In the latest draft Customs Memorandum Order on Revised Procedures on the Submission of Electronic Air Manifest through a Value Added Service Provider (VASP), the following data elements are mandatory:
– Customs Office
– Registry Number
– B/L Reference Number (same as AWB Number)
– B/L Type (i.e., MAWB or HAWB or AWB)
– Nature of B/L (23-Consumption, 24-Transhipment)
– Shipper’s Name
– Shipper’s Address
– Consignee’s Name
– Consignee’s Address
– Notify Party
– Notify Address
– Place of Loading
– Place of Unloading
– Aircraft Name-
– Type of Packages
– Quantity
– Gross Weight
– Specific Description of the Goods
– Marks and Numbers
– Declared Value of the Goods
– Freight
– Insurance
– CBM
At this time, many airfreight industry stakeholders are already reviewing the draft CMO.
The initial feedback I received pertain to concerns about the cut-off submission time on or before flight ETA and penalty for late manifest submissions. Many import documentation teams of airfreight forwarders are worried that they have to stay awake late at night until early morning just to wait for airlines to submit MAWBs for flights with ETA during this period.
Significantly, several industry stakeholders have highlighted to me that their continuing review of the draft revised procedures are mainly focused on the following mandatory data elements:
– Declared Value of the Goods
– Freight
– Insurance
Their view is that these data elements are currently optional for seafreight manifest thus they are interested to know why these are mandatory for airfreight. It is for this specific reason that they look forward to the consultation with stakeholders that BOC will soon schedule.
Leo V. Morada is a domain expert on IT applications in Philippine port operations with 25 years’ senior IT management experience implementing technology solutions in port operations, electronic transactions with customs & port authority, and air/sea port community system applications. He is CEO of Cargo Data Exchange Center, Inc, is a customs-accredited Value Added Service Provider. He may be contacted at lmorada3fl@yahoo.com.
