Issue 347, May 15, 2002
In Monday's Federal register (Vol. 67, No. 92, May 13, 2002), U.S. Customs published a notice requiring the public to file a copy of their existing Customs bond or an application for a new bond on or before June 12, 2002. As you are well aware, Six World Trade Center, which housed the U.S. Customs Service, was destroyed on September 11, 2001. With that destruction, innumerable U.S. Customs records were also destroyed, including all bonds filed there. As a result, continuous bonds with an effective date of September 11, 2001 or prior must be refiled (with record of the bond number and all riders). Note, however that this only pertains to the bonds originally filed for approval at the New York Seaport (Port Code 1001) and the New York Regional Port (Port Code 7200). A failure to file the bond will result in termination of the bond's privileges (i.e., release of the merchandise, operations of the boded warehouse or FTZ, etc.) If a copy of the original bond cannot be provided, a new bond application will need to be filed within this time frame. This action relates to continuous bond activity codes 1 through 5, including import, drawback, custodial (bonded warehouse), instruments of international traffic, international carrier, FTZ operator and public gauger bonds.

You should check with your Customs broker to determine if you need to comply with these requirements. Please note that Danzas AEI Intercontinental is working directly with its surety company to supply the necessary Customs documents on our customers' behalf.

For further information contact the Customs Bond Unit, Elizabeth, N.J. (201) 443-0234; or the Entry and Drawback Management Branch at U.S. Customs in Washington, D.C. (202) 927-0360.

Our contributing writer, David M. Murphy, is a licensed Customs broker and a Partner at the Customs and international trade law firm of Grunfeld, Desiderio, Lebowitz, Silverman & Klestadt LLP, and can be reached via email or at (212) 557-4000.

Please note that due to the complex nature of the subject matter, DHL Danzas Air & Ocean cannot be responsible for actions taken by the reader in reliance on the information contained herein without prior consultation with DHL Danzas Air & Ocean.