[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: 19CFR151.15]



[Page 188]

 

                        TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES

 

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

        HOMELAND SECURITY; DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY (CONTINUED)

 

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]