99-8517. Customs Bonded Warehouses  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 7, 1999)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Pages 16868-16870]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-8517]
    
    
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    Proposed Rules
                                                    Federal Register
    ________________________________________________________________________
    
    This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
    the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
    notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
    the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
    
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    Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 66 / Wednesday, April 7, 1999 / 
    Proposed Rules
    
    [[Page 16868]]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
    
    Customs Service
    
    19 CFR PART 19
    
    RIN 1515-AC41
    
    
    Customs Bonded Warehouses
    
    AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.
    
    ACTION: Proposed rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: This document proposes to amend the Customs Regulations 
    regarding the filing of certain inventory reports by bonded warehouse 
    proprietors. Instead of requiring that these reports be filed with 
    Customs, the document proposes that bonded warehouse proprietors 
    maintain these inventory reports after their preparation. In some 
    instances when the inventory report is prepared a letter must be 
    submitted to Customs certifying that the report has been prepared. As 
    proposed to be amended, the port director would be the Customs officer 
    to whom certification letters must be submitted and to whom the annual 
    report covering smelting or refining operations should be submitted. 
    These proposed changes and other changes proposed in this document are 
    intended to simplify inventory recordkeeping procedures for warehouse 
    proprietors and are consistent with Customs movement toward a post-
    audit environment and the spirit of ``shared responsibility'' embodied 
    in the Customs Modernization provisions of the North American Free 
    Trade Agreement Implementation Act.
    
    DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 7, 1999.
    
    ADDRESSES: Written comments may be addressed to and inspected at the 
    Regulations Branch, U.S. Customs Service, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, 
    NW., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20229.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Bowles, Senior Auditor, 
    Regulatory Audit Division, (202-927-0071).
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Background
    
        This document proposes several amendments to part 19, Customs 
    Regulations (19 CFR part 19), concerning the submission to Customs of 
    certain inventory reports covering merchandise in a bonded warehouse. 
    Instead of requiring that certain reports be filed with Customs, the 
    document proposes to amend the Customs Regulations to require that 
    bonded warehouse proprietors maintain these inventory reports after 
    their preparation. In certain instances, when the inventory report is 
    prepared, a letter must be submitted to Customs certifying that the 
    report has been prepared. As proposed to be amended, the port director 
    would be the Customs officer to whom certification letters must be 
    submitted and to whom the annual report covering smelting or refining 
    operations should be submitted. These proposed changes and other 
    changes proposed in this document are intended to simplify inventory 
    recordkeeping procedures for warehouse proprietors and are consistent 
    with Customs movement toward a post-audit environment and the spirit of 
    ``shared responsibility'' embodied in the Customs Modernization 
    provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation 
    Act (Pub. L. 103-182).
    
    Warehouse Proprietor's Submission
    
        The principal change proposed in this document concerns the 
    Warehouse Proprietor's Submission on Customs Form (CF) 300. Currently, 
    Sec. 19.12(g) of the Customs Regulations requires certain bonded 
    warehouse proprietors to file annually the CF 300 with the field 
    director of regulatory audit within 45 days from the end of the 
    proprietor's business year. The CF 300 describes all merchandise in the 
    beginning and ending inventory and all merchandise covered by entries 
    opened and closed during the year which do not appear in the beginning 
    or ending inventory.
        Section 19.12(g) also provides that these proprietors may submit an 
    alternative format concerning the inventory information required on the 
    CF 300 if the field director of regulatory audit first gives written 
    approval to use an alternative format.
        Section 19.12(d)(3) requires, with certain exceptions, that duties 
    and taxes applicable to any non-extraordinary shortage of, or damage 
    to, merchandise in a warehouse be paid when the CF 300 is due, or at 
    any time prior to the annual filing of the CF 300 or certified annual 
    reconciliation.
        This document proposes to amend Sec. 19.12(g) to no longer require 
    the submission of the CF 300 by these warehouse proprietors. The 
    proposed amendment would still require these warehouse proprietors to 
    prepare the CF 300 within 45 calendar days from the end of these 
    proprietors' business years; but instead of requiring these proprietors 
    to submit it to Customs within that time frame, the proposed amendment 
    would require these proprietors to retain the document and submit to 
    the port director within 10 days of the preparation of the CF 300 a 
    letter certifying that the CF 300 has been prepared, is available for 
    Customs review, and is accurate.
        The document also proposes to amend Sec. 19.12(g) to provide that 
    these warehouse proprietors would no longer need Customs permission in 
    order to use an alternative format to the CF 300. Of course, under the 
    proposed amendment, if an alternative format is used, a similar letter 
    would need to be submitted to Customs within 10 days of the preparation 
    of the alternate format certifying that the alternate to the CF 300 has 
    been prepared, is available for Customs review and is accurate.
        Section 19.12(d)(3) is proposed to be amended to provide that 
    duties and taxes applicable to any non-extraordinary shortage of, or 
    damage to, merchandise in a warehouse be reported to Customs no later 
    than the date the letter is due to Customs certifying that the CF 300 
    or alternate has been prepared.
    
