Volume 1, Issue 1

February 12, 2009 Current events in Freight Forwarding

Automated Export System/AES

Mandatory Compliance Begins on 02/01/2009
The United States government has been requiring electronic You can also authorize an agent to prepare and file the EEI for you.
submission of exporter shipment information for years now. They have If this is the option you choose, you would be responsible to:
been under informed compliance and encouraging exporters and *Provide your authorized agent with timely and accurate
freight forwarders to comply prior to export or consequently, face fines information;
and penalties. As of February 1, 2009, they have changed to mandatory
compliance and have been advising the export trade community of the *Provide your authorized agent with a Power of Attorney or
potential for fines and penalties. written authorization to file the EEI on your behalf; AND

Below is a brief of the Federal Register/Vol. 73, No. 106. *Retain documentation to support that you provided the
information to the authorized agent.
The Federal regulations call for civil penalties for $1,000.00 to
$10,000.00 for failure to comply. Benchmark Export or any other authorized agent is responsible to:

As the exporter, the United States Principal Party in Interest (USSPI),
there are certain responsibilities that you are responsible for and
certain responsibilities that your authorized agents have.
First, you can prepare and file the Electronic Export Information (EEI) by
yourself. If you are interested, the website is www.aesdirect.gov. We
can also assist if you have questions on how to get started on filing
directly.
*Prepare and file the accurate and timely information received;
*Obtain a Power of Attorney or written authorization; AND
*Provide the USSPI with a copy of the EEI upon request.
The guidelines do allow for a routed export transaction and the
guidelines can be forwarded upon request.

U.S. Customs Program

There is a new U.S. Customs program that has
been implemented and is in force for all ocean
shipments bound to the USA from January 26,
2009 and forward. The Importer Security Filing
(ISF) is also called the 10 + 2 program. The
requirement is the responsibility of the importer
of record.
The information deals with your responsibilities
as the importer of record and the need to have
suppliers send you the information 24 to 48
hours prior to loading the vessel. Once they send
the information to you, please have them put
Benchmark in copy so we can receive the
information, and submit to customs on your The main additional items are the
behalf. Customs will send us an approval number information prior to loading the vessel and
which we will supply back to you and the supplier the location of the cargo loading procedures.
so that they can provide to the carrier prior to
sailing. Attached is a copy of the 10 + 2 Customs
form.
Customs has advised they will not be issuing
fines at this point, but they are requiring this
information. Many of the carriers will not load
your goods without the approval number. We are
advising our clients to be proactive and require
the information from their suppliers. This will
avoid fines and penalties and delays in your cargo
shipments.
Volume 1, Issue 1
Cargo Screening Updated Procedure Information
U.S. Congress has passed laws requiring
the 100% screening of all cargo on
Passenger aircrafts by 2010 and an interim
minimum screening requirement of 50%.
There are many aspects of the mandated
rules and regulations that have been
passed, and by law we are not at liberty to
discuss them openly nor are the carriers.
The main aspects of the regulations and the
new screening procedures that are required
include the additional requirements for
cargo handling, banding, wrapping, along
with record keeping, security, monitoring,
training, and also intense cargo screening.
We are being told there should not be any
major delays by
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the carriers, but cargo that does not meet By all means, please feel free to advise
proper screening and documentation will be them on a need to know basis. It is all of us
considered not ready for transport. The in the trade community that will need to
shipment will be rejected or not eligible for work together and communicate openly so
transport on a passenger aircraft. we can meet the challenges of meeting the
security and screening regulations.
Our clients and their customers should be
aware of the potential for delays that will be
beyond their control and the possibility for
delays and problems. There will be
additional costs placed upon you as you
need to be prepared for the additional
packaging, labeling, and handling
procedures internally and also those placed
by the air carriers as they administer these
screening requirements.