling business, or 
actually engaged in foreign trade or trade between the Atlantic 
and Pacific ports of the United States or between the United 
States and any of its possessions, or (C) aircraft registered in 
the United States and actually engaged in foreign trade or trade 
between the United States and any of its possessions; or 
"(2) for supplies (including equipment) or repair of (A) 
vessels of war of any foreign nation, or (B) foreign vessels 
employed in the fisheries or in the whaling business, or actually 
engaged in foreign trade or trade between the United States 
and any of its possessions, where such trade by foreign vessels 
is permitted; or 
"(3) for supplies (including equipment), ground equipment, 
maintenance, or repair of aircraft registered in any foreign 
country and actually engaged in foreign trade or trade between 
the United States and any of its possessions, where trade by foreign 
aircraft is permitted. With respect to articles for ground equip-
ment, the exemption hereunder shall apply only to duties and to 
taxes imposed upon or by reason of importation. 
"(b) DRAWBACK.—Articles withdrawn from bonded warehouses, 
bonded manufacturing warehouses, continuous customs custody else-
where than in a bonded warehouse, or from a foreign-trade zone, and 
articles of domestic manufacture or production, laden as supplies upon 
any such vessel or aircraft of the United States or laden as supplies 
(including equipment) upon, or used in the maintenance or repair of, 
any such foreign vessel or aircraft, shall be considered to be exported 
within the meaning of the drawback provisions of this Act." 
(b) Section 317 (b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (U. S. C , 
52 Stat. 1081. 
1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1317 (b)), is amended to read as follows: 
"(b) The shipment or delivery of any merchandise for use as 
supplies (including equipment) upon, or in the maintenance or repair 
of any vessel or aircraft described in subdivision (2) or (3) of section 
Supra. 
309 (a) of this Act, or for use as ground equipment for any such 
aircraft, shall be deemed an exportation within the meaning of the 
customs and internal-revenue laws applicable to the exportation of 
such merchandise without the payment of duty or internal-revenue 
tax. 
With respect to merchandise for use as ground equipment, 
such shipment or delivery shall not be deemed an exportation within 
the meaning of the internal-revenue laws relating to taxes other than 
those imposed upon or by reason of importation." 
67 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 243-AUG. 8, 1953 
515 
(c) Section 3115 of the Revised Statutes, as amended (U. S. C , 
1946 edition, title 19, sec. 258), is further amended by— 
46 stat. 719. 
(1) striking out the comma at the end of paragraph (2) and 
inserting in lieu thereof "; or" and inserting after paragraph 
(2) the following new paragraph: 
"(3) That such equipments, or parts thereof, or materials, or 
labor, were used as dunnage for cargo, or for the packing or 
shoring thereof, or in the erection of temporary bulkheads or other 
similar devices for the control of bulk cargo, or in the preparation 
(without permanent repair or alteration) of tanks for the car-
riage of liquid cargo;"; and 
(2) striking out "such equipments" the last place it appears in 
such section and inserting in lieu thereof "such equipments or 
parts thereof or materials". 
DRAWBACK 
SEC. 12. (a) Section 313 (b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
(U. S. C , 1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1313 (b)), is further amended 
^s stat. 175. 
by deleting "one year" and substituting therefor "three years". 
(b) Section 313 (c) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C , 1946 
edition, title 19, sec. 1313 (c)), is amended by inserting "or shipped 
^^ ^
*
^
*
* ^^^' 
without the consent of the consignee" after "sample or specifications"; 
by deleting "thirty days" and substituting therefor "ninety days"; 
and by inserting "unless the Secretary authorizes in writing a longer 
time," following "after release from customs custody,". 
(c) Section 313 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (U. S. C, 
1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1313), is further amended by revising sub-
sections (h) and (i) thereof to read as follows: 
sttt^iieo^^'^' ^^ 
"(h) 
TIME LIMITATION ON EXPORTATION.—No drawback shall be 
allowed under the provisions of this section unless the completed article 
is exported within five years after importation of the imported 
merchandise. 