    Annual Reconciliation Report
    
        Section 19.12(h)(1) concerns the requirement of certain other 
    warehouse proprietors to prepare an annual reconciliation report, 
    rather than the CF 300, and establishes the date by which the report 
    must be prepared. Section 19.12(h)(1) currently allows for these 
    warehouse proprietors to apply to the field director of regulatory 
    audit for an extension of time within which to prepare the report and 
    Sec. 19.12(h)(3) requires these proprietors to submit a letter to the 
    field director of regulatory
    
    [[Page 16869]]
    
    audit certifying that the annual reconciliation report has been 
    prepared.
        This document proposes to amend Sec. 19.12(h)(1) to make port 
    directors, rather than field directors of regulatory audit, responsible 
    for approving extensions of time within which reconciliation reports 
    must be prepared. The document proposes to amend Sec. 19.12(h)(3) to 
    require that the certification letter be submitted to the port 
    director.
    
    Smelting and Refining Warehouses
    
        This document also proposes two changes regarding the submission of 
    inventory reports by bonded smelting and refining warehouses. One 
    proposed change concerns the filing of a monthly report and the other 
    concerns the filing of an annual report.
        Section 19.17(g) currently provides that where two or more smelting 
    and refining warehouses are included under one blanket smelting and 
    refining bond, an overall monthly statement of inventory and bond 
    charges must be filed by the principal named in the bond with each 
    involved Field Director, Regulatory Audit, showing the inventory at 
    each plant covered by the bond. Furthermore, Sec. 19.17(g) provides 
    that each port director at whose port a plant or plants are located is 
    responsible for determining the correctness of the inventory report 
    covering merchandise at those plants under his jurisdiction.
        As proposed to be amended by this document, Sec. 19.17(g) would no 
    longer require the proprietor named as principal in the bond to file 
    the monthly statement with any Field Director, Regulatory Audit, but 
    would instead require the proprietor to maintain the monthly statement 
    after its preparation. In addition, Sec. 19.17(g) would be changed to 
    make clear, as is currently the case, that if the warehouses covered by 
    an overall statement are located in more than one port, each port 
    director may choose to verify the accuracy of the inventory report only 
    with respect to that portion of the report that relates to amounts held 
    at a plant that is located within that port director's jurisdiction.
        Section 19.19(b) currently requires that an annual report covering 
    the smelting or refining operations conducted by each manufacturer be 
    submitted to the Field Director, Regulatory Audit. As proposed to be 
    amended by this document, the regulations would no longer require the 
    annual report to be submitted to the Field Director, Regulatory Audit. 
    Instead, the annual report would be filed with the port director.
    
    Other Amendments
    
        Section 19.12(d)(3) currently refers to the filing of the annual 
    reconciliation when the filing of the annual reconciliation is not 
    required. Accordingly, this document proposes to remove the reference 
    to the filing of the annual reconciliation from that paragraph.
        Also, Sec. 19.12(d)(3) currently includes a cross-reference to 
    paragraph (f) of that section in relation to the annual reconciliation 
    report. However, the annual reconciliation report is dealt with in 
    paragraph (h) of that section, not paragraph (f). Accordingly, this 
    document proposes to replace the cross-reference to paragraph (f) in 
    Sec. 19.12(d)(3) with a cross-reference to paragraph (h).
    
