When a container stalls at customs, guessing costs money. This hub organizes five region specific playbooks so your team can identify the hold, act on the right clock, and control avoidable cost while you push for release.
What this hub covers
- United States, CBP customs holds — how to use presentation for examination, five day and thirty day decisions, and common exam paths.
- United States, FDA detentions — how to use ITACS, map evidence to the charge, and handle DWPE and reconditioning.
- United Kingdom, HMRC queries — how to anchor on MRN and CDS messages, when to contact the National Clearance Hub, and how to route SPS checks to the BCP.
- European Union, IPR detentions — how to manage the ten working day window, work with right holders, and decide between evidence and consent to destruction.
- Demurrage and detention during holds — how to document unavailability, audit invoices, and dispute within FMC windows.
How to use this series
- Identify the owner first, customs or a partner agency or port health or a right holder.
- Find the timer, presentation date or notice deadline or booking window. Your next step depends on that clock.
- Capture evidence, exam bookings, gate or appointment unavailability, and any agency notices.
- Escalate with facts, cite the rule or notice window in your cover note, then ask for the earliest workable slot.
What to document while you wait
- Hold data, code, owner, location, and any required venue like CES or BCP.
- Appointment log, time stamped screenshots of attempts and responses.
- Availability record, first availability for imports, earliest return date for exports, and any changes.
- Decision dates, presentation, notice dates, lab sampling dates, and release.
Quick glossary
- Presentation for examination, when CBP can view and examine a shipment. Starts U.S. decision clocks.
- Centralized Examination Station (CES), U.S. facility for tailgate and intensive exams.
- Non intrusive inspection (NII), scan based exam that can downgrade or escalate a hold.
- ITACS, FDA portal for status, document upload, and lab milestones.
- MRN, UK CDS declaration identifier used for queries and responses.
- Border Control Post (BCP), UK and EU inspection sites for SPS checks.
- Application for Action (AFA), EU right holder request that enables IPR enforcement.
- D and D, demurrage and detention charges that require compliant invoices and fair application.
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References
- 19 CFR § 151.16 and 19 U.S.C. § 1499 — CBP detention and admissibility decisions.
- FDA Detention and Hearing and ITACS portal — response windows and status tools.
- HMRC CDS document upload and messages — how to respond to UK queries.
- Regulation (EU) No 608/2013 — EU IPR detentions, deadlines, and destruction paths.
- 46 CFR Part 541 and 46 CFR § 545.5 — FMC billing requirements and the incentive principle.
Prefer email? Contact us directly at min.so@tradlinx.com (Americas), sondre.lyndon@tradlinx.com (Europe) or henry.jo@tradlinx.com (EMEA/Asia)
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