Shipping Examination

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspected the container for shipping examination, and the Centralized Examination Station assessed a fine (CES).

CBP has the authority under 19 USC 1467 to inspect any shipment entering the United States, and it's crucial to note that you, the importer, are responsible for the expense of such cargo inspections. The importer is responsible for making the items available for inspection, according to CBP regulations: "The importer shall bear any expense associated in preparing the merchandise for CBP examination and in the closure of packages" (19 CFR 151.6). The influences of one's home are not exempt. There is no differentiation between business and personal shipping. CBP does not charge for cargo inspections in the course of normal operations. However, there may be additional expenses for the importer. If your shipment is chosen for examination, it will most likely be transported to a Centralized Examination Station (CES) for the CBP examination. A CES is a privately managed facility that is not under the control of CBP agents and where merchandise is made accessible for physical examination by CBP officials. After the exam, the CES facility will unload (devan) your shipment from its shipping container and reload it. You will be billed by the CES for their services. Moving the merchandise to and from the exam site, as well as storage, incur additional expenditures. Rates will vary by region, and a full devanning could cost several hundred dollars. By providing an efficient means of conducting tests in a timely manner, the CES idea meets the needs of both CBP and the importer. Part 118 of the Code of Federal Regulations discusses CESs, which can be viewed by here.

Note: Exam delays can be traced back to missing/incomplete/misleading consignee/manufacturer information, as well as missing/incomplete/misleading country of origin, poor item description (materials used), unrealistic values, missing Fabric/Textile (ie: cotton percent, woven percent, and so on) detail sheets, and so on. Exam fees for standard shipment, REEFER, Hazard, and other types of shipment exams may be doubled, tripled, or more. Also, ISF filings that are late. If US Customs requires your shipment to be moved to the Exam site after 10 a.m. (Pacific time), or if Customs issues a PTT after 10 a.m., it will be treated as a next-day move/delivery to the Exam site, and you will be charged for additional days of storage (If any). Disposition Code is a two-position alphanumeric code sent in an AMS status notification message that indicates the action taken against the bill. (Importer Examination Frequency) (FOE)

Other Government Agencies that has Authority to Inspect

US Customs and other government agencies have the authority to inspect your shipment at any time and from any location. Even if you picked up a shipment after receiving customs release paperwork (Forms 7501, 3641, and DO).

If there is an exam by US Customs/DHS/Agencies, who will receive the exam notice first and who will notify the exam to you (Importer / Consignee) and your customs broker (what is a customs broker)?

Most exams are issued by US customs/agencies to your US freight forwarder 6-7 days before your shipment arrives at a US port. Only then will your forwarder send an arrival notice to you and your customs broker.
After getting your arrival notice and all of your import documents (Invoice, Packing list, BL, and so on), your customs broker electronically transmits to US customs/agencies, if any, and then receives a "manifest hold" at ABI.
So, after this point, your broker could run a shipment query with ABI every 24-48 hours for updates, but your forwarder would be notified instantly by US customs/agencies, because your forwarder is transferring cargo to its final destination.
US customs/agencies may send an email/fax/phone/freight-software notification to your forwarder: (Examples: continue or stop for exam or move it to exam site) (ninety five percent of the time)
Exam site will submit the invoice to your forwarder once the exam (VACIS, NII, X-Ray, IBET, Tailgate, MET, and so on) is completed. Exam fees will be added to your forwarder's new revised arrival notice. (ninety-five percent of the time).
In the event of an examination (CET Exam / A-TCET Exam / Intensive Exam / Stop Sign / Trade / IPR / Emergency Action Notifications (EAN) and etc., your exam-site/broker will notify you and you must pay directly to the examination site. (a hundred percent of the time)
We can pay your vendor, but you'll have to pay a four-wire fee (plus $100): (1) Your bank will charge you a fee to transmit money. (2) to receive a wire from you, (3) to wire your vendor, (4) to receive a wire from us, and a delay from the bank, or $50+$47.50
Customs broker acts as a liaison between US Customs/Agencies and the importer, transmitting/submitting all importer information/documents on your behalf to US Customs/Agencies in the same manner as it was received from the importer/your vendors.
A customs broker is not a middleman between you and your vendors (supplier, factory, forwarder, warehouse, shipping firm, CET exam site, and so forth.)
Customs broker invoices are: Entry $195, Service $50/$95 Duty/Tax, HMF/.001250, MPF/.003464, Single Entry Bond / Continuous Bond (ISF filing & Entry filing). $85+ Messenger $45, If subject to document processing
For full container and/or LCL with FDA, USDA, and etc., the majority of exam notices may come from customs broker as (exam processing $40+messenger $45) +customs in the United States may charge you a processing fee.
Examining cargo/containers is more important to US Customs/DHS/Agencies than scanning emails. Containers could hold nearly anything, including: ("Terrorism's Trojan Horse Attack" and other.)

