Obviously, the concern about terrorism after 911 has had a tremendous effect on importing and exporting worldwide. Being unaware of several new pieces of legislation, such as the Bio Terrorism Act (BTA), that could potentially result in costly delays in the release of cargo.

However, a qualified customs broker or freight forwarder should be up-to-date on new policy changes and requirements. Nevertheless, shippers must be prepared for new regulations resulting from changing world events.

US Customs regulations are constantly changing. Particularly since 911, it has been almost impossible for importers to keep up with all the changes. To do so would require a significant investment in time and effort.

A couple of hot spots we’ve noticed are new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines for the importation of textiles and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) procedure changes regarding wood packing material, and US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) prior notices on food shipments.

Recently, we heard about a shipping nightmare involving an importer and the improper treatment of palletized wood. A problem of this nature could result in a shipment being returned to the country of origin at the shipper’s expense.  

Penalties for US Customs violations vary greatly. Unfortunately, some can be devastating to importers. It is more important than ever for importers to careful about being cited for negligence.

In short, regulations across the board are being strictly enforced. Furthermore, the shipper is expected to shoulder more responsibility for compliance, with little recourse for costly mistakes.

To avoid unnecessary and expensive situations, it is critical that shippers provide US Customs with proper documentation in a timely manner. Failure to present the required information in the designated timeframe can result in monetary fines and civil litigation.