Questions?
Contact the E-Commerce team at ecommerce@cbp.dhs.gov.
Statistics
De minimis volume and values are based on the number of bills of lading and their declared value at the time of import.
Section 321 BOLs (De Minimis)
Fiscal Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 mid-year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total De minimis | 636.7M | 771.5M | 685.4M | 1B | 705.1M |
Total De minimis Value | $67B | $43.5B | $46.5B | $54.5B | $32.8B |
Total De minimis BOLs - Air | 539M | 661.1M | 542.7M | 880.2M | 615.1M |
Total De minimis BOLs - Truck | 96.7M | 108.5M | 140.7M | 170.2M | 88.4M |
Total De minimis BOLs - Vessel | 950k | 1.7M | 1.9M | 2.6M | 1.5M |
Total De minimis BOLs - Rail | 67K | 43K | 43.7K | 15.2K | 6K |
Entry Type 86 BOLs | 122.1M | 344.8M | 333.7M | 623.1M | 474.7M |
321 Data Pilot | 60.1M | 169.5M | 161.6M | 162.5M | 82.1M |
Total Express | 184.2M | 230.9M | 213.7M | 190.3M | 111.1M |
Total Postal | 264.1M | 108.4M | 83.6M | 81.2M | 39.1M |
Examples of Unacceptable vs Acceptable Cargo Descriptions
19 CFR § 4.7a, 122.48a, 123.91, 123.92 and 128.21 require a precise, or specific, description of merchandise regardless of value. A precise cargo description is a description of an item that is clear and concise. 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. Only the cargo description should be included in the field of transmission. Superfluous information, not relevant to the commodity description e.g., personally identifiable information (PII), type of packaging, carrier disclaimers, etc., should not be transmitted in the commodity description field.
The following list, provided by CBP, is a guide to acceptable and unacceptable descriptions. This list is not exhaustive and will continue to expand as unacceptable descriptions are identified and acceptable descriptions are further refined. Descriptions in the Acceptable column should be viewed only as examples of the items they actually describe and not as a list of specifically acceptable or restrictive terms.
Vague Item Description
Unacceptable | Acceptable |
---|---|
"Brand" or "Trade Mark" names by themselves, i.e., "Bubbles Brand" | "Bubbles Brand" Laundry Detergent |
Laundry Detergent | |
Animals | Horse |
Poultry | |
Bovine | |
Apparel/Clothing/Garments | Shoes, Footwear |
Wearing Apparel, Ladies' Apparel, Men's Apparel | Women's Dresses |
Men's Shirts | |
Boy's Jackets | |
Appliances | Refrigerator |
Stove | |
Microwave Oven | |
Coffee Machines | |
Accessories | Hair Elastics |
Sunglasses | |
Socks | |
Auto Parts | Air Filters |
Automobile Brakes | |
Automotive Windshield | |
Bill of Lading, Sea Waybill, Air Manifest or a reference to another bill of lading number | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
Caps | Baseball Caps |
Blasting Caps | |
Bottle Caps | |
Hub Caps | |
Chemicals, hazardous | Actual Chemical Name (not brand name): |
U.N. HAZMAT Code Identifier | |
Chemicals, non-hazardous | Aluminum Potassium Sulfate |
Methyl Alcohol | |
U.N. HAZMAT Code Identifier | |
Cleaning Products | Detergents |
Mops | |
Window Cleaner | |
Company Business | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
Consolidated (on house or simple bills) | Consolidated (only on master bills, where there will be several house bills of varying descriptions) |
Consumer Goods | A clear and concise description of the item is required |
Crafts/Craft Supplies | Pipe Cleaners |
Daily Necessities | A clear and concise description of the item is required (e.g. Plastic Comb, Cosmetic Mirror, Deodorant, Diapers) |
Necessities | A clear and concise description of the item is required (e.g. Shampoo, Hand Cream, Toilet Paper) |
Handicrafts | Construction paper, cotton balls, pipe cleaners, pompoms, decorative objects made by hand |
Electronic Goods | Computers, Monitors, Televisions, Mobile Telephones, DVD players, Electronic Toys, Video Game Consoles, Electronic Dolls |
Equipment | Oil Well Equipment, Hydro-Electric Turbine |
Industrial Equipment | Poultry Equipment, Compact Farm Tractor |
Film | Camera Film |
Polyethylene Film | |
Polyester Film | |
Flooring | Wood Flooring |
Carpet | |
Ceramic Tile | |
Marble Flooring | |
Foodstuffs | Packaged Rice, Bulk Rice, Mangos, Baking Flour |
Food | Pasta, Canned Tuna, Corn Tortillas |
Meat | Fresh Beef, Frozen Chicken |
Fish | Live Trout, Frozen Salmon, Canned Tuna |
Produce/Assorted Produce/Mixed produce/Mix Veg | Fresh Oranges, Frozen Broccoli, Canned Peaches |
Pet food | Canned Dog Food, Dry Cat Food |
Cases of Food | Juice, Olive Oil |
Snacks | Soda, Crackers, Potato Chips |
Gifts | Dolls, Basketball, Toy Car |
Novelty Items | Remote Control Cars, Toy Phone |
Frames | Picture Frames |
Freight Prepaid | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
Household Goods/Personal Effects | Acceptable only when goods are Personal / Used Household Effects transported by a commercial carrier (Goods accounted under a Personal Effects Accounting Document) |
