New US security rule

From midnight on Tuesday October 14th, all laden maritime containers in transit to the US must be sealed with a high security seal that meets the ISO standard ISO/PAS 17712. Failure to follow the new rules could earn forwarders and shippers a significant fine.

At present, non-laden and non-standard containers, e.g. open-top and tank containers, are considered exempt from these requirements.

The rule does not only apply to containers destined for the US, but also containers transiting the US en route to a third country.

In general terms, the standard requires that the seal meets or exceeds certain standards for strength and durability and be clearly marked with a unique identification number

Carriers are obliged to transmit all seal numbers to US Customs Border Protection (CBP) 24 hours before cargo is loaded on board a vessel at a foreign port, via the Vessel Automated Manifest System (AMS).

What is SISCARGA

The Brazilian Government has decided to unify the current manifest reporting system, “Merchante” (for imports) and “Siscomex” (for exports) into a new and unique system called “SISCOMEX CARGA”.

The system will serve to control and audit Brazilian cargoes loaded, trans-shipped or discharged on any vessel.

Below is a summary of the main requirements of “SISCARGA”:

* Exports from Brazil (Shipping Instruction cutoff is 72 working hours before the vessel’s arrival at the port of loading):

* Full shippers' name and address, related to company filled in Shipper' bill of lading section;

* Shipper's CNPJ or CPF (Federal Revenue - Tax payers Register Number for companies or individuals, respectively), as per the section "Shipper" in the bill of lading, under status "active" in Custom House Bureau;

* Merchandise to be measured in cubic meters (m³) and specified in packaging (if pallets, cases, big bags, etc);

* Merchandise gross weight in kilos (container tare to be excluded);

* Cargo NCM (International Harmonized Tariff Code), 4 (four) first digits (position) or optionally 8 (eight) digits (complete sub-item code), for each merchandise item stuffed into the container;

* It is imperative that the information inserted in the "DRAFT" is accurate, once SISCARGA does not permit any data alteration after its register in the system. Should any correction after data transmission be necessary, same will be subjected to penalties per bill of lading.

Note: As regards the export cargo manifests, they must be filed with Customs up to 8 hours (without fail) before vessel's arrival in each calling port.

* For the import cargoes, transfer, transshipment or containers in transit, coming from overseas, it is mandatory that all bills of lading issued by respective agents from origin contain the following information:

* Full consignee and notify name/address, as per corresponding fields in bills of lading sections;

* Consignee and notify CNPJ or CPF (Federal Revenue Register Number for companies or individuals, respectively), as per the respective bill of lading fields, under status "active" in the Customs House Bureau registers. Whenever the consignee is a foreigner, the identification will be made by means of complete full style;

* To order" BL is acceptable though,shippper have to inform the actual shipper by the time mentioned above.

* Merchandise to be measured in cubic meters (m³) and specified in packaging (crates, pallets, cases, big bags, etc);