Disposition Codes: How ACE Cargo Release Status Messages Work

Key Points

• Disposition codes are the values CBP returns in ABI cargo release status notifications after the cargo release and the manifest match, telling the filer and the carrier whether freight may move.
• Carriers and terminals will not release freight until a release disposition, such as 1C (entry released), is on file.
• Partner government agency (PGA) dispositions, such as may proceed or hold intact, arrive on the same channel and can keep cargo in place even after a CBP release.
• The most costly errors are reading a partial or PGA hold as a release, acting on a stale message, and missing a later intensive-exam disposition.
• The authoritative code list and wording live in the ACE ABI CATAIR cargo release status notification chapter and the ACE Cargo Release Glossary; confirm values there rather than from memory.

On this page

1. At a glance
2. Where do disposition codes come from?
3. When do disposition codes arrive in the entry lifecycle?
4. How are disposition codes transmitted and read?
5. Common disposition codes errors and what they cost
6. How do disposition codes interact with related ACE terms?
7. Frequently asked questions
8. What importers and brokers should do
9. Key references

Disposition codes are the ACE cargo release status codes CBP sends in ABI status notifications to describe what has happened to a cargo release or entry: released, held, documents required, PGA action, or canceled. Customs brokers and carriers read them to decide whether cargo can physically move, and they sit at the release stage of the entry lifecycle, after the cargo release and the manifest match and before entry summary review and liquidation. They are not entry summary status, liquidation status, or ISF status.

This reference reflects ACE practice as of November 2026. The links in this article go to the primary documents: the CBP CATAIR publications and official program pages themselves. Read the source.

At a glance

• Full name: ACE cargo release disposition codes
• Who prepares or uses it: Issued by CBP and PGAs; read by customs brokers, importer self-filers, carriers and terminals
• When in the lifecycle: After the cargo release and the manifest match, and again whenever status changes before or after release
• System or channel: ACE, delivered through ABI cargo release status notifications
• Governing authority: ACE ABI CATAIR (cargo release status notification) and the ACE Cargo Release Glossary; confirm with CBP for current values
• Example value: 1C (entry released)
• Related terms: ACE Cargo Release, 1C release, CATAIR Appendix B, ACE in-bond, ACE truck eManifest

Where do disposition codes come from?

Disposition codes come from CBP's ACE Cargo Release processing and are published in the ACE ABI CATAIR cargo release status notification chapter and the ACE Cargo Release Glossary. ACE Cargo Release is 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; it is the transaction that returns disposition messages and holds. For background on how that release data is built and sent, see our guide to ACE Cargo Release transmission.

The code tables themselves sit alongside other ABI code lists. CATAIR Appendix B, Valid Codes, is the ACE ABI CATAIR appendix listing code values used across ABI transactions, including status and disposition codes; our CATAIR Appendix B reference explains how to navigate it. Because CBP revises the CATAIR, treat the published chapter as the only source for current disposition codes and their exact wording.

When do disposition codes arrive in the entry lifecycle?

Disposition codes first arrive once ACE matches the cargo release to the carrier's manifest, and further disposition codes can follow at any point until the cargo leaves CBP control. ACE sends status messages to both the filer and the carrier, so each party sees the same decision from its own side.

Release dispositions

A release disposition tells the carrier and terminal that CBP has released the entry. Disposition code 1C means CBP has released the entry; it is the message brokers, carriers and terminals wait for before moving freight. A 1C release is not a final determination of admissibility or duty, and it is not PGA clearance by itself.

Holds, documents required and PGA actions

Other disposition codes signal that CBP needs documents, has placed a hold, or has canceled a release. PGA dispositions, such as may proceed or hold intact, arrive on the same ABI channel. A shipment can therefore carry a CBP release and an open PGA hold at the same time, and the cargo should not move until every applicable disposition allows it. Confirm the specific code values for each of these outcomes in the CATAIR rather than relying on memory.

