HS Code vs. HTS Code: What U.S. Importers Need to Know Before Classification
HS codes and HTS codes are closely related, but they are not interchangeable for every customs purpose. The Harmonized System (HS) provides the international product-classification framework through the six-digit level. The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) builds on that framework with additional U.S.-specific tariff and statistical subdivisions used when merchandise is imported […]
Importer of Record vs. Consignee: Who Is Responsible for What in U.S. Imports?
When commercial goods enter the United States, the Importer of Record and the consignee may be the same company – but they are not automatically the same role. The Importer of Record is tied to the customs entry and the responsibilities that come with importing the merchandise. The consignee identifies a party to whom the […]
ISF Filing (10+2): Requirements, Deadlines and Penalties for U.S. Ocean Imports
Importer Security Filing, commonly called ISF filing or ISF 10+2, is an advance cargo-data requirement for most commercial ocean shipments moving to the United States. For standard U.S.-bound cargo, eight importer data elements generally must be transmitted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) no later than 24 hours before the cargo is loaded aboard […]
Common Reasons Alcohol Shipments Are Held at Customs
When an importer is told that an alcohol shipment is “on customs hold,” the phrase often creates more confusion than clarity. The cargo may be under routine CBP review, selected for examination, formally detained by CBP, pending FDA review, detained by FDA, subject to Detention Without Physical Examination (DWPE), or fully released by the government […]
Customs Clearance for Alcoholic Beverages: What Commercial Importers Should Expect
Customs clearance for commercial wine, beer and spirits starts before the vessel, truck or aircraft reaches the United States. By arrival, the customs team should already know who the importer is, how the product is classified, which TTB and FDA requirements apply, what value and origin will be declared, whether the customs bond is ready […]
Importing Wine vs. Beer vs. Spirits: Key U.S. Import Differences
Importing wine, beer or distilled spirits into the United States follows the same broad commercial framework, but the details can change materially once the beverage changes. Product definitions affect which TTB labeling rules apply, whether formula approval is needed, which certificates may be required, how federal excise tax is calculated and what information the customs […]
Documents Needed to Import Alcohol into the United States
Commercial alcohol imports depend on more than having the right permits. The customs broker also needs a shipment file that accurately describes what was sold, how it is packed, where it came from, who manufactured it, which approvals apply, and how it is moving to the United States. For most commercial shipments, the core import […]
TTB, FDA and CBP Requirements for Alcohol Imports
An alcohol shipment can have a valid TTB permit and still not be ready for U.S. entry. It can have an approved label and still have an FDA data problem. And filing FDA Prior Notice does not replace the customs entry required by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Commercial alcohol imports can involve three […]
Do You Need an Alcohol Import License? Federal and State Requirements
If you plan to import wine, beer, or spirits into the United States for commercial sale, one of the first questions is whether you need an alcohol import license. In most cases, the federal authorization a commercial importer is looking for is not called a “liquor import license” at all. It is a TTB Federal […]
How to Import Alcohol into the USA: Complete Commercial Import Checklist
Importing alcohol commercially into the United States is not one customs filing. Before wine, beer, spirits, cider, or another alcoholic beverage moves, the importer may need to coordinate federal business authorization, product and label approvals, FDA food-import requirements, customs entry data, taxes and duties, and state alcohol rules. To import alcohol into the USA commercially, […]
