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Shippers warned on Japan's 24-hour advanced manifest cargo rule

JAPAN's version of the 24-hour advanced manifest rule for containerised cargo shipments will come into effect on March 8, 2014, requiring advance submission of shipping details for security screening prior to loading of cargo on board the vessel at origin.

Shipments that don't contain the necessary information in shipping instructions will be rejected for loading by customs authorities. By applying the new regulation, Japan is following in the footsteps of the US, Canada and Europe.

"This move is well underway around the world and we can expect that this will be the norm for all trading nations within the next few years," Trade Tech president, Bryn Heimbeck, was quoted as saying in a report by the Journal of Commerce.

The European Union's 24-hour advanced manifest rule came into effect on December 31, 2010, while the US was the first to introduce the regulation in late 2002 as an anti-terrorism measure following 9/11.

In a departure from European Union rules, Japan will require NVOCCs to file documents in compliance with the Advanced Filing Requirement for each of their house bills of lading so the identity of the shipper and consignee cannot be concealed.

And, unlike in the US and Canada, there will not be a "carrier option" for filing. NVOCCs will need to make their own filing arrangements, according to Mr Heimbeck.

Maersk Line posted an advisory on December 12 saying from the beginning of February, it will start sending notices if shipments' shipping instructions have not been submitted per "JP24" compliance requirements.

Shipping instructions will need to be submitted prior to the container yard cutoff at the load port.