"(i) REGULATIONS.—Allowance of the privileges provided for in 
this section shall be subject to compliance with such rules and regula-
tions as the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe, which may 
include, but need not be limited to, the fixing of a time limit within 
which drawback entries or entries for refund under any of the provi-
sions of this section or section 309 (b) of this Act shall be filed and '^'***' ^' ^^'** 
completed, and the designation of the person to whom any refund 
or payment of drawback shall be made." 
ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTIONS 
SEC. 13. Section 321 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (U. S. C , 
1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1321), is amended to read as follows: 
52 stat. losi. 
"SEC. 321. ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTIONS. 
"(a) The Secretary of the Treasury, in order to avoid expense and 
inconvenience to the Government disproportionate to the amount of 
revenue that would otherwise be collected, is hereby authorized, 
under such regulations as he shall prescribe, to— 
"(1) disregard a difference of less than $3 between the total 
estimated duties or taxes deposited, or the total duties or taxes 
tentatively assessed, with respect to any entry of merchandise 
and the total amount of duties or taxes actually accruing thereon; 
and 
"(2) admit articles free of duty and of any tax imposed on or 
by reason of importation, but the aggregate value of articles 
616 
PUBLIC LAW 243-AUG. 8, 1953 
[67 S T A T . 
imported by one person on one day and exempted from the pay-
ment of duty shall not exceed— 
" (A) $10 in the case of articles sent as bona fide gifts from 
persons in foreign countries to persons in the United States, 
or 
"(B) $10 in the case of articles accompanying, and for 
the personal or household use of, persons arriving in the 
United States who are not entitled to any exemption from 
Ante, p. 511. 
(Juty or tax under paragraph 1798 (c) (2) of this Act, or 
"(C) $1 in any other case. 
The privilege of this subdivision (2) shall not be granted in any 
case in which merchandise covered by a single order or contract 
is forwarded in separate lots to secure the benefit of this subdivi-
sion (2). 
"(b) The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized by regulations 
to diminish any dollar amount specified in subsection (a) and to pre-
scribe exceptions to any exemption provided for in such subsection 
whenever he finds that such action is consistent with the purpose of 
such subsection or is necessary for any reason to protect the revenue 
or to prevent unlawful importations." 
INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC AND RESCUE WORK 
SEC. 14. The Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, is further amended by 
adding immediately following section 321 (U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 
19, sec. 1321) a new section reading as follows: 
"SEC. 322. INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC AND RESCUE WORK. 
"(a) Vehicles and other instruments of international traffic, of any 
class specified by the Secretary of the Treasury, shall be granted the 
customary exceptions from the application of the customs laws to such 
extent and subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed 
in regulations or instructions of the Secretary of the Treasury. 
"(b) The Secretary of the Treasury may provide by regulation or 
instruction for the admission, without entry and without the payment 
of any duty or tax imposed upon or by reason of importation, of— 
"(1) aircraft, equipment, supplies, and spare parts for use in 
searches, rescues, investigations, repairs, and salvage in connec-
tion with accidental damage to aircraft; 
"(2) fire-fighting and rescue and relief equipment and supplies 
for emergent temporary use in connection with conflagrations; and 
"(3) rescue and relief equipment and supplies for emergent 
temporary use in connection with floods and other disasters. 
Any articles admitted under the authority of this subsection and used 
otherwise than for a purpose herein expressed, or not exported in 
such time and manner as may be prescribed in the regulations or 
instructions herein authorized, shall be forfeited to the United States." 