VACIS exam (Vehicle and Cargo Inspection Systems Exam) / Non Intrusive Inspection (NII) / X-Ray Exam: Examining the contents of a container using a gamma ray imaging system without breaking the seal. VACIS, NII, and X-ray exams are normally performed on the dock or elsewhere in the port complex.
The prices for VACIS / NII / X-Ray Exam for LCL & Full Container can be found on the Terminal website or by calling the Terminal.

Average cost per CBM = $15-$35 +$40 Document Process fees +$45 Messenger submission fee + if applicable, Transportation fee to exam place, Storage fee, and other fees. (2–20 business days)
Average cost of a 20-foot (TEU) container: $150-$250 +$40 Document Processing Expenses +$45 Messenger Submission Fee +if applicable, Transporting fee to exam site, Storage fee, and other fees. (2–20 business days)
Average cost of a 40/45 foot (FEU) container: $200-$350 +$40 Document Processing Fees +$45 Messenger Submission Fee +if applicable, Transporting fee to exam site, Storage fee, and other fees. (2–20 business days)
Immediate Transportation (IT) must be given if US Customs issues a move-order to the exam site; the cost is $100. (additional 1–5 working days)
70% of the time, it will result in ANOTHER test.
The consignee/importer must pay all fees in advance.

Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) / Backdoor Exams / Tailgate Exams: Without touching the goods, Customs or another government agency opens the back of the container and looks inside. These examinations are looking for anything abnormal that may require a more thorough examination.
For LCL and Full Container Tailgate / Backdoor / IBET Exam, the Forwarder or Broker could search up the fees on the Terminal website or by calling the Terminal and bill the importer, or the importer could pay directly.

Average cost per CBM = $40-$50 +$40 Document Process fees +$45 Messenger submission fee + if applicable, Transporting fee to exam site, Storage fee, and other fees. (2–25 business days)
Average cost of a 20-foot (TEU) container: $100-$500 +$40 Document Processing Expenses +$45 Messenger Submission Fee +if applicable, Transporting fee to exam site, Storage fee, and other fees. (2–25 business days)
Average cost of a 40/45 foot (FEU) container: $200-$700 +$40 Document Processing Fees +$45 Messenger Submission Fee +if applicable, Transporting fee to exam site, Storage fee, and other fees. (2–25 business days)
Immediate Transportation (IT) must be given if US Customs issues a move-order to the exam site; the cost is $100. (additional 1–5 working days)
50% of the time, it will result in ANOTHER test.
The consignee/importer must pay all fees in advance.

Intensive exam/Examination Notice (Stop Sign): CET Exam (Contraband Enforcement Team) / A-TCET Exam (Anti Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team) =
Any import entering US territory is subjected to a physical examination. If an importer is subject to a CET Exam/Intensive Exam/A-TCET, it will be transferred to a Customs Examination Station (CES) and will be subjected to a physical inspection and x-rays. It may be necessary to completely unload and stage the shipment in order to examine the goods piece by piece. CBP is on the lookout for unlawful cargo, smuggling, WMDs, and other illegal items. Narcotics dogs and X-ray devices are frequently used to search for objects that are not permitted entry into the United States. Drugs, weapons, other suspicions, and so on. a few examples here.

The usual cost per CBM is $50-$300, plus $40 for document processing, $45 for messenger submission, and, if applicable, transportation to the test site, storage, and other expenses. (5–25 business days)
Average cost of a 20-foot (TEU) container: $350-$2500 +$40 Document Processing Expenses +$45 Messenger Submission Fee +if applicable, Transporting fee to exam site, Storage fee, and other fees. (5–25 business days)
Average cost of a 40/45 foot (FEU) container: $500-$3500 +$40 Document Processing Expenses +$45 Messenger Submission Fee +if applicable, Transporting fee to exam site, Storage fee, and other fees. (5–25 business days)
Immediate Transportation (IT) must be given if US Customs issues a move-order to the exam site; the cost is $100. (additional 1–5 working days)
50% of the time, it will result in ANOTHER test.
The consignee/importer must pay all fees in advance.

Invoice / Proforma Invoice / Commercial Invoice MET Exam (Manifest Examination Team) / (Compliance Exam) Exam: A team of US Customs inspectors examines invoices and packing lists at random, which may lead to further examination. Under-invoicing genuine value on the commercial invoice to submit to Customs and lowering the duty/tax that must be paid are the most typical issues.

