Importing into the United States - Indo-American Chamber Of ...

Tobacco, leaf not stemmed. 59 kilograms (13
lb.) per bale; Sumatra: actual tare for outside
coverings, plus 1.9 kilograms (4 lb.) for the
inside matting and, if a certificate is attached to
the invoice certifying that the bales contain
paper wrappings and specifying whether light
or heavy paper has been used, either 113 grams
(4 oz.) or 227 grams (8 oz.) for the paper wrapping
according to the thickness of paper used.
For other goods dutiable on the net
weight, an actual tare will be determined. An
accurate tare stated on the invoice is acceptable
for Customs purposes in certain circumstances.
If the importer of record files a timely
application with the port director of Customs,
an allowance may be made in any case for
excessive moisture and impurities not usually
found in or upon the particular kind of goods.
5. PACKING OF GOODS—
COMMINGLING
PACKING
Information on how to pack goods for the
purpose of transporting them may be obtained
from shipping manuals, carriers, forwarding
agents, and other sources. This chapter, therefore,
deals with packing goods being exported
in a way which will permit U.S. Customs officers
to examine, weigh, measure, and release
them promptly.
Orderly packing and proper invoicing go
hand in hand. You will speed up the clearance
of your goods through Customs if you:
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Invoice your goods in a systematic
manner.
Show the exact quantity of each item of
goods in each box, bale, case, or other
package.
Put marks and numbers on each package.
Show those marks or numbers on your
invoice opposite the itemization of goods
contained in the package that bears those
marks and numbers.
When packages contain goods of one kind
only, or when the goods are imported in packages
the contents and values of which are uniform,
the designation of packages for examination
and the examination for Customs purposes
are greatly facilitated. If the contents and
values differ from package to package, the possibility
of delay and confusion is increased.
Sometimes, because of the kinds of goods or
because of the unsystematic manner in which
they are packed, the entire shipment must be
examined.
Pack and invoice your goods in a manner
which makes a speedy examination possible.
Always bear in mind that it may not be possible
to ascertain the contents of your packages
without full examination unless your invoice
clearly shows the marks and numbers on each
package (whether box, case, or bale) and specifies
the exact quantity of each item of adequately
described goods in each marked and
numbered package.
Also, be aware that Customs examines
cargo for narcotics that may, unbeknownst to
the shipper or the importer, be hidden inside.
This can be time-consuming and expensive for
both the importer and the Customs Service.
Narcotics inspections may require completely
stripping a container in order to physically
examine a large portion of the cargo. This
labor-intensive handling of cargo, whether by
Customs, labor organizations, or private individuals,
results in added costs, increased
delays, and possible damage to the product.
Importers can expedite this inspection process
by working with Customs to develop packing
standards that will permit effective Customs
examinations with a minimum of delay,
damage, and cost.
A critical aspect in facilitating inspections
is how the cargo is loaded. “Palletizing”
cargo—loading it onto pallets or other consolidated
units—is an effective way to expedite
such examinations. Palletization allows for
16 U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE