[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 19, Volume 2]

[Revised as of April 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 19CFR146.1]



[Page 94-95]

 

                        TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES

 

   CHAPTER I--BUREAU OF CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF 

        HOMELAND SECURITY; DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY (CONTINUED)

 

PART 146_FOREIGN TRADE ZONES--Table of Contents

 

                      Subpart A_General Provisions

 

Sec.  146.1  Definitions.





    (a) The following words, defined in section 1 of the Foreign-Trade 

Zones Act of 1934, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a), are given the same 

meaning when used in this part, unless otherwise stated: ``Board'', 

``Grantee'', and ``Zones''.

    (b) The following are general definitions for the purpose of this 

part:

    Act. ``Act'' means the Foreign-Trade Zones Act of June 18, 1934, as 

amended (48 Stat. 998-1003; 19 U.S.C. 81a-u).

    Activation. ``Activation'' means approval by the grantee and port 

director for operations and for the admission and handling of 

merchandise in zone status.

    Admit. ``Admit'' means to bring merchandise into a zone with zone 

status.

    Alteration. ``Alteration'' means a change in the boundaries of an 

activated zone or subzone; activation of a separate site of an already-

activated zone or subzone with the same operator at the same port; or 

the relocation of an already-activated site with the same operator.

    Conditionally admissible merchandise. ``Conditionally admissible 

merchandise'' is merchandise which may be imported into the U.S. under 

certain conditions. Merchandise which is subject to permits or licenses, 

or which may be reconditioned to bring it into compliance with the laws 

administered by various Federal agencies, is an example of conditionally 

admissible merchandise.

    Constructive transfer. ``Constructive transfer'' is a legal fiction 

which permits acceptance of a Customs entry for merchandise in a zone 

before its physical transfer to the Customs territory.

    Customs territory. ``Customs territory'' is the territory of the 

U.S. in which the general tariff laws of the U.S. apply. ``Customs 

territory of the United States'' includes only the States, the District 

of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. (General Note 2, Harmonized Tariff 

Schedule of the United States (19 U.S.C. 1202)).

    Deactivation. ``Deactivation'' means voluntary discontinuation of 

the activation of an entire zone or subzone by the grantee or operator. 

Discontinuance of the activated status of only a part of a zone site is 

an alteration.

    Default. ``Default'' means an action or omission that will result in 

a claim for duties, taxes, charges, or liquidated damages under the 

Foreign Trade Zone Operator Bond.

    Domestic merchandise. ``Domestic merchandise'' is merchandise which 

has been (i) produced in the U.S. and not exported therefrom, or (ii) 

previously imported into Customs territory and properly released from 

Customs custody.

    Foreign merchandise. ``Foreign merchandise'' is imported merchandise 

which has not been properly released from Customs custody in Customs 

territory.

    Fungible merchandise. ``Fungible merchandise'' means merchandise 

which for commercial purposes is identical and interchangeable in all 

situations.

    Merchandise. ``Merchandise'' includes goods, wares and chattels of 

every description, except prohibited merchandise. Building materials, 

production equipment, and supplies for use in operation of a zone are 

not ``merchandise'' for the purpose of this part.

    Operator. ``Operator'' is a corporation, partnership, or person that 

operates a zone or subzone under the terms of an agreement with the zone 

grantee. Where used in this part, the term ``operator'' also applies to 

a ``grantee'' that operates its own zone.

    Port Director. For those foreign trade zones located within the 

geographical limits of a port of entry, the term ``port director'' means 

the director of that port of entry. For those foreign trade zones 

located outside the geographical limits of a port of entry, the



[[Page 95]]



term ``port director'' means the director of the port of entry 

geographically nearest to where the foreign trade zone is located.

    Prohibited merchandise. ``Prohibited merchandise'' is merchandise 

the importation of which is prohibited by law on grounds of public 

policy or morals, or any merchandise which is excluded from a zone by 

order of the Board. Books urging treason or insurrection against the 

U.S., obscene pictures, and lottery tickets are examples of prohibited 

merchandise.

    Reactivation. ``Reactivation'' means a resumption of the activated 

status of an entire area that was previously deactivated without any 

change in the operator or the area boundaries. If the boundaries are 

different, the action is an alteration. If the operator is different, it 

is an activation.

    Subzone. ``Subzone'' is a special-purpose zone established as part 

of a zone project for a limited purpose, that cannot be accommodated 

within an existing zone. The term ``zone'' also applies to a subzone, 

unless specified otherwise.

    Transfer. ``Transfer'' means to take merchandise with zone status 

from a zone for consumption, transportation, exportation, warehousing, 

cartage or lighterage, vessel supplies and equipment, admission to 

another zone, and like purposes.

    Unique identifier. ``Unique identifier'' means the numbers, letters, 

or combination of numbers and letters that identify merchandise admitted 

to a zone with zone status.

    User. ``User'' means a person or firm using a zone or subzone for 

storage, handling, or processing of merchandise.

    Zone lot. ``Zone lot'' means a collection of merchandise maintained 

under an inventory control method based on specific identification of 

merchandise admitted to a zone by lot.

    Zone site. ``Zone site'' means the physical location of a zone or 

subzone.

    Zone status. ``Zone status'' means the status of merchandise 

admitted to a zone, i.e., nonprivileged foreign, privileged foreign, 

zone restricted, or domestic.



[T.D. 86-16, 51 FR 5049, Feb. 11, 1986, as amended by T.D. 89-1, 53 FR 

51263, Dec. 21, 1988; T.D. 99-27, 64 FR 13674, Mar. 22, 1999]