Section 563(a), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1563(a)), provides for allowance in duties upon satisfactory proof of the loss or theft of any merchandise while in the public stores, or of the actual injury or destruction, in whole or in part, of any merchandise by accidental fire or other casualty, while in bonded warehouse, or in the public stores, or while in transportation under bond, or while in Customs custody although not in bond, or while within the limits of any port of entry and before having been landed under Customs supervision. Such allowance is subject to the conditions set forth in this subpart.

An abatement or refund of duties shall be made in the case of injury to, or destruction of, merchandise in a bonded warehouse as a result of accidental fire or other casualty only if the fire or casualty occurs within 3 years from the date of importation.

The procedures in this subpart do not apply in cases where allowances in duties are made under subpart A or subpart B of this part, or § 18.6 of this chapter.

Within 30 days from the date of his discovery of the loss, theft, injury, or destruction, the importer shall file an application in duplicate on Customs Form 4315, or its electronic equivalent and within 90 days from the date of discovery shall file any evidence required by § 158.26 or § 158.27.

The application and evidence shall be filed with the director of the port where the loss, theft, injury, or destruction occurred. In the case of total loss of merchandise by fire or other casualty while in transportation under bond, the application and evidence shall be filed with the director of the port at which the transportation entry was made. In the case of partial destruction of or injury to such merchandise, the application and evidence shall be filed with the director of the port of destination, except that if the merchandise is returned to the port at which the transportation entry was made, the application shall be filed at that port.

In the case of partial destruction or injury, no application shall be entertained unless the port director shall have had an opportunity to examine the merchandise or the remainder thereof for the purpose of fixing the percentage of injury or destruction. Whether the duty involved is ad valorem, specific, or compound, the percentage of injury for the purpose of the allowance shall be determined by comparing the market value of comparable sound merchandise with the net salvage value of the injured merchandise computed on the basis of the market value of comparable injured merchandise, such comparison to be made as of the time and place of examination.

In the case of alleged loss or theft while the merchandise is in the public stores, there shall be filed a declaration of the importer, owner, or ultimate consignee that he did not receive the merchandise and that to the best of his knowledge and belief it was lost or stolen as alleged in the application. If the alleged loss or theft consisted of only a part of an examination package and was discovered after the release of the package from Customs custody, the following evidence shall be submitted:

(a) A declaration of each cartman, lighterman, or other carrier handling the package between the public stores and the place of delivery, setting forth the condition of the package at the time of receipt and delivery by him and whether or not there was an abstraction of the merchandise while the package was in his possession.

(b) A declaration of the person who first received the package for the importer, owner, or ultimate consignee as to whether or not he examined the package at the time of receipt, and, if so, as to its condition at that time.

(c) A declaration of the person who opened the package after release from Customs custody that the alleged missing merchandise was not found by him in the package or elsewhere.

In the case of injury or destruction by accidental fire or other casualty, the following evidence shall be submitted:

(a) A declaration of the master of the vessel, the conductor or driver of the vehicle, the proprietor of the warehouse, or other person (except a Customs officer) having charge of the merchandise at the time of casualty, stating:

(1) The time, place, and nature of such casualty;

(2) That the merchandise was on board the vessel or vehicle, in the warehouse, or otherwise in his charge, as the case may be, at the time of the casualty; and

(3) That it was totally destroyed and there is no probability of recovering or saving any part thereof, or that it was injured as the result of the casualty.

(b) The bill of lading, the entry summary (where appropriate) and the invoice covering the merchandise, or certified copies of the foregoing, unless such documents are already in the possession of the director of the port where the claim is filed.

(c) A copy of the insurance appraiser's report, if any.

The port director may waive the production of any of the evidence required by this subpart if the validity of the claim is otherwise established to his satisfaction.

When the application and evidence have been received and examined by the port director, he shall determine whether the desired abatement or refund of duty shall be made and notify the importer of his decision.

(a) Filing of petition. The importer may file with the port director a petition addressed to the Commissioner of Customs for a review of the port director's decision. Such petition shall be filed in duplicate within 30 days from the date of the notice of the port director's decision, shall completely identify the case, and shall set forth in detail the objections to the port director's decision.

(b) Decision by Commissioner. When the petition has been filed, the port director shall promptly transmit both copies thereof and the entire file to the Commissioner, together with a full statement of his views. When the Commissioner's decision is received, the port director shall proceed in conformity therewith.