1C Release: What the ACE Cargo Release Disposition Code Means

Key Points

• A 1C release is the ACE disposition code meaning CBP has released the entry, and it is the message brokers, carriers, and terminals wait for before moving freight.
• A 1C release is conditional under the bond: CBP can still demand redelivery under 19 CFR 113.62(d), and a later hold or PGA status change can still follow.
• A 1C release does not clear partner government agency (PGA) holds, does not lift a manifest hold on a specific bill, and does not necessarily release every bill on the entry.
• After a 1C release, the entry summary is still due within 10 working days under 19 CFR 142.12.
• A 1C release is not entry summary acceptance and not liquidation; duty and admissibility remain open to review.

On this page

1. At a glance
2. What does a 1C release mean in ACE?
3. When does ACE post a 1C release in the entry lifecycle?
4. What a 1C release does not cover
5. Common 1C release errors and what they cost
6. How the 1C release interacts with related ACE programs
7. Frequently asked questions
8. What importers and brokers should do
9. Key references

A 1C release is the disposition code CBP returns in ACE cargo release status notifications to show that the entry has been released. Customs brokers, carriers, and terminal operators read the 1C release as the signal that freight can be picked up, after the cargo release has been accepted and the manifest bill matches. A 1C release sits at the release stage of the entry lifecycle, before the entry summary is filed and long before liquidation, and it is neither a final determination of admissibility or duty nor PGA clearance by itself.

This entry reflects the workflow as of November 2026. The links in this article go to the primary documents: the regulations and official CBP program pages themselves. Read the source.

At a glance

• Full name: Disposition code 1C, entry released, per the ACE cargo release status notifications
• Who prepares or uses it: CBP issues it; brokers, carriers, terminals, and importers read it
• When in the lifecycle: After cargo release acceptance and manifest bill match, before entry summary filing
• System or channel: ACE, delivered through ABI status notifications and carrier or terminal systems
• Governing authority: Release conditional under the basic importation bond, 19 CFR 113.62(d); entry summary timing, 19 CFR 142.12
• Related terms: ACE Cargo Release, disposition codes, ACE in-bond, ACE truck eManifest, CATAIR Appendix B

What does a 1C release mean in ACE?

A 1C release means CBP has released the entry in ACE, which allows the cargo to leave CBP custody subject to the conditions of the bond. The code belongs to the family of ACE cargo release disposition codes, the codes CBP returns in ABI status notifications describing what happened to a cargo release or entry (released, held, documents required, PGA action, canceled). Brokers and carriers read these codes to decide whether cargo can move.

The code values themselves are published in CATAIR Appendix B, Valid Codes: the ACE ABI CATAIR appendix listing the code values used across ABI transactions, including status and disposition codes. For the exact current definition and any companion codes, confirm in the current ACE CATAIR rather than relying on memory.

When does ACE post a 1C release in the entry lifecycle?

ACE posts a 1C release on the entry once the cargo release has been accepted and the manifest bill matches. The cargo release itself is transmitted through ACE Cargo Release, the ACE transaction (successor to the paper CBP Form 3461 and the ACS Simplified Entry) through which the broker transmits the data CBP needs to decide release of cargo before or on arrival.

What happens after the 1C release posts

When the 1C release posts, the carrier or terminal system shows the freight as released, and the broker arranges pickup. The broker then files the entry summary within the filing period. Under 19 CFR 142.12, the entry summary is due within 10 working days; confirm the exact computation and any exceptions in the current regulation.

Why release is still conditional

A 1C release is conditional under the bond. The basic importation bond conditions at 19 CFR 113.62(d) obligate the importer to redeliver merchandise on CBP demand. A later hold, a PGA status change, or a redelivery demand can still follow a 1C release.

What a 1C release does not cover

A 1C release covers CBP's release of the entry and nothing beyond that, so three common assumptions are wrong.

• Not PGA clearance: If a partner government agency has a hold pending, the 1C release does not satisfy it. Check PGA status separately.
• Not every bill: A 1C release does not automatically release every bill on the entry. A bill that does not match or carries its own manifest hold may stay held.
• Not a final determination: A 1C release is not entry summary acceptance and not liquidation. Classification, value, and duty remain subject to review.

Common 1C release errors and what they cost

The most frequent 1C release errors come from reading the entry-level code without checking bill-level and PGA status.

Dispatching a truck on a manifest hold

A broker sees the 1C release and dispatches a truck while a manifest hold remains on the bill. The terminal will not release the container, and the importer absorbs wasted trucking and possible storage charges.

Assuming 1C releases every bill

On multi-bill entries, a 1C release at entry level can coexist with an unmatched or held bill. Reconcile each bill against carrier and terminal status before scheduling pickup.

Treating 1C as PGA clearance

Moving freight on a 1C release while a PGA hold is pending exposes the importer to a redelivery demand under 19 CFR 113.62(d). Failure to redeliver can lead to a bond claim; confirm the consequences with the broker or CBP.

Data problems upstream

Release delays often trace back to cargo release data. An incorrect MID code (Manufacturer Identification code, identifying the manufacturer or shipper of a line, built from the country code, name, and address of the entity) can trigger rejections. Applying MID construction, CBP's rule for building the code from the manufacturer's ISO country code, name, street address number, and city, consistently helps avoid them. Persistent transmission or connectivity problems belong with your ABI client rep, the CBP Office of Trade contact assigned to each ABI filer.

How the 1C release interacts with related ACE programs

A 1C release interacts with several ACE programs that move, manifest, or later adjust the same cargo.

• ACE truck eManifest: ACE truck eManifest (ACE e-Manifest: Trucks) is the electronic truck manifest highway carriers transmit before arrival at a land border port. Manifest data must match for the 1C release to post on truck shipments.
• ACE in-bond: ACE in-bond is the electronic in-bond system in ACE through which carriers move unentered merchandise under bond. Freight moving in-bond is not released for consumption until an entry is released at destination.
• ACE AD/CVD case management: ACE AD/CVD case management is the ACE function through which CBP publishes antidumping and countervailing duty case data that brokers key on entry lines. A 1C release does not resolve AD/CVD liability.
• ACE reconciliation: ACE Reconciliation (entry type 09) lets an importer flag an entry summary for later reconciliation of undeterminable issues. The flag operates at entry summary, after the 1C release, and does not affect release.

Frequently asked questions

Does a 1C release mean my duties are final?

No. A 1C release means CBP released the entry; duty is determined through the entry summary and liquidation, both of which come later.

Can CBP recall goods after a 1C release?

Yes. A 1C release is conditional under the bond, and CBP can demand redelivery under 19 CFR 113.62(d).

Does a 1C release clear FDA or other PGA holds?

No. A 1C release is not PGA clearance; a pending PGA hold must be resolved separately before cargo moves.

When is the entry summary due after a 1C release?

Under 19 CFR 142.12 the entry summary is due within 10 working days; confirm the computation in the current regulation.

What importers and brokers should do

1. Check bill-level manifest status and PGA status, not just the 1C release, before dispatching a truck.
2. Keep released freight available for redelivery until PGA holds are cleared and no CBP demand is pending.
3. Calendar the entry summary filing within the 10 working day period under 19 CFR 142.12.
4. Verify current disposition code definitions in the ACE CATAIR before updating release automation rules.

Key references

• 19 CFR 113.62: basic importation and entry bond conditions, including redelivery on demand at paragraph (d).
• 19 CFR 142.12: time for filing the entry summary.
• ACE CATAIR: CBP's ABI technical documentation, including cargo release status notifications and Appendix B code values.
• CBP Automated Commercial Environment: CBP's ACE program landing page.