TACA DELAYS SED HANDLING FEE UNTIL NOV. 1

TACA DELAYS SED HANDLING FEE UNTIL NOV. 1    Carriers of the Trans-Atlantic Conference Agreement have delayed the implementation of a shipper's export declaration (SED) handling fee until Nov 1.
   The fee, which was to have taken effect last Friday, will be $100 per SED or export license completed by a TACA carrier “when specifically requested by the shipper or his authorized representative,” TACA said.
   The Nov. 1 deadline coincides with the deadline agreed upon between ocean carriers and U.S. Census Bureau to end the practice of faxing SEDs. Census and Customs has allowed exporters and forwarders to fax their SEDs to carriers since 1996 and it has become common practice.
   The deadline to end the faxing of SEDs had originally been Aug. 4, but the carriers and Census agreed to the extension. After Nov. 1, carriers must stop accepting faxed SEDs from their customers and help Census move exporters and forwarders toward filing their shipment data through the Automated Export System or the agency's Internet link, AESDirect. Carriers must also provide Census with detailed information about customers who file paper SEDs.
   Carriers have said they'll work with shippers through the transition, but the lines will pass any fines related to SED mistakes back to shippers.
   TACA member lines are Atlantic Container Line, Hapag-Lloyd, Mediterranean Shipping Co., Maersk Sealand, NYK, OOCL and P&O Nedlloyd.