Indecipherable descriptions ex. "RED SMOOTH MODULAR", "CDRE", "D6T PARTS", "RIPE”, “Z”, “2” | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
Iron | Iron Pipes |
Iron Plates | |
Leather Articles | Saddles |
Leather Handbags | |
Leather Jackets | |
Shoes | |
Machines | Sewing Machines |
Printing Machines | |
Machine Parts | Oil Pumps |
Silicone Seals | |
Car Engines | |
Medical Supplies | Medical Gloves, N95 Masks, Rolls of Gauze |
Biologicals | Blood, plasma, tissue, semen |
Medical Device | Dialysis Machine |
Laboratory Goods | Syringes |
Glass vials for laboratory use | |
Medication/Pharmaceuticals | Insulin, Allergy Medication, with the common name or chemical name |
Metal | Ingots of metal (precious or otherwise) |
Round bars of steel or other metal | |
Deformed bars/rebars (of metal) | |
Plates (of metal) | |
Billets (of metal) | |
Slabs (of metal) | |
Pipes (of metal) | |
Beams (of metal) | |
Tubes/Tubing (of metal) | |
Angles, shapes and sections (of metal) | |
Sheets (of metal) | |
Expanded metal | |
Flat bars (of metal) | |
Strand wire (of metal) | |
Oil | Mineral Oil |
Motor Oil | |
Olive Oil | |
Online Retailer, Online Retailer Shipment | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
Ore | Iron Ore |
Copper Ore | |
Packaging | Corrugated Cardboard Boxes |
Boxes | Mailing Envelopes |
Cartons | Plastic Bubble Wrap |
Palletized Shipment | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
Paper | Paper Rolls |
Wrapping Paper | |
Paper Pulp | |
Paper Towel | |
Printing Paper | |
Pipes | Plastic Pipes |
PVC Pipes | |
Steel Pipes | |
Plants/Flowers | Tulips, Daisies, Roses |
Cuttings | Cedar Saplings |
Tomato Plants | |
Plastic Goods | Plastic Kitchenware |
Industrial Plastics | Plastic Toys |
Plastic Sheets | |
Plastic Tubes | |
Polyurethane | Polyurethane Threads |
Polyurethane Medical Gloves | |
Powder | Flea Powder |
Baby Powder | |
Corn Starch | |
Promotional Items | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
Pump | Oil Pump |
Water Pump | |
Bicycle Pump | |
Rubber Articles | Rubber Hoses |
Tires | |
Rubber Toys | |
Rubber Conveyor Belts | |
Rods | Welding Rods |
Rebar | |
Aluminum Rods | |
Reactor Rods | |
Sample | Shampoo Sample |
Conditioner Sample | |
Makeup Sample | |
Scrap | Plastic Scrap |
Aluminum Scrap | |
Iron Scrap | |
Serial Number only ("SN HAFR997MJ02041010") | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
Shingles | Asphalt Shingles |
Steel Shingles | |
Wood Shingles | |
Spare Parts | Cellphone Replacement Screen |
New Automobile Breaks | |
Sporting Goods | Hockey Sticks |
Soccer Balls | |
Goal Nets | |
STC (Said to Contain) | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
General Cargo | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
FAK (Freight of All Kinds) | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
"No Description" | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
'Misc/Miscellaneous' | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
Various | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
General | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
Unknown | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
UNK | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
XX | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
NOI (Not Otherwise Indicated) | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
NES (Note Elsewhere Specified) | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
Steel | Steel Plates |
Steel Coils | |
Supplements | Vitamins |
Protein Powder | |
Supplies | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
Stuff | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
Taxable Groceries | Ice Cream |
Potato Chips | |
Textiles | Carpets/Rugs |
Silk | |
Finished Fabric Rolls | |
Thing | A clear and concise description of the item is required – see other acceptable descriptions for examples |
Tiles | Marble Tiles |
Toiletries/Bathroom Products | Towels |
Toothbrushes | |
Shampoo | |
Tools | Screwdrivers, Wrenches, Hammers |
Cordless Drills, Circular Saws, Wired Impact Drivers, Pneumatic Ratchets | |
Industrial Lathe, Band Saw, Reciprocating Saw | |
Toys/Games | Wooden Children's Toys |
Plastic Children's Toys | |
Board Games | |
Console Games | |
Vehicles | Cars, Trucks, Buses, Recreational Vehicle |
Tractors, Combines | |
Bicycles | |
Boats | |
Wires | Steel Wire |
Copper Wire | |
Auto Harness | |
Coiled Wire (Industrial) | |
Wood | Hemlock logs with bark |
Empty Wood Pallets | |
Cut Lumber |
Latest E-Commerce Announcements
Announcement of the Extension of the Section 321 Data Pilot to allow additional partners
CBP has announced that it will extend the test for another two years and open the pilot to allow additional partners to participate. This expansion will allow CBP to continue further evaluation of the 321 Data Pilot program and the risks associated with section 321 shipments. The voluntary pilot initially began on August 22, 2019 and will run for an additional 24 months through August 2025. For additional information, see 88 FR 10140.
