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| To Our Valued Customers: |
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| In our continuing effort to provide valuable information on important issues in our industry, Brighton-Best International would like to address the recent announcements alerting our industry about mismarked Grade 5 Cap Screws. In a recent article in FIN (Fastener Industry News), it was reported that Grade 5 Cap Screws imported into the United States from Thailand, may have been improperly head-marked. |
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| Brighton-Best International wants to assure our distributors that our Grade 5 Cap Screws are acquired exclusively from US and Taiwan sources. As our distributor, you can rely on all Brighton Best products to be of the highest quality and backed by over 80 years of service to distributors and the American industry. |
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| Tested, Tried and True: Brighton-Best International will never sacrifice quality and will continue to make sure that all products sourced through Brighton-Best are held to the highest industry standards. |
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| Sincerely, |
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Management Team
Brighton-Best International
www.brightonbest.com
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U.S. Customs Investigating Cap Screws from Thailand
February 09, 2009
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 manufacturers 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 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,. Web: cbp.gov ©2009 FastenerNews.com |
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| Link 1: www.fastenernews.com |
| Link 2: Fastener Industry Education Group (FIEG) Bulletin article |
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