[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 19, Volume 2]
[Revised as of April 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 19CFR151.15]

[Page 186]
 
                        TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES
 
  CHAPTER I--UNITED STATES CUSTOMS SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
 
PART 151--EXAMINATION, SAMPLING, AND TESTING OF MERCHANDISE--Table of Contents
 
                           Subpart A--General
 
Sec. 151.15  Movement of merchandise to a centralized examination station.

    (a) Permission to transfer merchandise for examination. When a 
shipment requires examination at a centralized examination station 
(CES), Customs Form 3461, or Customs Form 3461 (ALT) for land border 
cargo, or an attachment to either, may be used to request permission to 
transfer the merchandise to a CES. The entry filer must write, type or 
stamp the following lines on the form or attachment, and must supply the 
information called for on the first three lines:

Containers to be transferred: ------ All or,
    Container 's ------, ------, ------[bdlarr]

To CES----------------------------------[bdlarr]

Approved by: U.S. Customs Inspector------[bdlarr]

Date----------------------------------[bdlarr]


Unless the port director exercises his authority pursuant to paragraph 
(d) of this section, the reviewing inspector will initial and date the 
form or attachment being used, or stamp one copy of the Customs Form 
3461 or 3461 (ALT) if required by the port director. A copy of this 
document will act as notification and authorization to the entry filer 
that the merchandise must be transferred to the importer-designated CES 
unless another CES is designated by the port director under paragraph 
(d) of this section.
    (b) Assumption of liability during transfer. Merchandise designated 
for examination may be transferred from the importing carrier's point of 
unlading or from a bonded facility, to a CES, only if the transfer takes 
place under bond. The entry filer shall select one of the following 
bonded movements for the transfer to the CES unless the type of bonded 
movement to be used is specified by the port director under paragraph 
(d) of this section:
    (1) If the merchandise is tranferred directly to a CES by an 
importing carrier, the importing carrier shall remain liable under the 
terms of its international carrier bond for the proper safekeeping and 
delivery of the merchandise until it is receipted for by the CES 
operator.
    (2) If the merchandise is transferred directly from a bonded 
carrier's facility to a CES or is delivered directly to the CES by a 
bonded carrier, the bonded carrier shall remain liable under the terms 
of its custodial bond for the proper safekeeping and delivery of the 
merchandise until it is receipted for by the CES operator.
    (3) If containerized cargo, including excess loose cargo that is 
part of the containerized cargo, is transferred to a CES operator's own 
facility using his own vehicles, the CES operator shall be liable under 
the terms of his custodial bond for the proper safekeeping and delivery 
of the merchandise to the CES facility.
    (4) If the importer or his agent acting as importer of record 
transfers the merchandise to a CES, that importer or agent shall assume 
liability under his importation and entry bond (see Sec. 151.7(d) of 
this part) for the proper transfer of the merchandise until it is 
receipted for by the CES operator.
    (c) Annual blanket transfer. Port directors may institute an annual 
blanket transfer application procedure to facilitate any of the bonded 
movements described in paragraph (b) of this section.
    (d) Designation of bonded movement and CES to be used. In the event 
the port director deems it necessary, he may direct the type of bonded 
movement to be used to transfer merchandise to a CES and may designate 
the CES at which examination must take place. In either case the port 
director's action will be noted on the Customs Form 3461 or 3461 (ALT) 
or attachment thereto.

[T.D. 93-6, 58 FR 5606, Jan. 22, 1993]