This is a reminder that the grace period for filing of paper
Shipper's Export Declarations has expired as of September 30,
2008. All filings of export documents must now take place
electronically through the Automated Export System - AES.
Shippers who continue to submit paper SEDs are subject to
penalties. Details are available on the website of the
Foreign Trade Division of the U.S. Census Bureau at
http://www.census.gov/trade. If you have any questions,
please contact the Census Bureau at 1-800-549-0595 or the
Westchester Export Assistance Center at 914-682-6712 or by e-mail
at Office.Westchester@mail.doc.gov.
The following announcement was provided by the Census Bureau and
is posted on their website:
Mandatory Automated Export System (AES) Filing for all Shipments
Requiring Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED) information
The U.S. Census Bureau has issued the final rule implementing
provisions in the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Public Law
107-228. This rule was published in the Federal Register on
June 2, 2008, amending Title 15, Code of Federal Regulations,
Part 30, Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) in its entirety.
Effective July 2, 2008, the Census Bureau is requiring mandatory
filing of export information through the Automated Export System
(AES) or through the AESDirect for all shipments where a
Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED) is required. We are also
providing the trade an additional 90 days to implement these new
requirements. After the 90-day implementation period, which
ends September 30, 2008, you must file your export information
electronically through the AES or AESDirect.
Additionally, these new regulations have tougher penalty
provisions that affect everyone in the export process.
Penalties may be imposed per violation of the FTR from $1,100 to
$10,000 both civil and criminal, for the delayed filing, failure
to file, false filing of export information, and/or using the AES
to further any illegal activity. Also, all AES filers are
faced with new filing deadlines by mode of transportation for
reporting export information. It is important that you
understand these new requirements so that you avoid the increased
penalties and seizure of your commodities.
The Census Bureau has instructed filers of export information to
make every effort to submit these data via the AES or AESDirect
to eliminate the use of paper SEDs immediately. During the
120-day implementation phase, the Census Bureau will use
“informed compliance” to outreach to filers identified in
violation of the FTR. Anyone submitting paper after
September 30, 2008 will be in violation of the FTR and subject to
penalties.
The Census Bureau can assist you in understanding the new FTR and
filing export information electronically through the AES.
You may call 1-800-549-0595 with any questions you may have
regarding the FTR or AES.
A free Internet-based interface for electronic filing of export
information is available. Please go to http://www.aesdirect.gov for more
information.