How does Foreign Military Sales cargo clear customs in the purchaser's country?

Customs clearance in-country is the FMS purchaser’s responsibility. At no time should the SCO or USMILREP get involved in clearing customs for the FMS purchaser. If shipments are made under a Building Partner Capacity (BPC) case, the SCO should arrange for a representative of the benefiting country to accompany the SCO to clear local customs.

Commercial invoices and certificates of origin may also be necessary to clear customs in the purchaser’s country or customs in third countries through which the FMS purchaser’s materiel is transiting. If a shipment is released from a depot, an Issue Release/Receipt Document (DD Form 1348-1A) identifies materiel as DoW-supplied and provides the details (document number, FMS case designator, national stock number, etc.) that link the materiel to an LOA. If the shipment is released from a vendor under a DoW contract, an iRAPT Receiving Report (formerly the Materiel Inspection and Receiving Report, DD Form 250) is used. These documents should accompany the various shipment units.

When transportation is by ocean carrier, ARTRANS may send a cargo traffic message and an OBL to the SCO. The cargo traffic message is a non-detailed summation of cargo picked up at a CONUS ocean port of embarkation. It is normally addressed to any destination that is to receive any of the cargo that is picked up. Although it does not provide exhaustive detail, the cargo traffic message advises if the load includes hazardous materiel or if the ocean container with FMS shipment units destined for the purchaser’s water port of debarkation will be transferred to another ship while en route. Original OBLs are the most important document of all for USMILREPs located in a recipient country. Foreign Customs officials will normally accept nothing else for releasing cargo from a surface POD. Without an original OBL, FMS deliveries may be delayed, either by the country’s own customs requirement, or those of a third country, if the water POD (WPOD) is outside of the purchasing country itself.

Advance documentation is not available for AMC-lifted cargo or routine FMS cargo transported via commercial air. Shippers have discontinued sending advanced copies of release documents to USMILREPs and consignees for air shipments, primarily because the documents arrive much later than the actual shipments. Manifests and release documents normally travel with cargo, and these will be available for USMILREPs located in destination countries. SCOs and the FMS customers are encouraged to use the SCIP and EFTS to monitor shipments of DTC 7 and 9 materiel and plan for carrier arrival at Air POD (APODs).