19 C.F.R. Subpart E—Handling of Merchandise in a Zone
Title 19 - Customs Duties
No merchandise, other than domestic status merchandise provided for in §146.43, will be manipulated, manufactured, exhibited, destroyed, or transferred from a zone in any manner or for any purpose, except under Customs permit as provided for in this part. The port director may require segregation of any zone status merchandise whenever necessary to protect the revenue or properly administer U.S. laws or regulations. (a) Application. Prior to any action, the operator shall file with the port director an application (or blanket application) on Customs Form 216 for permission to manipulate, manufacture, exhibit, or destroy merchandise in a zone. After Customs approves the application (or blanket application), the operator will retain in his recordkeeping system the approved application. (b) Approval. (1) The port director shall approve the application unless (i) the proposed operation would be in violation of law or regulation; (ii) the place designated for its performance is not suitable for preventing confusion of the identity or status of the merchandise, or for safeguarding the revenue; (iii) the port director is not satisfied that the destruction will be effective; or (iv) the Executive Secretary of the Board has not granted approval of a new manufacturing operation. (2) The port director is authorized to approve a blanket application for a period of up to one year for a continuous or repetitive operation. The port director may disapprove or revoke approval of any application, or may require the operator to file an individual application. (c) Appeal of adverse ruling. If an approved application is subsequently rescinded by the port director for any reason, the applicant or grantee may appeal the adverse ruling pursuant to the hearing provisions of §146.82(b)(2). The rescission shall remain in effect pending the decision on the appeal. (d) Report results—(1) Separate application. The operator shall report on Customs Form 216 the results of an approved manipulation, manufacture, exhibition, or certification of destruction (other than by a blanket application), unless the port director chooses physically to supervise the operation. (2) Blanket application. The operator shall maintain a record of an approved manipulation, manufacture, exhibition, or certification of destruction, in its inventory control and recordkeeping system so as to provide an accounting and audit trail of the merchandise through the approved operation. (e) Destruction. The port director may permit destruction to be done outside the zone, in whole or in part and at the risk and expense of the applicant, and under such conditions as are necessary to protect the revenue, if proper destruction cannot be accomplished within the zone. Any residue from the destruction within a zone, which is determined to be without commercial value, may be removed to Customs territory for disposal. (a) Report required. The operator shall report, in writing, to the port director upon identification, as such, of any: (1) Theft or suspected theft of merchandise; (2) Merchandise not properly admitted to the zone; or (3) Shortage of one percent (1%) or more of the quantity of merchandise in a lot or covered by a unique identifier, if the missing merchandise would have been subject to duties and taxes of $100 or more upon entry into the Customs territory. The operator shall record upon identification all shortages and overages, whether or not they are required to be reported to the port director at that time, in its inventory control and recordkeeping system. The operator shall record all shortages and overages as required in the annual reconciliation report under §146.25. (b) Certain domestic merchandise. Except in a case of theft or suspected theft, the operator need not file a report with the port director, or note in the annual reconciliation report, any shortage or overage concerning domestic status merchandise for which no permit is required. (c) Shortage—(1) Operator responsibility. The operator is responsible under its Foreign Trade Zone Operator's Bond for any loss of merchandise or for any merchandise which cannot be located or otherwise accounted for (except domestic status merchandise for which no permit is required), unless the port director is satisfied that the merchandise was: (i) Never received in the zone; (ii) Removed from the zone under proper permit; (iii) Not removed from the zone; or (iv) Lost or destroyed in the zone through fire or other casualty, evaporation, spillage, leakage, absorption, or similar cause, and did not enter the commerce of the U.S. (2) Liability for duty and taxes. Upon demand of the port director, the operator shall make entry for and pay duties and taxes applicable to merchandise which is missing or otherwise not accounted for. (d) Overage. The person with the right to make entry shall file, within 5 days after identification of an overage, an application for admission of the merchandise to the zone on Customs Form 214 or file a Customs entry for the merchandise. If a Customs Form 214 or a Customs entry is not timely filed, and the port director has not granted an extension of the time provided, the merchandise shall be sent to general order. (e) Damage. The liability of the operator under its Foreign Trade Zone Operator's Bond may be adjusted for the loss of value resulting from damage to merchandise occurring in the zone. The operator shall segregate, mark, and otherwise secure damaged merchandise to preserve its identity as damaged merchandise.
Title 19: Customs Duties
PART 146—FOREIGN TRADE ZONES
Subpart E—Handling of Merchandise in a Zone
§ 146.51 Customs control of merchandise.
§ 146.52 Manipulation, manufacture, exhibition or destruction; Customs Form 216.
§ 146.53 Shortages and overages.
