---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 944"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "944"
heading: "Container security standards and procedures"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/944"
units:
  - "Chapter 3 — Security and Accountability for Every Port"
  - "Subchapter II — Security of the International Supply Chain"
  - "Part A — General Provisions"
---

# §944. Container security standards and procedures

- (a) **Establishment—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 90 days after October 13, 2006, the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish minimum standards and procedures for securing [containers](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) in transit to the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A).
  - (2) **Interim rule—** Not later than 180 days after October 13, 2006, the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall issue an interim final rule pursuant to the proceeding described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1).
  - (3) **Missed deadline—** If the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) is unable to meet the deadline established pursuant to [paragraph (2)](#a-2), the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall submit a letter to the [appropriate congressional committees](/usc/6/901.md?p=1) explaining why the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) is unable to meet that deadline and describing what must be done before such minimum standards and procedures can be established.
  - (4) **Deadline for enforcement—**
    - (A) **Enforcement of rule—** Not later than 2 years after the date on which the standards and procedures are established pursuant to [paragraph (1)](#a-1), all [containers](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) bound for ports of entry in the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) shall meet such standards and procedures.
    - (B) **Interim requirement—** If the interim final rule described in [paragraph (2)](#a-2) is not issued by April 1, 2008, then—
      - (i) effective not later than October 15, 2008, all [containers](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) in transit to the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) shall be required to meet the requirements of International Organization for Standardization Publicly Available Specification 17712 standard for sealing [containers](/usc/6/901.md?p=5); and
      - (ii) the requirements of this subparagraph shall cease to be effective upon the effective date of the interim final rule issued pursuant to this subsection.
- (b) **Review and enhancement—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall regularly review and enhance the standards and procedures established pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a), as appropriate, based on tests of technologies as they become commercially available to detect [container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) intrusion and the highest consequence threats, particularly weapons of mass destruction.
- (c) **International cargo security standards—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15), in consultation with the Secretary of State, the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) of Energy, and other Federal Government officials, as appropriate, and with the [Commercial Operations Advisory Committee](/usc/6/901.md?p=2), the [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security Advisory Committee, and the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee, is encouraged to promote and establish international standards for the security of [containers](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) moving through the [international supply chain](/usc/6/901.md?p=10) with foreign governments and international organizations, including the International Maritime Organization, the International Organization for Standardization, the International Labor Organization, and the World Customs Organization.
- (d) **International trade and other obligations—** In carrying out this section, the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall consult with appropriate Federal [departments](/usc/6/901.md?p=7) and [agencies](/usc/6/671.md?p=1) and private sector stakeholders and ensure that actions under this section do not violate international trade obligations or other international obligations of the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–347, title II, § 204, Oct. 13, 2006, 120 Stat. 1905; Pub. L. 110–53, title XVII, § 1701(b), Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 491.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2007—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 110–53, which directed amendment of par. (4) by substituting “(1) Deadline for enforcement” and subpar. (A) designation and heading for “(1) Deadline for enforcement”, was executed by inserting the subpar. (A) designation and heading before “Not later than” and making no change in the par. designation or heading, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Subsec. (a)(4)(B). Pub. L. 110–53, § 1701(b)(2), added subpar. (B).