In October of 2006, The United States Congress enacted the Safe Port Act of 2006. This new law went into effect on January 26, 2009 (please see note at the bottom). Among other provisions, the law requires Customs to collect more information about Import Shipments than is already included with AMS. Customs will require Ocean Shipment details to be filed 24 hours in advance of vessel loading beyond what is currently required by the Advance Manifest System (24 Hour Rule). 

The 10 + 2 will be implemented through a program called ISF or Importer Security Filing. Please be aware that the terminology ISF and the 10 + 2 Rule are used interchangeable and imply the same rule Similar to AMS and ABI, as you know AMS is filed through the steamship lines, and ABI is filed through the customs house brokerage stateside, likewise ISF will be filed through the forwarder, most likely the filing will take place on the shippers side for the sake of the local availability/accessibility of information.  

In other words, the consequences of failing to make an ISF will result in the container being blocked from loading the vessel. Incorrect information on the ISF will result in a penalty of $5000 per incident to the consignee of the freight. 

In order to comply with the new rules, The following elements will be required twenty four hours before sailing (10 elements must be provided by shipper/consignee/freight forwarder, in other words it will be our responsibility to file on behalf of our clients, but the responsibility of gathering the correct information will fall on the consignee):

• Manufacturer name and address
• Seller name and address
• Consolidator name and address
• Container stuffing location
• Buyer name and address
• Delivery Location
• Importer Number
• Consignee Number
• Country of Origin
• Harmonized Tariff Schedule Number

In addition, the following two elements will be required within 48 hours of vessel departure from the last foreign port (+2 elements must be provided by steamshiplines via AMS):

• Vessel Stowe Plan
• Container Status

NOTE: 

Currently, as of January 21, 2009, this program has been put on hold through a Presidential Order from the White House essentially halting the implementation of the 10 + 2 Rule. The 10 + 2 Rule will be under official review taking into consideration the legality and policy rules of the aspects which will be changed from the procedures which are currently in place.