The usual cost per CBM is $20-$50, plus $40 for document processing, $45 for messenger submission, and, if applicable, transportation to the test site, storage, and other expenses. (2–25 business days)
Average cost of a 20-foot (TEU) container: $100 - $300 +$40 Document Processing Fees +$45 Messenger Submission Fee +if applicable, Transporting fee to exam site, Storage fee, and other fees. (2–25 business days)
Average cost of a 40/45 foot (FEU) container: $150 - $700 +$40 Document Processing Expenses +$45 Messenger Submission Fee +if applicable, Transporting fee to exam site, Storage fee, and other fees. (2–25 business days)
Immediate Transportation (IT) must be given if US Customs issues a move-order to the exam site; the cost is $100. (additional 1–5 working days)
70% of the time, it will result in ANOTHER test.
The consignee/importer must pay all fees in advance.

(FDA, EPA/DOT, USDA, Lacey-Act, and other Government Agencies Exam): Emergency Action Notifications (EAN):

Average cost per CBM = $300-$1000 +$40 Document Processing Fees +$45 Messenger Submission Fee + if applicable, Transporting fee to exam site, Storage fee, and other fees. (10-45 business days)
Average cost of a 20-foot (TEU) container: $1000 - $4000 +$40 document processing costs +$45 messenger filing fee +if applicable, transportation fee to exam site, storage fee, and other fees. (10-45 business days)
Average cost of 40/45 foot (FEU) container = $1500 - $7000 +$40 Document's Process fees +$45 Messenger submission charge +if any, Transportation to exam site, Storage price, and other fees. (10:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
Immediate Transportation (IT) must be given if US Customs issues a move-order to the exam site; the cost is $100. (additional 1–5 working days)
25% of the time, it will result in ANOTHER test.
The consignee/importer must pay all fees in advance.

USDA is frequently looking for pest infestation or inappropriate wood packaging (importer accountable for fumigation certificate/report and all other documentation, NO others). Depending on what they uncover, the USDA may conduct a tailgate exam, an extensive exam, an X-ray, and other tests. Various goods and nations with a history of difficulties may be flagged for USDA inspections on a regular basis. (For example, Oulema leaf beetle, Xerotica conspurcata snails, and Helicellinae snails have been found in ceramic tile shipments from Italy.) If the importer fails to provide a Fumigation Report to US Customs/Broker, US Customs will issue Emergency Action Notifications (EAN) and compel the importers to fumigate the containers (fumigating a container in a US port can cost $1,000's plus other fines, delaying your shipment's release). It could take anywhere from 10 to 45 working days. ISPM 15 rules fumigation certificate = 'pest control certificate'(click here).

NOTE: Fumigation should be completed BEFORE your shipment leaves from a foreign country; ask your supplier/factory for a Fumigation Certificate. Other examples include: Vacuum-Cleaned/Fumigation Emergency Action Notifications (EAN) were sent. During the inspections, US Customs discovered seeds in the container of the importer). Importer got invoice after vacuum-cleaning/fumigation was completed. + Transporting the Container to the Vacuum Site and back to the Terminal. Consignee/Importer/Broker/Freight Forwarder/Carrier will be invoiced by USDA and other government agencies. (All fees must be paid in advance by the consignee or importer).

In Some Cases of Exam

If the package is tied to the FDA, USDA, or another US government agency, CBP will release it, but the FDA has placed a hold on it. Your shipment is available for pickup, but it cannot be sold or altered until the FDA hold is lifted. FDA may visit the shipment's location or email/mail/call the consignee to notify you when you can use or sell the shipment, or if it must be returned to your vendor (usually 4 weeks) or FDA may notify that it must be destroyed, this is the sample destroy notification. If this is the case, the following fees will be charged: Customs destruction forms +$200 + Messenger charge +$50 + FDA costs +$150 + Solid Waste Fee +$300 + Storage (if applicable) + Pickup and Delivery of consignment to Waste (if applicable) + Lab Test (if applicable) + ETC..... (all fees MUST be paid in advance by the consignee/importer).

In Other Cases

FDA After months of detention, they were freed with a notice that said, "These products have been released." This notification does not guarantee that the product released conforms with all terms of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or other connected Acts, and it does not waive action if the product is later discovered to be in violation. See an example here.

In Other Case of Fish and Wildlife (FWS) / USDA

Consignee imported a Woman/Hand Bags, but on all doc's, Consignee/Supplier/Factory did not disclose all of the materials that are made out of, such as Fabric/Textile (ie: cotton percent, woven percent, and so on) and some of the bags have a Sea-Shell, shipment had to be separated from other bags, all shipment was transported to Fish and Wildlife (FWS) Exam Site & Consignee had to hire someone (Consignee paid for Two Entry Filing). (go to this page) sample.

