Global Fastener News

Report: U.S. Customs Investigating Cap Screws from Thailand

Jason Sandefur

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency is reportedly investigating a case alleging fraudulently marked fasteners imported from Thailand. According to the U.S International Trade Commission, in the first 11 months of 2008, over $11.5 million worth of product with a harmonized code of 7318.15.8065, or basically cap screws, were imported from Thailand into the U.S.

The case reportedly centers on Grade 5.2 cap screws fraudulently marked as Grade 5 cap screws. As stated in SAE J429, Grade 5 specifications require a medium carbon steel marked with 3 lines evenly spaced on the bolt head. The Grade 5.2 is made of low carbon boron steel with a 3-line mark on one side of the bolt head.

Customs is investigating the allegation that 10B21 steel was used and certified to, while a sample of the shipment in question appears to show a bolt head with a Grade 5 marking and a manufacturer”s mark of TY.

As stipulated in the U.S. Fastener Quality Act, penalties for the sale or resale of this product could include fines up to $25,000 per violation, or imprisonment up to 5 years.

A “violation” is a sale. There are also criminal penalties at lower levels for failure to maintain records under the Act, and potential jail time of up to two years.

While the FQA does not apply to fasteners from accredited manufacturers, an FQA probe could lead to customs violation charges.

The investigation appears to have been prompted by a tip submitted through the agency’s new online trade violation reporting system, known as e-Allegations. The system was unveiled in 2008 as a new way to confidentially report suspected trade violations through an online form.

“CBP will confidentially research concerns, determine the validity of the allegations and any actions required based on the subsequent review,” the agency said in mid-2008. Web: cbp.gov �2009 FastenerNews.com