e214 FTZ error 238: FIRMS code must be approved for Direct Delivery
New ACE e214 fatal: FIRMS CODE NOT APPROVED FOR DIRECT DELIVERY. Exact Appendix P text, related 047/164/210–213 codes, and what FTZ operators should check with the local port.
CBP's ACE CATAIR Appendix P for e214 FTZ admission error codes now includes code 238: FIRMS CODE NOT APPROVED FOR DIRECT DELIVERY. The description is explicit: "Firms code must be approved for Direct Delivery." The September 14, 2026 Appendix P posting is the primary source for the new message text.
If your FTZ admission carries a Direct Delivery indicator of Y on the FT10 and the site FIRMS is not authorized for direct delivery, expect a hard fail. Fix the site authorization (or stop claiming Direct Delivery) before you retry.
Error 238: the FIRMS code on the e214 must already be approved for Direct Delivery.
Exact Appendix P text
Description: Firms code must be approved for Direct Delivery
Appendix P · e214 FTZ Admission Error Codes · dated 09/14/2026
Related Direct Delivery / FIRMS codes
Code 238 sits in a family of existing Direct Delivery and FIRMS validations in the same Appendix P. Read the reject in context before you open a ticket:
- 047 DIRECT DELIVERY IND MISSING/INVALID: Direct delivery indicator (Y/N) missing or invalid on the FT10.
- 164 NON DIRECT DELIVERY - ADMSN NOT ON FILE: FIRMS code invalid, or the zone is not authorized for Direct Delivery and no admission is on file.
- 210 FIRMS CODE IS DEACTIVATED STATUS: FIRMS is deactivated; site operator must engage CBP cargo staff to restore status.
- 211 FIRMS CODE IS NOT AN FTZ SITE: FIRMS is not Facility Type 02 (FTZ).
- 212 / 213: no Type 4 FTZ bond listed on the FIRMS, or the listed Type 4 bond is terminated.
Confirm the destination FTZ site FIRMS is approved for Direct Delivery in ACE before transmitting Direct Delivery admissions. If the site should be authorized and 238 still fires, contact the local port of entry that oversees the zone. Do not burn retries until FIRMS status, Facility Type 02, and the active Type 4 bond are clean.
Why this matters operationally
Direct Delivery is a privilege, not a default. Appendix P now has a dedicated fatal when the FIRMS itself is not approved, separate from a missing Y/N indicator (047) or the older non-direct-delivery admission path (164). Brokers and FTZ operators should align SOPs: verify site Direct Delivery authorization in the same pre-flight check that already confirms bond and FIRMS active status.
- Appendix P (dated 09/14/2026) adds e214 error 238: FIRMS CODE NOT APPROVED FOR DIRECT DELIVERY.
- Exact description: Firms code must be approved for Direct Delivery.
- Do not set Direct Delivery = Y on FT10 unless the FTZ site FIRMS is already authorized.
- Triage nearby codes 047, 164, and 210–213 (indicator, non-DD admission, deactivated FIRMS, non-FTZ FIRMS, Type 4 bond).
- If the site should be authorized but still rejects, contact the local port; primary PDF: CBP Appendix P FTZ error codes.
- ACE CATAIR Appendix P: e214 FTZ Admission Error Codes (26_0914_appendix_p_ftz_error_codes.pdf) · U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- ACE CATAIR Appendix P: FTZ Error Messages (document page, dated 09/14/2026) · U.S. Customs and Border Protection
This article is for general information and is not legal or tax advice. Drawback eligibility depends on your specific facts, and final refunds are determined by CBP at liquidation. Consult a licensed customs broker or attorney for your situation.