Meeting Minutes FAQWG 12/09/03

Customs and Border Protection:

-Neil Shannon advised that new FDA Bio-terrorism rules effective 12/12/03 will be entitled to a four month period of informed compliance, followed by an intermediate stage of unknown duration, before any enforced compliance actions will be taken.

-So far, one facility has been approved by FDA for the purpose of holding FDA shipments for which an unacceptable Prior Notice was received. It is hoped that a list of approved FDA facilities will be published sometime soon. The CBP contact for the new FDA Bio-terrorism rules is Mary Fischbach. She may be reached directly at 410-962-4472.

-Neil reminded the trade that although the Section 201 sanctions have been removed effective for all shipments released 12/5 and later, that any item that required a license will still require a license.

-Baltimore now has an unmanned CES, Baltimore International Warehouse. By now, all members should have the information notice and fee structure.

-Brokers inquired about administrative messages 03-2794, 03-2760, and 03-2763 which addressed new ocean bill of lading reporting requirements. The new requirements will now become effective on 01/10/04 and will require filers to report the master bill of lading number in the entry transmission. Neil advises that CBP has had some difficulty matching up ABI entry data that reference only AMS house bl data submitted by NVO's under the 24 hour requirement. Therefore, in 2004 CBP will require that ABI entry transmissions reference the carriers master bill, even though the NVO transmitted a house bill via AMS for the shipment. Therefore it is recommended that filers transmit the house bill, as well as the master. Customs may only look at the master for the purpose of releasing cargo, but a carrier using AMS would still see the transmission of the AMS bill, which may be the house bill.

Food and Drug Administration: Not present

Maryland Port Administration:

Belts Warehouse:

Baltimore Maritime Exchange: