30
May
CBP has released a Southern Currents describing the requirement for FIRMS Code for “in-bond” shipments.
(In Bond Shipment Law and Legal Definition. “In-bond” shipment refers to import or export shipment which has not been cleared by customs and is transported, stored, or handled with security to the government provided by indemnity bonds.)
Note the following:
“Trade partners in the New Orleans Area should ensure that any facility where in-bonds are arrived within the port have an assigned FIRMS code.
Any facility where in-bonds are arrived within the port should endeavor to have all FIRMS codes recorded and active in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) by the end of July 2018.”
Also note:
Bonded facilities already have FIRMS codes.
Those facilities that are not bonded may not yet have a FIRMS code, but will need one.
Notice to the Area Port of New Orleans Trade Community
Date: May 30, 2018
No.: 18-031
SUBJECT: FIRMS Code Establishment for all In-Bond Arrival Facilities
The purpose of this trade notice is to provide guidance to port partners to ensure the effective implementation of the new regulatory reporting requirements for arrival of in-bonds scheduled for enforcement in early August of 2018. One of the new regulatory requirements established in the publication in the Federal Register of September 28, 2017 was for the trade to include, as a data element of a mandated electronic arrival of in-bonds, the Facility Information Resource Management System (FIRMS) code where the goods will be arrived at the destination port. The FIRMS code is required to allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) the ability to identify the specific location where shipments are arrived to allow for verification at arrival. While many facilities already have a FIRMS code, some do not.
It is important to note that while all bonded facilities currently have an assigned FIRMS code, in-bond freight is not required to be arrived at only bonded facilities. As a result, additional FIRMS codes will need to be assigned to ensure that correct reporting is enabled. Some examples of facilities and locations where FIRMS codes may be required include:
- Ocean Terminals
- Air Carrier Facilities
- Container Freight Stations (CFS) and Centralized Examination Stations (CES)
- Trucking and Rail inland terminal facilities and yards
- Importers facilities where entered goods are delivered directly
- Any other location where shipments are arrived pending release to the importer
Trade partners in the New Orleans Area should ensure that any facility where in-bonds are arrived within the port have an assigned FIRMS code. Any facility where in-bonds are arrived within the port should endeavor to have all FIRMS codes recorded and active in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) by the end of July 2018.
For assistance in establishing a FIRMS code please contact Officer Robert F. Schaff via email at robert.f.schaffiii@cbp.dhs.gov or via office telephone at (504) 670-2156.
Direct questions or concerns to Chief Denise Emmer at denise.emmer@cbp.dhs.gov or via office telephone at (504) 670-2052.