SIGNING AND DELIVERY OF MANIFESTS 
SEC. 15. Section 431 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C , 1946 edition, 
46 Stat. 710. 
title 19, sec. 1431), is amended by designating the matter now therein 
as subsection (a) and by adding a new subsection to read as follows: 
"(b) Whenever a manifest of articles or persons on board an aircraft 
is required for customs purposes to be signed, or produced or delivered 
to a customs officer, the manifest may be signed, produced, or delivered 
by the pilot or person in charge of the aircraft, or by any other author-
ized agent of the owner or operator of the aircraft, subject to such 
regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe. 
If any 
irregularity of omission or commission occurs in any way in respect 
67 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 2 4 3 - A U G . 8, 1953 
517 
of any such manifest, the owner or operator of the aircraft shall be 
liable for any fine or penalty prescribed by law in respect of such 
irregularity." 
CERTIFIED INVOICES AND ENTRY OF MERCHANDISE 
SEC. 16. (a) Section 482 (a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C , 
1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1482 (a)), is amended by substituting "re- 
46 stat. 720. 
quired pursuant to section 484 (b) of this Act to be certified" for 
'*^''"* 
"covering merchandise exceeding $100 in value" in the first clause. 
(b) Section 484 (a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C, 1946 edition, 
title 19, sec. 1484 (a)), is amended by deleting "forty-eight hours" and 
*^ ^
*
^
*
* ^22. 
substituting therefor "five days". 
(c) Section 484 (b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C , 1946 edition, 
title 19, sec. 1484 (b)), is amended to read as follows: 
^^ s*«*- ^22. 
"(b) 
PRODUCTION OF CERTIFIED INVOICE.—The Secretary of the 
Treasury shall provide by regulation for the production of a certified 
invoice with respect to such merchandise as he deems advisable and for 
the terms and conditions under which such merchandise may be 
permitted entry under the provisions of this section without the pro-
duction of a certified invoice." 
(d) Section 498 (a) (1) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C , 1946 
edition, title 19, sec. 1498 (a) (1)) is amended to read as follows: 
'^^ ^
*
^
*
* ^^s. 
"(1) Merchandise, imported in the mails or otherwise, when 
the aggregate value of the shipment does not exceed such amount, 
not greater than $250, as the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
specify in the regulations, and the specified amount may vary for 
different classes or kinds of merchandise or different classes of 
(e) Section 498 (a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C, 1946 edition, 
title 19, sec. 1498 (a)) is further amended by deleting subdivision (11) 
46 stat. 728. 
and substituting therefor a new subdivision to read as follows: 
"(11) Merchandise within the provisions of paragraph 1631 
of this Act." 
(f) The Act "of June 8, 1896 (U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 19, sees. 
R«P««I-
472-475), is hereby repealed. 
29 stat. 263. 
VERIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS 
SEC. 17. Section 486 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C, 1946 edition, 
title 19, sec. 1486), is amended by changing the heading to read 
^^ ^*®*' ^^s. 
"SEC. 486. ADMINISTRATION OF OATfiS—VERIFICATION OF DOCU-
MENTS." 
and by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection: 
"(d) VERIFICATION IN LIEU OF OATH.—The Secretary of the Treas-
ury may by regulation prescribe that any document required by any 
law administered by the Customs Service to be under oath may be 
verified by a written declaration in such form as he shall prescribe, 
such declaration to be in lieu of the oath otherwise required." 
AMENDMENT OF ENTRIES 
SEC. 18. (a) Section 487 9f the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C , 1946 
edition, title 19, sec. 1487) is amended by deleting therefrom "or at 
*^ ^*«*' ^^s. 
any time before the invoice or the merchandise has come under the 
observation of the appraiser for the purpose of appraisement,". 
(b) Section 489 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C , 1946 edition, 
title 19, sec, 1489) is amended by deleting the first two paragraphs. 
^^ ^
*
^
*
* ^^s. 
(c) Section 501 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (U. S. C , 
1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1501), is further amended by changing the 
46 stat. 730. 
