CBP Releases Statistics on Customs Rulings

CBP headquarters processed customs ruling requests related to tariff classification and marking issues within about 265 days, the lengthiest average processing time among ruling categories, according to CBP ruling statistics for fiscal year 2015. Headquarters processing times vary "based on a number of factors including the nature of the ruling or decision, when complete information is presented, whether other rulings have to be modified or revoked, and the presence of any pending court cases," said a CBP spokeswoman who provided the statistics.

Rulings on carrier issues were processed on average within about five days, the fastest time among the ruling categories. For intellectual property rights matters rulings, excluding recordations, the processing time was 53 days. For drawback and entry matters, the processing time was 96 days and for value and special program matters, the processing time was an average of 116 days, the agency said. In total, during FY2015, HQ Regulations and Rulings and the National Commodity Specialist Division (NCSD) issued more than 6,600 rulings and decisions, said CBP. For rulings and decisions from the NCSD, processing time was 28 days, said CBP.