If the value of your shipment exceeds $250 and it is subject to FDA, EPA/DOT, or USDA, each government agency's submission charge is $85 plus a $45 submission messenger fee, for a total of $125 per agency (click here for details)

Some fees from US Customs Bonded Warehouse + aforementioned fees will apply with or without exams.

TMF (Traffic Mitigation Fee) = 20ft container ($61.50 - $100) / 40ft container ($123 - $200)
Warehouse / Terminal Demurrage / Storage Fees = These fees will be given after the exam has been completed.
Diem Charges / Overuse of Container = These fees will be given after the exam is completed.
Using a US Customs Bonded Trucker to transport your shipment to the exam site = They will reimburse you after the exam is completed.
Examination / Examining / Inspection / Inquiry / Investigation = After the exam is completed, they will give you this money.
Known fees (CBP FEES, DAD FEES, DOCUMENTATION, EQPT SURCHARGE, CFS FUEL S/C, PTT FILING FEE, INSURANCE FEE, LOADING CHARGES, AND SO ON.)
Etc & Etc costs = These fees will be given after the exam is completed.
ALL FEES WILL BE FORWARDED TO YOU/IMPORTER AND MUST BE PAID IN ADVANCE BY THE CONSIGNEE/IMPORTER.

Trademark Search / US Patent & Trademark: Trade Exam / Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). Statistics on seizures + Shipment of hazardous materials and other items. US Customs has some advice for importers and exporters.

The usual cost per CBM is $50-$300, plus $40 for document processing, $45 for messenger submission, and, if applicable, transportation to the test site, storage, and other expenses. (5–25 business days)
Average cost of a 20-foot (TEU) container: $350-$2500 +$40 Document Processing Expenses +$45 Messenger Submission Fee +if applicable, Transporting fee to exam site, Storage fee, and other fees. (5–25 business days)
Average cost of a 40/45 foot (FEU) container: $500-$3500 +$40 Document Processing Expenses +$45 Messenger Submission Fee +if applicable, Transporting fee to exam site, Storage fee, and other fees. (5–25 business days)
Immediate Transportation (IT) must be given if US Customs issues a move-order to the exam site; the cost is $100. (additional 1–5 working days)
50% of the time, it will result in ANOTHER test.
The consignee/importer must pay all fees in advance.

Government Agencies Who Look Into Your Cargos

Other US government agencies that may be looking into your cargo are listed below.

Who will be the first to receive the shipping exam notice?

If the Notify Party on your Bill of Lading is blank or contains Consignee information, the Freight Forwarder will receive an Exam Notice (other then Customs Clearing Agent)
When the entry is electronically transmitted to US Customs by the Customs Clearing Agent. The system responds to the broker with a "manifest hold" on the goods.

Possible Shipping Exam Fees

Here are some of the Exam fees that we are aware of, although they may create new terms and prices at any moment and from anyplace. (This is purely for informational purposes).
The Disposition Code is a two-position alphanumeric code sent in an AMS status notification message that indicates the action taken against the bill. Importer Examination Frequency (FOE)

Los Angeles, CA Rates

$220.00 = Shipside Exam
$220.00 = IBET Exam
$220.00 = X-Ray Exam
$220.00 = CTG Exam

Mobile, AL Rates

$149.22 = AQI
$373.05 = Out of Gage Fee
$79.94 = Vacis Shipside Exam
$159.87 = Vacis Staged Exam

Jacksonville, FL Rates

$79.54 = Vacis Shipside Exam
$132.57 = Vacis Staged Exam
$83.83 = USDA Exam
$371.2 = Container Rework

Portsmouth, VA Rates

$160.70 = US Coast Guard Exam
$160.70 = FDA Payment
$160.70 = USDA Fee
$142.85 = Vacis Shipside Exam
$285.70 = Vacis Staged Exam

Houston, TX Rates

$85.57 = USDA Fee
$51.55 = Vacis Shipside Exam

$449.10 = On Terminal Exam (Dry)
$512.35 = On Terminal Exam (Reefers)
$449.10 = Tailgate Fee
$449.10 = US Coast Guard Exam (Dry)
$512.35 = US Coast Guard Exam (Reefer)
$449.10 = Pop and Tap Tailgate Fee (Dry Grounded)
$512.35 = USCG Exam Reefer (Grounded)
$115.00 = Segregation Handling Fee

Miami, FL Rates

$85.00 = Vacis Shipside Exam
$175.00 = Vacis Staged Exam
$125.00 = USDA Exam
$125.00 = US Coast Guard Exam
$125.00 = LQV (Limited Quantity Verification) Exam
$132.21 = Dray Charges