The US Customs Service has introduced a new '24-hour Vessel Manifest Rule' designed to ensure that US-bound cargo is free from weapons of mass destruction.
The new system, which came into effect on February 2, requires exporters to file a cargo declaration, 24 hours in advance of a vessel's berthing.
Failure to provide the cargo information in advance of landing can result in penalties, liquidated damages, denial of loading at a foreign port or denial of permisison for cargo to be downloaned upon arrival in the US, said the US Embassy Customs Attache, James Dozier.
Begining with cargo descriptions, Customs will begin to issue 'do not load' messages on those bills.
Customs Headquarters will be the only ones authorising the 'do not load' messages, although the actual message will come from the local port, he added.
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