CBP Update on Upcoming Voluntary Test of Electronic FTZ Admission Applications
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an administrative message to all ABI vendors and self-programmed importers and brokers regarding participation in the upcoming voluntary test of electronic foreign trade zone (FTZ) admission applications for merchandise reported to CBP via air, sea, and rail manifest.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!
(See ITT's Online Archives or 08/22/05 news, 05082205 for BP summary of CBP general notice announcing this upcoming voluntary test of the electronic submission of CBP Form 214 information.)
Those Interested in Participating in the Test Should Notify CBP
CBP states that interested ABI software vendors and self-programmed importers and brokers, who are currently ABI participants, should notify their assigned client representative of their intent to participate in this voluntary test, and that these volunteers will be required to test their software in order to evaluate the ability to initiate the various functions within the FTZ applications.
New companies programming for this application who currently are not ABI participants should send a letter of intent (LOI) providing the information requested, as outlined at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/operations_support/automated_systems/abi/catair/chapters/rquir-01.ctt/require_092005.doc. CBP adds that a filer code should also be requested in the LOI.
(CBP notes this administrative message is targeted to those individuals who have access to the ACS administrative message system, and that a message providing information to zone users and zone operators regarding their participation in this test program will be posted on CBP's website in the near future.)
Voluntary Test Expected to Begin Early to Mid-NovemberCBP states that as of yet there is no firm date for the commencement of this voluntary test of electronic FTZ admission applications; however, the test is anticipated to begin early to mid-November.
Official Record Layouts for Test Automation Requirements Still to be Published
CBP states that the official record layouts will be published at a later date in the Customs Automated Trade Interface Requirements (CATAIR).
However, [unofficial] record layouts, posted to CBP's website in the form of a CATAIR chapter (and termed 'automation requirements' by CBP) are changing with a measure of frequency according to CBP, and there is no firm date for their official publication.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 09/01/05 news, 05090105 for BP summary of CBP's posting of the August 2005 version of these layout requirements. See ITT's Online Archives or 09/20/05 news, 05092005 for BP summary of CBP's posting of the September 2005 version of these layout requirements.)
CBP administrative message 05-1177 (dated 10/11/05) available at http://www.brokerpower.com/cgi-bin/adminsearch/admmsg.view.pl?article=2005/2005-1177.ADM