[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23979-23980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6184]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Bureau of Diplomatic Security

[Public Notice 5382]


Customs Clearance Requirements of Foreign Missions and Freight 
Forwarders

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State has determined, under the Foreign 
Missions Act, that any shipment sent from abroad to any foreign 
diplomatic or consular mission, or its personnel must be cleared by 
U.S. Customs and Border

[[Page 23980]]

Protection solely through the Department of State's diplomatic customs 
clearance procedure and form. This decision makes it unlawful for any 
person or entity (i.e. freight forwarders) to assist foreign missions 
in clearing shipments through customs by any other means. It clearly 
states that private entities as well as foreign missions are required 
to comply with the Department of State's diplomatic customs clearance 
procedure and it is the intended effect of this rule to increase such 
compliance.

DATES: Effective Date: April 25, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Technical information: Cliff Seagroves, 202-895-3541, 
[email protected].
    Legal information: Susan Benda, 202-647-0308, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Foreign Missions Act defines a foreign 
mission's acquisition of ``services relating to customs'' as a 
``benefit''. 22 U.S.C. 4302(a)(1)(B). By virtue of Delegation of 
Authority 214, the Director of the Department of State's Office of 
Foreign Mission has the authority to make a determination limiting they 
way in which a foreign mission may obtain a ``benefit''. Such a 
determination may also make it ``unlawful for any person to make 
available any benefits to a foreign mission'' except in accordance with 
OFM requirements. 22 U.S.C. 4311(a).

    Dated: April 18, 2006.
Richard J. Griffin,
Director, Office of Foreign Missions, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E6-6184 Filed 4-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-43-P