A precise commodity description is clear and concise. The description should be in plain language and detailed enough to allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to identify the size, shape and characteristics of the commodity. Only the commodity description should be included in this field of the Electronic Data Interchange transmission. Superfluous information, not relevant to the commodity description i.e., type of packaging, carrier disclaimers, etc., should not be transmitted in the commodity description field.
Where a precise description is absent, the party submitting the advance electronic manifest to CBP may consult the shipper and/or review the shipper's product literature (e.g., website, product brochure, etc.) for an acceptable description.
The following List, provided by CBP, is merely a suggested guide to acceptable and unacceptable descriptions. This List is not exhaustive and will continue to be revised.
| Unacceptable | Acceptable |
|---|---|
| Accessories | Hair Elastics |
| Prescription Sunglasses | |
| Men's Cotton Socks | |
| Auto Parts | Air Filters |
| Automobile Brakes | |
| Automotive Windshield | |
| "Brand" or "Trade Mark" names by themselves i.e., "Bubbles Brand" | "Bubbles Brand" liquid laundry detergent |
| Chemicals, hazardous | Actual Chemical Name (not brand name): |
| U.N. HAZMAT Code Identifier | |
| Chemicals, non-hazardous | Aluminum Potassium Sulfate |
| Methyl Alcohol | |
| U.N. HAZMAT Code Identifier | |
| Gifts | Children's plastic dolls |
| Household Goods/ | Acceptable only when goods are Personal / Used Household Effects transported by a commercial carrier (Goods accounted under a Personal Effects Accounting Document) |
| Indecipherable descriptions ex. "RED SMOOTH MODULAR", "CDRE", "D6T PARTS", "RIPE | A precise description of the item is required. |
| Metal | Ingots of metal (precious or otherwise) |
| Round bars of steel or other metal | |
| Deformed bars/rebars (of metal) | |
| Plates (of metal) | |
| Billets (of metal) | |
| Slabs (of metal) | |
| Pipes (of metal) | |
| Beams (of metal) | |
| Tubes/Tubing (of metal) | |
| Angles, shapes and sections (of metal) | |
| Sheets (of metal) | |
| Expanded metal | |
| Flat bars (of metal) | |
| Strand wire (of metal) | |
| Online Retailer Goods / Shipments | A precise description of the item is required. |
| Palletized Shipment | A precise description of the item is required. |
| Paper | Wrapping Paper |
| Paper Pulp | |
| Paper Towel | |
| Printing Paper | |
| Plastic Kitchenware | |
| Plastic Goods | |
| Promotional Items | A precise description of the item is required. |
| Pump | Water Pump |
| Bicycle Pump | |
| Rubber Hoses | |
| Rubber Articles | |
| Automobile Passeger Tires | |
| Rubber Dog Toys | |
| Rubber Conveyor Belts | |
| Sample | Shampoo Sample |
| Conditioner Sample | |
| Makeup Sample | |
| Serial Number only ("SN HAFR997MJ02041010") | A precise description of the item is required. |
| General Cargo | |
| FAK (Freight of All Kinds) | |
| "No Description" | |
| 'Misc/Miscellaneous' | |
| Various | |
| General | |
| Unknown | |
| UNK | |
| XX | |
| NOI (Not Otherwise Indicated) | |
| NES (Note Elsewhere Specified) | |
| Supplies | A precise description of the item is required. |
| Toiletries/Bathroom Products | Toothbrushes |
| Shampoo |
For questions regarding the nature of the List, please contact OFO-MANIFESTBRANCH@cbp.dhs.gov.