18.5—Diversion.
(a)
Merchandise forwarded under any class of transportation entry may be diverted to any port other than the port named in the entry at the option of the consignee or agent. Except as provided for in paragraphs (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of this section, prior application or approval of such diversion is not required.
(b)
The director of the port to which merchandise is diverted may permit merchandise in transit under bond under any class of transportation entry to be entered at his port for consumption, warehouse, exportation, further transportation in bond, or under any provisions of the tariff laws.
(c)
When merchandise which has been delivered to the director of the port of original destination or port of diversion under any class of transportation entry is to be forwarded to another port or returned to the port of origin, a new transportation entry shall be required. If the merchandise is moving under cover of a carnet, the carnet may be accepted as a transportation entry.
(d)
If it is desired to split a shipment at a port of destination and to enter a portion for consumption or warehouse and forward the balance in bond, or to divert the entire shipment or a part thereof to more than one port, the director of the port where diversion takes place shall complete the original transaction and shall require the filing of a new transportation entry or entries for the portion or portions forwarded. In the case, however, of merchandise being transported under cover of a carnet, splitting up of a shipment shall not be permitted.
(e)
The diversion of shipments in bond which are subject on importation to restriction or prohibition under quarantines and regulations of the Agricultural Research Service of the Department of Agriculture shall be allowed only upon written permission or under regulations issued by the agency concerned.
(f)
The diversion of in-bond shipments, which contain textiles or textile products subject to section 204, Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1854 ), during the in-bond movement shall be allowed only upon the prior written permission of the director of the port of origin.
(g)
For in-bond shipments which, at the time of transmission of the Importer Security Filing as required by § 149.2 of this chapter, are intended to be entered as an immediate exportation (IE) or transportation and exportation (T&E) shipment, permission to divert the in-bond movement to a port other than the listed port of destination or export or to change the in-bond entry into a consumption entry must be obtained from the port director of the port of origin. Such permission would only be granted upon receipt by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of a complete Importer Security Filing as required by part 149 of this chapter.