How are disposition codes transmitted and read?

Disposition codes are transmitted electronically through ABI as cargo release status notifications, and the broker's software translates each code into a release, hold, or action prompt for the user. Carriers receive parallel messages through their own ACE connection and use them to decide whether to hand freight over.

In practice, a broker's screen may show a friendly label rather than the raw code. Staff should know how their software maps disposition codes to labels and where to view the underlying message and its timestamp. When software behavior, message delivery, or certification questions arise, the filer's ABI client representative, the CBP Office of Trade contact assigned to each ABI filer, handles connectivity, testing and production issues; see our article on the ABI client rep.

Common disposition codes errors and what they cost

Misreading disposition codes is one of the most common causes of freight moving when it should not, or sitting when it could move. The recurring errors are:

• Treating a partial or PGA hold as a release. A CBP release does not override a PGA hold intact, and a partial release does not cover the whole shipment.
• Acting on a stale message. A later disposition can supersede an earlier one; always act on the most recent status for the entry.
• Not monitoring after release. CBP can issue a later intensive-exam disposition, and teams that stop watching after the first release message can miss it.

The consequences range from demurrage and storage charges while cargo waits, to enforcement exposure when held cargo is moved without authorization. Confirm penalty and liquidated damages exposure with your broker or CBP for the specific situation.

How do disposition codes interact with related ACE terms?

Disposition codes govern physical release only, so they interact with several neighboring ACE processes without replacing them.

• ACE truck eManifest (ACE e-Manifest: Trucks), the electronic manifest highway carriers transmit before arrival at a U.S. land border port, supplies the manifest side of the match that triggers land border dispositions; see our eManifest guide.
• ACE in-bond, the electronic in-bond system for moving unentered merchandise under bond, carries its own arrival and export messages; in-bond movement is distinct from ACE Cargo Release.
• ACE AD/CVD case management, the ACE function publishing Commerce's antidumping and countervailing duty case data, affects the case data keyed on entry lines but does not itself change release status.
• ACE reconciliation (ACE Reconciliation, entry type 09), under which an importer flags an entry summary for later reconciliation, operates at the entry summary stage, well after disposition codes have done their work.
• MID code (Manufacturer Identification code), required on every entry line, and MID construction, CBP's rule for deriving that code from the manufacturer's country, name, address and city, are data quality issues that can contribute to rejects or holds; confirm specific effects with CBP.

Frequently asked questions

Does a 1C disposition mean my goods are cleared for good?

No. Among disposition codes, 1C means CBP has released the entry, but it is not a final determination of admissibility or duty and does not by itself clear any PGA hold.

Are disposition codes the same as entry summary status?

No. Disposition codes describe cargo release events; entry summary status, liquidation status and ISF status are separate messages with separate meanings.

Where can I find the full list of disposition codes?

The authoritative list of disposition codes is in the ACE ABI CATAIR cargo release status notification chapter and the ACE Cargo Release Glossary, published on cbp.gov.

Can disposition codes change after release?

Yes. CBP or a PGA can send later disposition codes, including an intensive-exam disposition, so filers and carriers should keep monitoring until the cargo leaves CBP control.

What importers and brokers should do

• Map every disposition code your software displays to its CATAIR wording and train staff to check the raw code and timestamp.
• Require both a CBP release and clearance of all PGA dispositions before telling a carrier or trucker to move freight.
• Keep monitoring status notifications after release so a later intensive-exam disposition is caught.
• Escalate missing or inconsistent status messages to your ABI client representative promptly.

Key references

• ACE ABI CATAIR (CBP): the technical specification containing the cargo release status notification chapter and Appendix B code tables.
• CBP Automated Commercial Environment program pages: CBP's landing page for ACE, including Cargo Release resources and the ACE Cargo Release Glossary.
• CBP ACE overview: CBP's description of ACE functions used by brokers, carriers and importers.