Manifest Hold
This hold is placed when there is a mis-match, or lack of data provided in the carrier’s customs manifest and/or the Importer Security Filing (ISF).
Commercial Enforcement Hold
This is a broad definition for any hold put on a shipment to address issues that arise in regards to customs regulations. In addition to the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP), many other agencies involved with regulating goods entering the country can determine whether one of these holds is placed on a shipment. These “other” agencies include the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) among others. U.S. Customs is the watchdog for all of them.
Statistical Validation Hold
These holds are triggered based on discrepancies between the information in the customs manifest (submitted before departure from the port of loading) and the shipment itself (i.e commercial value, cargo weight, etc.) as provided on the shipment documentation during customs clearance.
CET Hold (A-TCET)
This hold is placed by the Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team, a division of U.S. Customs & Border Patrol (CBP), when there is a suspicion that the shipment contains illegal contraband (i.e. Drugs, firearms, etc.)
PGA Hold
As with the Commercial Enforcement Hold (detailed above), a number of Participating Government Agencies (PGAs) regulate products entering the U.S. Any of these agencies may instruct CBP to place a PGA hold on a shipment to ensure that it meets compliance regulations.
How will I know if there’s a hold on my shipment?
U.S. CBP will notify the customs broker and importer electronically of any holds. Upon further review, CBP may either decide to have the cargo inspected, or simply request additional information via submission of backup documentation (e.g. commercial invoices, packing lists, and/or various certification[s] depending on the commodity in question). The hold is then either released or escalated for one or more other intensive types of exams.