W R Zanes & Co of La., Inc.

ATTENTION: IMPORTERS

FIRST SALE DECLARATIONS
The transaction value of imported merchandise may be determined by the first or earlier sale of the goods:
First Sale Declaration - Section of Law
First Sale Declaration - Federal Register
First Sale Declaration - Grace Period

SOFTWOOD LUMBER ACT OF 2008 - Enforcement effective Sept. 18, 2008
For products of softwood lumber and products made of softwood lumber, such as building materials and pre-fab housing (with exceptions). On Sept 18 Customs will enforce this legislation. There is a $10,000 penalty for unlawful entry:
Softwood Lumber Act of 2008 (10 pages)
Softwood Lumber - Federal Register
Highlights of SWLA 2008
Implementation Instructions
Sample 7501 for SWLA 2008
Export Charges on ITA website: http://ia.ita.doc.gov/sla2008/sla-index.html
Export Charges for Canada
Grace Period - enforcement start date moved to 09/18/08

WOOD PACKAGING
Final phase of Wood Packaging Regulations compliance went into effect July 05, 2006. Customs warning is included in the implementation document below (second link). Shipments will be exported at Importers expense. Customs Officers have already ordered some shipments exported. Read how this may affect your international transactions.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/priority_trade/agriculture/wpm/
Phase III Implementation of WPM Regulations
Guidelines for Regulating WPM in International Trade

WPM Penalty Phase effective 03/09/07
READ THIS > 070308 NR WPM Penalty Phase Begins.pdf (192KB)

CUSTOMS HAS REQUESTED WE ADVISE YOU OF THE FOLLOWING, IN THE INTEREST OF MINIMIZING SECURITY THREATS UNDER OUR CUSTOMS BROKERAGE C-TPAT PROGRAM. YOU SHOULD EXPLORE THE BENEFITS OF C-TPAT FOR YOUR INTERNATIONAL TRADE OPERATIONS.

CONTAINER SECURITY - OCEAN
You should ask your carriers or consolidators to ensure that all contracted service providers have procedures in place to maintain container integrity. Container integrity must be maintained to protect against the introduction of unauthorized material and/or persons. At point of stuffing, procedures must be in place to properly seal and maintain the integrity of the shipping containers. A high security seal must be affixed to all loaded C-TPAT importer containers bound for the U.S. All seals must meet or exceed the current PAS ISO 17712 standards for high security seals.

Container Inspection
Procedures must be in place to verify the physical integrity of the container structure prior to stuffing, to include the reliability of the locking mechanisms of the doors. A seven-point inspection process is recommended for all containers:

Front wall
Left side
Right side
Ceiling/Roof
Inside/Outside doors
Outside/Undercarriage

Container Seals
Your carriers’ and consolidators’ written procedures must stipulate how seals are to be controlled and affixed to loaded containers. Their procedures must be in place for recognizing and reporting compromised seals and/or containers to U.S. Customs and Border Protection or the appropriate foreign authority. Only designated employees should distribute container seals for integrity purposes.

Container Storage
Your carriers’ and consolidators’ containers must be stored in a secure area to prevent unauthorized access and/or manipulation. Procedures must be in place for reporting and neutralizing unauthorized entry into containers or container storage areas.

CONTAINER SECURITY - AIR
Your airlines’ or air consolidators’ cargo container integrity must be maintained to protect against the introduction of unauthorized material and/or persons. At point of stuffing, their procedures must be in place to verify cargo containers are properly secured.

Container Inspection
Airlines and air consolidators procedures must be in place to verify the physical integrity of the cargo containers prior to stuffing. An inspection process is recommended for all containers:

Top
Bottom
Inside
Outside