US has new rules

UNITED STATES: Apparel manufacturers exporting to the US may shortly have to comply with new rules proposed by Washington officials as a way of making the country safer.

US Customs and Border Protection wants to require importers and shipping companies to submit additional information about their cargo before it leaves foreign ports. It already has a system in place that uses basic shipping information, such as the name of the importer or type of goods, to target certain cargo containers as high-risk.

However the new regulations would expand the requisite information, including entries on the name of the manufacturer and the location on the ship where the cargo will be stowed.

A lawyer for the United State Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel has already voiced concern about the move claiming it could cause unnecessary delays. "In the time-sensitive fashion industry, when you're already talking about a 21-day travel time, every hour matters." The service will take comments on the new proposals for 90 days before finalising the requirements.