Customs Issues Pipeline Regarding Identification of Ultimate Consignees at the Time of Entry

January 2002

The United States Customs Service, Port of Chicago has issues Pipeline 01-07, entitled Guidelines for the Identification of the Ultimate Consignee at time of Entry or Release. The stated objective of this pipeline is to, "provide procedures requiring importing parties to meet the same standard nationwide. The following procedures will be used to ensure compliance with the required reporting of Ultimate Consignee on electronic and manual formal and informal entries at time of entry or release."

First, this Pipeline sets forth guidelines for reporting the party in the United States to whom the overseas shipper sold the imported merchandise (i.e. the ultimate consignee). The guidelines make clear that the extent to which Customs brokers and nominal consignees like carriers, freight forwarders, and similar parties is limited to very specific circumstances. These are generally limited to situations in which the broker or nominal consignee owns the merchandise, or there is no known United States buyer, and the accompanying documentation shows the broker or nominal consignee's premises as the location to which the merchandise is to be delivered.

Finally, the Pipeline contains a Table of Ultimate Consignee Elements by Type of Entry, as well as examples of proper reporting to assist the trade in properly reporting this information. Therefore, where it is necessary to report an ultimate consignee other than the broker or nominal consignee, the guidelines should be reviewed to establish the required documentation and information.