Sec. 146.37  Operator admission responsibilities.

    (a) Maintenance of admission documentation. The operator shall 
maintain either:
    (1) Lot file. The operator shall open and maintain a lot file 
containing a copy of the Customs Form 214, the examination invoice, and 
all other documentation necessary to account for the merchandise covered 
by each Customs Form 214. The lot file will be maintained in sequential 
order by using the unique number assigned to each Customs Form 214 as 
the file reference number; or
    (2) Authorized inventory method. Where a Customs authorized 
inventory method other than a lot system (specific identification of 
merchandise) is used, e.g., First-In-First-Out (FIFO), no lot file is 
required but the operator shall maintain a file of all Customs Form's 
214 in sequential order.
    (b) Examination invoice. The operator shall give a copy of the 
examination invoice to the person making entry to transfer the 
merchandise from the zone upon request of that person or the port 
director.
    (c) Liability for merchandise. The operator will be held liable 
under its bond for the receipt of merchandise admitted in the quantity 
and condition as described on the Customs Form 214, except as modified 
by a discrepancy report:
    (1) Signed jointly by the operator and carrier on the Customs Form 
214 or other approved form within 15 days after admission of the 
merchandise, and reported to the port director within 2 working days 
thereafter; or
    (2) Submitted on Customs Form 5931 under the provisions of subpart 
A, part 158, of this chapter within 20 days after admission of the 
merchandise. The operator may file a Customs Form 5931 on behalf of the 
person who applied for admission of merchandise to the zone.
    (d) Supervision of merchandise. The port director may authorize the 
receipt of zone status merchandise at a zone without physical 
supervision by a Customs officer (see Sec. 146.3). In that case, the 
operator shall supervise the receipt of merchandise into the zone, 
report the receipt and condition of the merchandise, and mark packages 
with the unique Customs Form 214 number so that the merchandise can be 
traced to a particular Customs Form 214. Packages that are accounted for 
under a Customs-authorized inventory method other than specific 
identification, need not be marked with a unique Customs Form 214 number 
but must be adequately identified so Customs can conduct an inventory 
count. The operator shall submit the Custom Form 214 to Customs at the 
location specified by the port director.