On May 1, 2011 Mexico Advanced Manifest System (SAM) requirements are to become mandatory for air cargo. This system is similar to the EU wide ICS(Import Control System) that CustomsMatters have a solution for.

This regulation requires that an advanced electronic declaration be filed for goods being carried by air transportation to allow customs authorities to assess the security risk of cargo into and out of the customs territory of Mexico.

The regulation applies to:

• Goods to be imported into Mexico;
• Goods to be exported out of Mexico;
• Goods to be trans shipped through a Mexico port for a destination outside of Mexico;
• Goods to be re-loaded in a Mexico port for transit to a destination outside the Mexico; and
• Freight Remaining on Board (FROB)

The timing requirements for sending SAM data to bring the goods into Mexico are as follows:

• Short haul flights (with a duration less than four hours) must be filed upon departure;
• Long haul flights (with a duration over four hours) must be filed at least 4 hours prior to arrival at the first airport within the Mexican customs territory.

It is the responsibility of both the airline carrier and the freight forwarder to submit the SAM within the required deadline.