10 + 2 = Big Changes

(DC Velocity – Toby Gooley)

Customs’ proposed “10 + 2” rule would have a profound effect on importers’ operations. Here’s what to expect

If you’ve been thinking of Customs’ proposed importer Security Filing (ISF) rule as just another post-9/11 exercise in information gathering, think again.

On the face of it, the proposed rule—popularly known as “10 + 2” because it requires 10 data sets from importers and two additional sets from ocean carriers—is indeed about collecting information for security purposes. When it issued the proposal, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said its aim was to learn more about imports and their origins, intermediate stops, and final destinations in order to screen cargo for security risks.

But data collection may be just the tip of the regulatory iceberg. Although the final rule has not yet been issued, most observers agree that 10 + 2 will lead to big changes in importers’ day-to-day operations as well as their supply chain relationships. Here’s a look at what may lie ahead, and what you can do now to be ready when the rule does take effect. Read the complete article.