518 
PUBLIC LAW 243-AUG. 8, 1953 
[67 S T A T . 
period at the end of the first sentence to a comma and by inserting 
thereafter "or (3) in any case, if the consignee, his agent, or his attorney 
requests such notice in writing before appraisement, setting forth a 
substantial reason for requesting the notice.", by inserting in the 
second sentence after "appraiser" the clause ", including all determi-
nations entering into the same,", and by deleting the third sentence 
of the section. 
(d) Section 503 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C , 1946 edition, 
4 6 Stat. 731. 
title 19, sec. 1503), is amended by deleting subsection (b), by redesig-
nating subsection (c) as subsection (b), and by amending subsection 
(a) to read as follows: 
^"/'•o. 
" ( a ) 
GENERAL RULE.—Except as provided in section 562 of this 
Act (relating to withdrawal from manipulating warehouses), the 
basis for the assessment of duties on imported merchandise subject 
to ad valorem rates of duty shall be the final appraised value." 
Repeal. 
(g) The Act of July 12, 1932 (ch. 473, 47 Stat. 657; U. S. C , 1946 
edition, title 19, sec. 1503a), is repealed. 
(f) Section 562 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (U. S. C , 1946 
stlf.%7*7.^'*^' ^^ edition, title 19, sec. 1562), is further amended by changing the third 
sentence to read as follows: "The basis for the assessment of duties on 
such merchandise so withdrawn for consumption shall be the adjusted 
final appraised value, and if the rate of duty is based upon or regu-
lated in any manner by the value of the merchandise, such rate shall 
be based upon or regulated by such adjusted final appraised value." 
COMMINGLED MERCHANDISE 
SEC. 19. Section 508 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (U. S. C , 1946 edition, 
46 Stat. 732. 
title 19, sec. 1508) is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 508. COMMINGLING OF GOODS. 
"(a) Whenever dutiable merchandise and merchandise which is 
free of duty or merchandise subject to different rates of duty are so 
packed together or mingled that the quantity or value of each class of 
such merchandise cannot be readily ascertained by the customs officers 
(without physical segregation of the shipment or the contents of any 
entire package thereof), by one or more of the following means: 
(1) Examination of a representative sainple, (2) occasional verifica-
tion of packing lists or other documents filed at the time of. entry, or 
(3) evidence showing performance of commercial settlement tests 
generally accepted in the trade and filed in such time and manner 
as may be prescribed by regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury, 
and if the consignee or his agent shall not segregate the merchandise 
E
ursuant to subsection (b), then the whole of such merchandise shall 
e subject to the highest rate of duty applicable to any part thereof. 
"(b) Every segregation of mechandise made pursuant to this sec-
tion shall be accomplished by the consignee or his agent at the risk 
and expense of the consignee within thirty days after the date of 
personal delivery or mailing, by such employee as the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall designate, of written notice to the consignee that the 
merchandise is commingled, unless the Secretary authorizes in writ-
ing a longer time. 
Every such segregation shall be accomplished 
under customs supervision, and the compensation and expenses of the 
supervising customs officers shall be reimbursed to the Government by 
the consignee under such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury 
may prescribe. 
67 S T A T . ] 
P U B U C LAW 2 4 3 - A U G . 8, 1953 
519 
"(c) The foregoing provisions of this section shall not apply with 
respect to any part of a shipment if the consignee or his agent shall 
furnish, in such time and manner as may be prescribed by regulations 
of the Secretary of the Treasury, satisfactory proof (1) that such part 
(A) is commercially negligible, (B) is not capable of segregation 
without excessive cost, and (C) will not be segregated prior to its 
use in a manufacturing process or otherwise, and (2) that the com-
mingling was not intended to avoid the payment of lawful duties or 
any part thereof. Any merchandise with respect to which such proof 
is furnished shall be considered for all customs purposes as a part of the 
merchandise, subject to the next lower rate of duty (including a free 
rate^, with which it is commingled. 
