Traceability Files That Release a Detained Textile Container
Releasing detained textile containers requires an audited dossier pairing transaction certificates with mass balance scrap calculations and IRMS origin testing.
19 CFR 151 16
Federal Regulation
Customs rules in the United States govern the sampling and testing of imported wool and hair to determine clean content and grade. Under 19 cfr 151 16, the government authorizes port directors to take representative samples from any shipment to verify the staple length or fineness declared on entry documents. The regulation ensures that duties are calculated on the actual weight of clean fiber rather than the total weight of the greasy lot which may contain grease and dirt.
Sampling Power
Government officials possess the right to enter any vessel or warehouse to perform the necessary extractions for chemical analysis. The process described in 19 cfr 151 16 requires the use of core boring machines that take samples from a specific percentage of bales in the shipment to ensure a statistically valid result. Physical evidence provided by these samples forms the basis for laboratory tests that identify the percentage of yield and vegetable matter present in the raw material.
Any attempt to obstruct this sampling can lead to the detention of the entire cargo until the verification is complete.
Verification Protocol
Laboratory results obtained through these procedures take precedence over the estimates provided by the exporter or the initial declarations made by the importer of record. If the findings under 19 cfr 151 16 differ from the invoice details, the customs office adjusts the liquidated entry to match the measured wool content found in the lab. Importers retain the right to request a retest if they dispute the official findings within a specified timeframe.
Duty Basis
Final payment obligations depend entirely on the outcome of these standardized government tests.