TORONTO, (Nov. 19, 2004) — U.S. Customs & Border Protection has issued enforcement guidelines for truck shipments subject to Advance Electronic Cargo Information (AECI) requirements, the first phase of which went to effect on Nov. 15th, 2004.

While CBP has assured the Canadian trucking industry a “soft enforcement” or educational period for the initial months of the first compliance date, it has released a chart outlining possible penalties — some of which are quite steep — for failure to advance new border release processes (In-Bond, PAPS and BRASS) when specific ports are scheduled to adopt the AECI procedures.

The next stage of the mandate will begin December 15th, 2004 during which time CBP may assess penalties of $5,000 or $10,000 per occurrence to the carrier or importer of record, according to leading brokerage firm Livingston International. Starting January 31st, 2005, CBP will also deny initial U.S. entry to non-compliant shipments and assess penalties or damages at certain ports.

Go to www.livingstonintl.com/tradenewsarticle.cfm?id=2697 to see the chart.