On September 1, 2017 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) #17-000531 providing guidance to the trade on how to process charitable contributions being imported to support in the relief efforts of Hurricane Harvey.

The imported goods may be accepted by FEMA via the international assistance system (IAS) concept of operation (CONOPS) which has been sanctioned by the Department of State or approved U.S. charities.

According to the notice, “For IAS goods, upon arrival at a port, a paper cargo manifest must be provided by the arriving carrier and screened by the port for high-risk factors in accordance with CBP policy.”

The CSMS can be accessed at:

https://apps.cbp.gov/csms/viewmssg.asp?Recid=22932&page=&srch_argv=&srchtype=&btype=&sortby=&sby=