"(d) The foregoing provisions of this section shall not apply with 
respect to any shipment if the consignee or his agent shall furnish, 
in such time and manner as may be prescribed by regulations of the 
Secretary of the Treasury, satisfactory proof (1) that the value of the 
commingled merchandise is less than the aggregate value would be if 
the shipment were segregated; (2) that the snipment is not capable of 
segregation without excessive cost and will not be segregated prior 
to its use in a manufacturing process or otherwise; and (3) that the 
commingling was not intended to avoid the payment of lawful duties 
or any part thereof. Any merchandise with respect to which such 
proof is furnished shall be considered for all customs purposes to 
be dutiable at the rate (including a free rate) applicable to the material 
present in greater quantity than any other material." 
CORRECTION OF ERRORS AND MISTAKES 
SEC. 20. Subdivisions (1) and (2) of section 520 (c) of the Tariff 
Act of 1930, as amended (U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1520 (c)), 52 stat. lose. 
are further amended to read as follows: 
" (1) a clerical error, mistake of fact, or other inadvertence not 
amounting to an error in the construction of a law, adverse to the 
importer and manifest from the record or established by docu-
mentary evidence, in any entry, liquidation, appraisement, or 
other customs transaction, when the error, mistake, or inadvert-
ence is brought to the attention of the customs service within one 
year after the date of entry, appraisement, or transaction, or 
within sixty days after liquidation or exaction when the liquida-
tion or exaction is made more than ten months after the date of 
the entry, appraisement, or transaction; or 
"(2) any assessment of duty on household or personal effects 
in respect of which an application for refund has been filed, with 
such employee as the Secretary of the Treasury shall designate, 
within one year after the date of entry." 
TRANSFERS OF GOODS I N BONDED WAREHOUSE 
SEC. 21. (a) Section 557 (b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
(U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1557 (b)), is further amended to 
52 stat. los?. 
read as follows: 
"(b) The right to withdraw any merchandise entered in accordance 
with subsection (a) of this section for the purposes specified in such 
subsection may be transferred upon compliance with regulations pre-
scribed by the Secretary of the Treasury and upon the filing by the 
520 
PUBLIC LAW 243-AUG. 8, 1953 
[67 STAT. 
transferee of a bond in such amount and containing such conditions 
as the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe. 
The bond shall 
include an obligation to pay, with respect to the merchandise the sub-
ject of the transfer, all unpaid regular, increased, and additional 
duties, all unpaid taxes imposed upon or by reason of importation, and 
all unpaid charges and exactions. 
Such transfers shall be irrevocable, 
shall relieve the transferor from all customs liability with respect to 
obligations assumed by the transferee under the bond herein provided 
for, and shall confer upon the transferee all rights to the privileges 
1563."^^ ^5^2, provided for in this section and in sections 562 and 563 of this Act 
which were vested in the transferor prior to the transfer. 
The trans-
feree shall also have the right to receive all lawful refunds of moneys 
paid by him to the United States with respect to the merchandise the 
subject of the transfer, but shall have no right to file any protest under 
19 use 1514. 
section 514 of this Act except as to decisions with respect to his rights 
under subsection (c) of this section or under section 562 or 563 of this 
Act or against a decision as to the rate or amount of duty, tax, charge, 
or exaction when such rate or amount has been changed by statute or 
proclamation on or after the date of the transfer. 
The transferee 
shall have no right to file an appeal for reappraisement under sec-
19 use 1501. 
tion 501 of this Act, except when subsequent to the transfer and before 
a withdrawal for consumption has been deposited for the merchandise, 
it has been changed in condition pursuant to the provisions of sec-
1311."^^ 15 6 2, tion 562 or 311 of this Act in a manner which necessitates that it be 
appraised in its changed condition in order that the correct amount 
of duties may be assessed. 
