Importer Security Filing (ISF)
"10 + 2" and "5+2"
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) has issued new regulations implementing
the “Importer Security Filing and Additional Carrier Requirements,” the so-called “10 + 2
Rule.” The new Importer Security Filing (“ISF”) program applies to all goods shipped
to the United States ONLY via vessel. The cargo that does require the ISF filing will require the
submission of certain data elements to CBP minimum 24 hours prior to loading the cargo
on the vessel. The new ISF program became effective on January 26th, 2009 however it
has been under a “flexible enforcement period” until January 25th, 2010. From January
25th, 2010 onward the ISF filing will be a legal requirement and subject to full
enforcement. The ISF program will be an additional and secondary pre-sailing electronic
filing in addition to the existing Automated Manifest System (AMS) 24 Hour Rule.
ISF 10 Basic Requirements For merchandise which is destined to be entered into the
United States or placed into a foreign trade zone inside the U.S., importers or their
agents (i.e. U.S. Customs Brokers) must transmit the following data elements to CBP
through either the Automated Broker Interface software used by U.S. Customs Brokers
(“ABI”) or Automated Manifest System used by NVOCC’s (“AMS”) electronic data
systems:
1. Manufacturer (or supplier) name & address;
2. Seller name & address;
3. Buyer name & address;
4. Ship to name & address;
5. Container stuffing location;
6. Consolidator name & address;
7. Importer of record number;
8. Consignee number;
9. Country of origin of goods; and
10. Commodity HTS number(s) (6 digits).