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Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-110

§2612 Entry Into Customs Territory of the United States

Title 15 › CHAPTER 53 — TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL › SUBCHAPTER I — CONTROL OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES › § 2612

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Treasury must stop any chemical, mixture, or product containing them from entering U.S. customs territory if it does not follow rules under this chapter or if it is offered in violation of section 2604, section 2605, or subchapter IV, or any rule, order, or court order tied to those parts (including orders from civil actions under sections 2604, 2606, or subchapter IV). If entry is refused, the Treasury will tell the person meant to receive the shipment (the consignee), will not release it, and will require export, storage, or disposal. The consignee has 90 days from the notice to export it. The Treasury may release it sooner if the Administrator reviews the refusal and the consignee posts a bond for the full invoice value plus the duty. If the consignee fails to return the shipment when demanded, they must pay damages equal to the bond. Storage, transport, and handling charges must be paid by the owner or consignee; unpaid charges become a lien on future imports. The Secretary of the Treasury must make rules to carry out these requirements after consulting the Administrator.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §2612

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general
(1)The Secretary of the Treasury shall refuse entry into the customs territory of the United States (as defined in general note 2 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States) of any chemical substance, mixture, or article containing a chemical substance or mixture offered for such entry if—
(A)it fails to comply with any rule in effect under this chapter, or
(B)it is offered for entry in violation of section 2604 of this title, 2605 of this title, or subchapter IV, a rule or order under section 2604 of this title, 2605 of this title, or subchapter IV, or an order issued in a civil action brought under section 2604 of this title, 2606 of this title or subchapter IV.
(2)If a chemical substance, mixture, or article is refused entry under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Treasury shall notify the consignee of such entry refusal, shall not release it to the consignee, and shall cause its disposal or storage (under such rules as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe) if it has not been exported by the consignee within 90 days from the date of receipt of notice of such refusal, except that the Secretary of the Treasury may, pending a review by the Administrator of the entry refusal, release to the consignee such substance, mixture, or article on execution of bond for the amount of the full invoice of such substance, mixture, or article (as such value is set forth in the customs entry), together with the duty thereon. On failure to return such substance, mixture, or article for any cause to the custody of the Secretary of the Treasury when demanded, such consignee shall be liable to the United States for liquidated damages equal to the full amount of such bond. All charges for storage, cartage, and labor on and for disposal of substances, mixtures, or articles which are refused entry or release under this section shall be paid by the owner or consignee, and in default of such payment shall constitute a lien against any future entry made by such owner or consignee.
(b)Rules
The Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the Administrator, shall issue rules for the administration of subsection (a) of this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, referred to in subsec. (a), is not set out in the Code. See Publication of Harmonized Tariff Schedule note set out under section 1202 of Title 19, Customs Duties.

Amendments

1992—Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 102–550 substituted “section 2604 of this title, 2605 of this title, or subchapter IV” for “section 2604 or 2605 of this title” in two places and “section 2604 of this title, 2606 of this title or subchapter IV” for “section 2604 or 2606 of this title”. 1988—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 100–418 substituted “general note 2 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States” for “general headnote 2 to the Tariff Schedules of the United States” in introductory text.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–418 effective Jan. 1, 1989, and applicable with respect to articles entered on or after such date, see section 1217(b)(1) of Pub. L. 100–418, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 3001 of Title 19, Customs Duties.

Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1977, see section 31 of Pub. L. 94–469, set out as a note under section 2601 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 2612

Title 15, Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110