Japan Customs has announced that, effective March 1, 2014, they will require an advance manifest filing from both the ocean carrier and the NVOCC for all containerized ocean shipments entering Japan or transiting through Japan.
Ocean carriers and NVOCC’s will be required to file an advance manifest 24 hours prior to vessel load (or 24 hours prior to departure for specific short-sea lanes) at either the Master Bill of Lading (MBL) or House Bill of Lading (HBL) levels.
Japan Customs will use the information for security screening and may require further information about flagged shipments before authorizing entry. This is similar to the U.S. Automated Manifest System (AMS).
Data elements required by Japan Customs will include, but are not limited to:
- Complete shipper name, address and phone number
- Complete consignee name, address and phone number
- Complete notify party, address and phone number
- Representative HTS (6 digit) number
Expeditors will be ready to handle the filing process for all of our NVOCC FCL and LCL customers whose Japan-bound ocean shipments move on an Expeditors’ HBL. Systems changes and process improvements will be implemented to ensure consistent and seamless electronic transmission of filing data to support the Japan manifest requirements when they take effect on March 1, 2014. Further updates will be released as information develops.
Please contact your local Expeditors office for any additional questions.
For more information, please visit Japan Customs here
