On September 4, 2024, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that it will reject vague descriptions in Air Cargo Advanced Screening (ACAS) messages. This change applies to all inbound international shipments, regardless of carrier.
Descriptions must be precise and specific, regardless of the merchandise’s value. CBP further clarifies, “The description should be in plain language and detailed enough to allow U.S. Customs to identify the size, shape, and characteristics of the commodity.”
What does this mean for shippers?
Beginning November 12, 2024, shipments with vague descriptions can be delayed at origin. As a shipper, it’s your responsibility to provide compliant descriptions of the goods you’re sending, both in shipping systems and in printed documentation.
How to write a good description
The best descriptions are precise, meaning they’re both clear and concise. As a rule of thumb, descriptions should include the following information:
- What is it?
- What is it made of?
- What is it used for?
They should also include additional information about the product, when applicable. Just make sure to avoid vague descriptions like “gift,” “accessories,” or “parts,” since these don’t provide concrete information about the goods.
The description “consolidated” is only acceptable at the master bill level.
Examples of unacceptable vs. acceptable descriptions
CBP has created an extensive list of unacceptable vs. acceptable cargo descriptions, which you can find here. To give you an idea of what works and what doesn’t, here are a few examples from the list:
|
Unacceptable
|
Acceptable
|
|---|---|
|
Blanket
|
100% polyester blanket
|
|
Electronic goods
|
Computers, monitors, televisions, mobile telephones, DVD players, electronic toys, video game consoles, electronic dolls
|
|
Food
|
Pasta, canned tuna, corn tortillas
|
Still have questions? Feel free to reach out to your Customer Success Manager or our Support team.