No new or separate liquidation, reliquida-
tion, or determination shall be made in the name of, or on behalf of, 
a transferee, except with regard to any matter which may arise under 
subsection (c) of this section or section 562 or 563 of this Act when 
the transferee has invoked either of these sections, and in the case of a 
statutory or proclaimed change in the rate of duty, tax, charge, or 
exaction applicable to the merchandise the subject of the transfer and 
effective on or after the date of the transfer. 
A transferee may further 
transfer the right to withdraw merchandise, subject to the provisions 
of this subsection relating to original transfers." 
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the fore-
going subsection (a) shall be effective with respect to merchandise 
entered after the date of the enactment of this Act and to merchandise 
which has been entered before that date and is the subject of a transfer 
Ante, p. 519. 
Within the purview of section 557 (b) of the Tariff Act, as amended 
by this Act, and made after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
CUSTOMS SUPERVISION 
SEC. 22. The Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, is further amended by 
46 Stat. 761. 
adding following section 645 (U. S. C, 1946 edition, title 19, sec. 1645) 
a new section 646, reading as follows: 
"SEC. 646. CUSTOMS SUPERVISION. 
"Wherever in this Act any action or thing is required to be done 
or maintained under the supervision of customs officers, such super-
vision may be direct and continuous or by occasional verification as 
may be required by regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury, or, 
in the absence of such regulations for a particular case, as the prin-
cipal customs officer concerned shall direct." 
67 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 245-AUG. 8, 1953 
521 
SAVING CLAUSE 
SEC. 23. Except as may be otherwise provided for in this Act, the 
repeal of existing law or modifications thereof embraced in this Act 
shall not affect any act done, or any right accruing or accrued, or 
any suit or proceeding had or commenced in any civil or criminal 
case prior to such repeal or modification, but all liabilities under such 
laws shall continue, except as otherwise specifically provided in this 
Act, and may be enforced in the same manner as if such repeal or 
modification had not been made. 
Approved August 8, 1953. 
Public Law 244 
CHAPTER 398 
AN ACT 
To aiueufl section 47c of the National Defense Act. 
August 8.1953 
[H. R. 6039] 
Be it enacted hy the Se7iate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of Atnerica in Congress assembled, That section 47c 
of the National Defense Act, as amended (10 U. S. C. 383, 384, 385a, 
386a, 387, 387a, 443), is further amended by changing the period at 
the end thereof to a semicolon and adding the follow'ing: '•^Provided 
further, That, to the extent provided in regulations prescribed by the 
Secretary of the Army, military training in the junior division, 
Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or military training at an educa-
tional institution conducted under section 55c of the National Defense 
Act; as amended (10 U. S. C. 1180, 1181), when either is received 
under the direction of an officer of the Army on active duty detailed 
to such institution as a professor of military science and tactics, or 
under the direction of a retired or Reserve officer of the Army not on 
active duty employed by such institution as an instructor of military 
science and tactics with the approval of the Secretary of the Army, 
may be credited toward completion of the two academic years of 
service in the senior division, Reserve Officers' Training Corps, 
required for admission to the advanced course of that division and for 
commutation of subsistence, as provided for herein, if the military 
training received is substantially equivalent to that for which credit 
is to be allowed." 
SEC. 2. The Act of September 8, 1916 (ch. 478, 39 Stat. 853; 10 
U. S. C. 388), is hereby repealed. 
Approved August 8, 1953. 
Armed Forces. 
ROTC training. 
41 Stat. 7 78. 
10 u s e 443. 
41 Stat. 780. 
Repeal. 
Public Law 245 
CHAPTER 399 
AN ACT 
To amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to 
extend until June 30, 1954, the period during which the General Services 
Administration may conduct negotiated sales of surplus property. 
August 8, 1953 
[H. R. 6382] 
Be it etiacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 203 (e) 
of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, 
as amended (40 U. S. C., sec. 484 (e)), is amended by striking out 
''June 30, 1953" and inserting in lieu thereof "June 30, 1954". 
Approved August 8, 1953. 
Surplus property 
disposal. 
66 Stat. 5 93.