Seizure under section 596(c), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1595a(c)).
19 C.F.R. § 162.23
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01(a) Mandatory seizures. The following, if introduced or attempted to be introduced into the United States contrary to law, shall be seized pursuant to section 596(c), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1595a(c)):
(1) Merchandise that is stolen, smuggled, or clandestinely imported or introduced;
(2) A controlled substance, as defined in the Controlled Substance Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), not imported in accordance with law;
(3) A contraband article, as defined in section 1 of the Act of August 9, 1939 (49 U.S.C. 80302); or
(4) A plastic explosive, as defined in section 841(q) of title 18, United States Code, which does not contain a detection agent, as defined in section 841(p) of that title.
(b) Permissive seizures. The following, if introduced or attempted to be introduced into the United States contrary to law, may be seized pursuant to section 596(c), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1595a(c)):
(1) Merchandise the importation or entry of which is subject to any restriction or prohibition imposed by law relating to health, safety, or conservation, and which is not in compliance with the applicable rule, regulation or statute;
(2) Merchandise the importation or entry of which requires a license, permit or other authorization of a United States Government agency, and which is not accompanied by such license, permit or authorization;
(3) Merchandise or packaging in which copyright, trademark or trade name protection violations are involved (including, but not limited to, a violation of sections 42, 43 or 45 of the Act of July 5, 1946 (15 U.S.C. 1124, 1125 or 1127), sections 506 or 509 of title 17, United States Code, or sections 2318 or 2320 of title 18, United States Code);
(4) Trade dress merchandise involved in the violation of a court order citing section 43 of the Act of July 5, 1946 (15 U.S.C. 1125);
(5) Merchandise marked intentionally in violation of 19 U.S.C. 1304;
(6) Merchandise for which the importer has received written notices that previous importations of identical merchandise from the same supplier were found to have been in violation of 19 U.S.C. 1304; or
(7) Merchandise subject to quantitative restrictions, found to bear a counterfeit visa, permit, license, or similar document, or stamp from the United States or from a foreign government or issuing authority pursuant to a multilateral or bilateral agreement (but see paragraph (e), of this section).
(c) Resolution of seizure under § 1595a(c). When merchandise is either required or authorized to be seized under this section, the forfeiture incurred may be remitted in accord with 19 U.S.C. 1618, to include as a possible option the exportation of the merchandise under such conditions as CBP shall impose, unless its release would adversely affect health, safety, or conservation, or be in contravention of a bilateral or multilateral agreement or treaty.
(d) Seizure under 19 U.S.C. 1592. If merchandise is imported, introduced or attempted to be introduced contrary to a provision of law governing its classification or value, and there is no issue of admissibility, such merchandise shall not be seized pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1595a(c). Any seizure of such merchandise shall be in accordance with section 1592 (see § 162.75 of this chapter).
(e) Detention only. Merchandise subject to quantitative restrictions requiring a visa, permit, license, or other similar document, or stamp from the United States Government or from a foreign government or issuing authority pursuant to a bilateral or multilateral agreement, shall be subject to detention in accordance with 19 U.S.C. 1499, unless the appropriate visa, permit, license, or similar document, or stamp is presented to CBP (but see paragraph (b)(7), of this section for instances when seizure may occur).
(f) Exportations contrary to law. Merchandise exported or sent, or attempted to be exported or sent, from the United States contrary to law, or the proceeds or value thereof, and property used to facilitate the exporting or sending, or attempted exporting or sending, of such merchandise, will be seized and subject to forfeiture. In addition, the receipt, purchase, transportation, concealment or sale of such merchandise prior to exportation will result in its seizure and forfeiture to the United States.
Source: eCFRURL: https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2024-07-01/title-19.xmlFetched: 7/26/2026