    Comments
    
        Before adopting the proposal, consideration will be given to any 
    written comments that are timely submitted to Customs. Customs 
    specifically requests comments on the clarity of this proposed rule and 
    how it may be made easier to understand. Comments submitted will be 
    available for public inspection in accordance with the Freedom of 
    Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), Sec. 1.4, Treasury Department 
    Regulations (31 CFR 1.4), and Sec. 103.11(b), Customs Regulations (19 
    CFR 103.11(b)), on regular business days between the hours of 9:00 a.m. 
    and 4:30 p.m. at the Regulations Branch, U.S. Customs Service, 1300 
    Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C.
    
    The Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866
    
        The proposed amendments are intended to simplify inventory 
    recordkeeping procedures for warehouse proprietors and be consistent 
    with Customs movement toward a post-audit environment and the spirit of 
    ``shared responsibility'' embodied in the Customs Modernization 
    provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation 
    Act. As such, pursuant to the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility 
    Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), it is hereby certified that the proposed 
    rule, if adopted, will not have a significant economic impact on a 
    substantial number of small entities. Accordingly, it is not subject to 
    the regulatory analysis or other requirements of 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604. 
    Nor does the proposed rule result in a ``significant regulatory 
    action'' under E.O. 12866.
    
    Paperwork Reduction Act
    
        The collections of information contained in this notice of proposed 
    rulemaking have been previously reviewed and approved by the Office of 
    Management and Budget (OMB) in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
    Act of 1995 and assigned the following OMB control numbers: 1515-0093 
    for bonded warehouse proprietor's submission; 1515-0121 for information 
    to be supplied by owner or lessee in support of application to 
    establish a bonded warehouse facility; 1515-0127 for application by 
    manufacturer to bond (or discontinue a previously bonded) establishment 
    engaged in the smelting or refining of metal-bearing materials; and 
    1515-0135 for record of smelting or refining operation showing receipt 
    and disposition of each shipment of material. This document restates 
    the collections of information without substantive change.
        An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
    to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid 
    control number assigned by OMB.
        Although this document restates the collections of information 
    without substantive change, comments are specifically requested 
    concerning: (a) Whether the collections of information are necessary 
    for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
    whether the information will have practical utility; (b) how to enhance 
    the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
    (c) how to minimize the burden of complying with the collections of 
    information, including through the application of automated collection 
    techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d) estimates 
    of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and 
    purchase of services to provide information.
        Comments concerning suggestions for reducing the burden of the 
    collections of information should be sent to the Regulations Branch, 
    Office of Regulations and Rulings, U.S. Customs Service, 1300 
    Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20229. A copy 
    should also be sent to U.S. Customs Service, Information Services 
    Group, Attention: J. Edgar Nichols, Room 3.2-C, 1300 Pennsylvania 
    Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C. 20229. Comments should be submitted 
    within the same time frame that comments are due regarding the 
    substance of the proposal.
    
    [[Page 16870]]
    
    List of Subjects in 19 CFR Part 19
    
        Customs duties and inspection, Exports, Freight, Imports, Reporting 
    and recordkeeping requirements, Warehouses.
    
    Proposed Amendments to the Regulations
    
        It is proposed to amend part 19, Customs Regulations (19 CFR part 
    19), as set forth below.
    
    PART 19--CUSTOMS WAREHOUSES, CONTAINER STATIONS, AND CONTROL OF 
    MERCHANDISE THEREIN
    
        1. The general authority citation for part 19, and the relevant 
    sectional authority citation, would continue to read as follows:
    
        Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 19 U.S.C. 66, 1202 (General Note 20, 
    Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States), 1624.
    * * * * *
        Sections 19.17-19.25 also issued under 19 U.S.C. 1312;
    * * * * *
        2. It is proposed to amend Sec. 19.12 by revising the seventh and 
    eighth sentences of paragraph (d)(3), by revising the first sentence of 
    paragraph (g), adding a sentence thereafter, and revising the last 
    sentence of paragraph (g), and by revising the first sentence, 
    respectively, of paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(3), to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 19.12  Inventory control and recordkeeping system.
    
