What is the importance of House Bill Close Message?

What is the importance of House Bill Close Message?

• The freight forwarder must submit this message to link house bills to the primary cargo control document.
• Quotes the previous cargo control document and all house bills attached.
• The house bill close message does not perform any function other than linking the electronic house bills to the Primary Cargo Control Number.
• Electronic house bills can be consolidated, referred to as a multi-tiered consolidation.  A consolidated house bill requires another freight forwarder to submit electronic house bill(s) and a house bill close message.  
• Each tier must have at least one electronic house bill and a house bill close message.  
• The first tier will quote the Primary CCN on the house bill close, and subsequent tiers will quote the previous eHB on the house bill close.