Importer Security Filing (ISF) enacted by Customs Border Protection in January of this year.

The full enforcement will happen in January 2010.  This is only for ocean freight.  In a nut shell, importers are required to send advance information to Customs Border Protection (CBP) (24 hours prior to loading of their cargo on a vessel) regarding their incoming shipment.  There are eight (8) data elements which the importer or his agent can transmit to CBP.  There are fairly large penalties in place for not completing this and it is the responsibility of the importer into the US to complete this.