Members,
Did you know that your ocean manifest information is available to the public? The Freedom of Information Act requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to make certain manifest data elements available to the public. Your manifest data can be accessed by your competitors, customers, and third party data publishers.
But, there is a way to suppress this data, and it became easier to do as of this morning.
Importers, exporter and consignee’s can take action to have this information removed from public record. This morning U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) deployed an automated online application for submitting electronic vessel manifest confidentiality requests, which removes access to your data by third parties.
This enhancement will enable importers, exporters and consignees utilizing ocean transportation to manage their own confidentiality requests electronically via an online application.
Currently, carriers, importers, exporters, or consignees may submit mail or email requests for confidential treatment of their name and address on inward and outward vessel manifests, which typically requires 60-90 days for processing. The new enhancement automates this process via an online application and it become effective almost immediately.
You can find out more information on the program and the rules for manifest confidentiality on the USCBP website here.
You can access the online form to enter your request here .
If members need help or guidance on this, please contact the association