    * * * * *
        (d) Accountability for merchandise in a warehouse. * * *
        (3) Theft, shortage, overage or damage. * * * The proprietor must 
    also record all shortages and overages as required in the Customs Form 
    300 or annual reconciliation report under paragraph (g) or (h) of this 
    section, as appropriate. Duties and taxes applicable to any non-
    extraordinary shortage or damage and not required to be paid earlier 
    must be reported and submitted to the port director no later than the 
    date the certification of preparation of Customs Form 300 is due or at 
    the time the certification of preparation of the annual reconciliation 
    report is due, as prescribed in paragraph (g) or (h) of this section. * 
    * *
    * * * * *
        (g) Warehouse proprietor submission. Except as otherwise provided 
    in paragraph (h) of this section or Sec. 19.19(b) of this part, the 
    warehouse proprietor must prepare a Warehouse Proprietor's Submission 
    on Customs Form (CF) 300 within 45 calendar days from the end of the 
    business year and maintain the Submission on file for 5 years from the 
    end of the business year covered by the Submission. The proprietor must 
    submit to the port director, within 10 business days after preparation 
    of the CF 300, a letter signed by the proprietor certifying that the CF 
    300 has been prepared, is available for Customs review, and is 
    accurate. * * * An alternative format may be used for providing the 
    information required on the CF 300.
        (h) Annual reconciliation. * * *
        (1) Report. Instead of preparing Customs Form 300 as required under 
    paragraph (g) of this section, the proprietor of a class 2, importers' 
    private bonded warehouse, and proprietors of classes 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 
    9 warehouses if the warehouse proprietor and the importer are the same 
    party, must prepare a reconciliation report within 90 days after the 
    end of the fiscal year unless the port director authorizes an extension 
    for reasonable cause. * * *
    * * * * *
        (3) Certification. The proprietor must submit to the port director 
    within 10 business days after preparation of the annual reconciliation 
    report, a letter signed by the proprietor certifying that the annual 
    reconciliation has been prepared, is available for Customs review, and 
    is accurate. * * *
    * * * * *
        3. It is proposed to amend Sec. 19.17 by revising the first and 
    second sentences of paragraph (g) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 19.17  Application to establish warehouse; bond.
    
    * * * * *
        (g) Statement of inventory and bond charges. Where two or more 
    smelting or refining warehouses are included under one blanket smelting 
    and refining bond, an overall statement must be prepared and maintained 
    by the principal named in the bond by the 28th of each month, showing 
    the inventory as of the close of the preceding month, of all metals on 
    hand at each plant covered by the blanket bond and the total of bonded 
    charges for all plants. If the warehouses covered by an overall 
    statement are located in more than one port, each port director may 
    choose to verify the accuracy of the inventory report only with respect 
    to that portion of the report that relates to amounts held at a plant 
    that is located within that port director's jurisdiction. * * *
        4. It is proposed to amend Sec. 19.19 by revising the first 
    sentence of paragraph (b) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 19.19  Manufacturers' records; annual statement.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) Every manufacturer engaged in smelting or refining, or both, 
    must prepare and submit to the port director at the port nearest which 
    the plant is located an annual statement for the fiscal year for the 
    plant involved not later than 60 days after the termination of that 
    fiscal year. * * *
    
    Raymond W. Kelly,
    Commissioner of Customs.
        Approved: March 12, 1999.
    John P. Simpson,
    Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
    [FR Doc. 99-8517 Filed 4-6-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4820-02-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
04/07/1999
Department:
Customs Service
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Proposed rule.
Document Number:
99-8517
Dates:
Comments must be received on or before June 7, 1999.
Pages:
16868-16870 (3 pages)
RINs:
1515-AC41: Customs Bonded Warehouses
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1515-AC41/customs-bonded-warehouses
PDF File:
99-8517.pdf
CFR: (6)
19 CFR 19.12(d)(3)
19 CFR 19.12(g)
19 CFR 19.12(h)(3)
19 CFR 19.12
19 CFR 19.17
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