Announcement of the Extension of the Section 321 Data Pilot
CBP has announced that it will extend the test for another two years to continue further evaluation of the 321 Data Pilot program and the risks associated with section 321 shipments. The voluntary pilot initially began on August 22, 2019, and will run for an additional 24 months through August 2023. At this time, the pilot is limited to a maximum of nine participants. For additional information, see 86 FR 48435.
Announcement of Administrative Ruling Related to Domestic Warehouses and Fulfillment Centers
CBP has issued an administrative ruling that clarifies whether importations made by a nonresident importer in one day and sent to a U.S. fulfillment facility or warehouse may qualify for informal duty-free entry under 19 U.S.C. § 1321(a)(2)(c). The administrative ruling went into effect on July 28, 2020 and was published in the Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) on July 31, 2020.
- CSMS Message
- CROSS Message
- Press Release
- Administrative Ruling Related to Domestic Warehouses and Fulfillment Centers One Pager: English Translation | Mandarin Translation
- Administrative Ruling Related to Domestic Warehouses and Fulfillment Centers Frequently Asked Questions
CBP Issues Counterfeit Awareness Guides for Consumers and Importers
The rapid growth of e-commerce has revolutionized the way goods are bought and sold, allowing for counterfeit and pirated goods to flood our borders and penetrate our communities and homes. Illicit goods trafficked to American consumers threaten public health and safety, as well as national security. This illicit activity impacts American innovation and erodes the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers and workers.
CBP encourages you to review and broadly disseminate the attached guides, “Awareness of Counterfeits in E-Commerce” and “The Price of Importing Counterfeit Goods”. The purpose of these guides is to help U.S. consumers and importers understand the risk and consequences associated with counterfeit goods. For more information or questions, please contact CBP’s E-Commerce Branch at ecommerce@cbp.dhs.gov.
E-Commerce Counterfeit Awareness Guide for Consumers
E-Commerce Counterfeit Awareness Guide for Importers
U.S. Customs and Border Protection wants to help you and your family stay healthy and safe. Some foreign online sellers may be taking advantage of American consumers by charging high prices for counterfeit or substandard sanitation products and safety equipment. See the E-Commerce Consumer Awareness for COVID-19 Safety and be aware before you buy.
E-commerce has expanded foreign sellers’ market access to the United States. However, these sellers may not have all pertinent information to comply with U.S. admissibility law. CBP recently released a new E-Commerce Compliance Guide that will help online sellers comply with basic import requirements so that their shipments are less likely to be detained by CBP and more likely to be cleared quickly.
CBP Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan announced the selection of nine entities participating in CBP’s Section 321 Data Pilot. Under the pilot, CBP and participants, including online marketplaces, will partner to secure e-commerce supply chains, protect American consumers, and expedite legitimate trade. Press Release - Section 321 Data Pilot
E-Commerce Challenges
E-Commerce is a growing segment of the U.S. economy and has been increasing significantly for the past several years. Consumer habits are changing as the internet empowers individuals to make purchases online. These advances in economic activity have led to increasing volumes of imports of small, just-in-time packages, creating inspection challenges for CBP. E-Commerce shipments pose the same health, safety, and economic security risks as containerized shipments, but the volume is higher and growing. Additionally, transnational criminal organizations are shipping illicit goods to the United States via small packages due to a perceived lower interdiction risk and less severe consequences if the package is interdicted. Furthermore, new or infrequent importers often possess less familiarity with U.S. customs laws and regulations, which can lead to the importation of non-compliant goods. CBP must increase its ability to address the administrative and resource challenges this creates, particularly when coupled with the growing volume of e-commerce trade.
E-Commerce Strategy
To address the above mentioned challenges, CBP developed its E-Commerce Strategy, which turns on four primary goals.
This strategy highlights private industry and foreign governments as key resources in CBP's continuous assessment of the e-commerce environment. The strategy includes efforts to educate the public and trade community to ensure they understand their responsibilities as importers to comply with customs regulations. The strategy also emphasizes enforcement initiatives, such as streamlining enforcement processes affected by increasing e-commerce volumes, leveraging enforcement partnerships with partner government agencies and foreign governments, and improving data collection from CBP targeting systems and field personnel. Select E-Commerce Strategy to learn more.