U. S CUSTOMS & BORDER PROTECTION NEWS RELEASE

Electronic Manifest Filing Becomes Mandatory

April 17, 2007 -- News Release

Electronic Manifest Filing Becomes Mandatory in California, New Mexico and Texas

WASHINGTON—Effective April 19, truck carriers entering the United States through all land border ports of entry in California, New Mexico, and Texas will be required to transmit advance electronic truck cargo information or e-manifest through U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s truck manifest system. This expansion means that e-manifest will be required at all southern land border ports.

“The implementation of a mandatory e-manifest policy is just one of many steps CBP is taking to fulfill its twin goals of ensuring border security and facilitating legitimate trade,” said Lou Samenfink, executive director for CBP’s Cargo Systems Program Office. “With advance access to truck cargo information, CBP officers are able to pre-screen trucks and shipments, and dedicate more time to inspecting suspicious cargo without delaying the border crossings of legitimate carriers.”

Beginning April 19, CBP intends to exercise enforcement discretion in the form of informed compliance notices to carriers who arrive without submitting or attempting to submit an e-manifest. This enforcement discretion will last for at least 60 days and will be followed by enforcement action against carriers who fail to participate. These actions will take the form of a denial of permission to proceed into the United States or monetary penalties of up to $10,000 for violation of the Trade Act of 2002.

CBP intends, for a short period of time during this first enforcement phase, to continue to exercise limited enforcement discretion for those carriers attempting to file e-manifests. Following this period of transition, CBP will begin enforced compliance.

The truck manifest system is part of CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment.

For more information on CBP’s enforcement plan, please visit the CBP Modernization Web site. (ACE e-Manifest/Trade Act Enforcement Plan – Cluster 2)

Future requirements of e-manifest filing for other land border ports of entry will be announced through the Federal Register at least 90 days in advance of implementation.

For information on ACE, e-mail CBP.CSPO@dhs.gov or visit the CBP Modernization Web site. (ACE: Modernization Information Systems)

-CBP-
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.