CBP 2nd Update on Upcoming Voluntary Test of Electronic FTZ Admission Applications
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site another update on the status of its plans to conduct a voluntary test of electronic foreign trade zone (FTZ) admission applications for merchandise reported to CBP via air, sea, and rail manifest.
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(See ITT's Online Archives or 10/17/05 news, 05101710, for BP summary of CBP's first update on this upcoming voluntary test of the electronic submission of CBP Form 214 information. See ITT's Online Archives or 08/22/05 news, 05082205, for BP summary of CBP general notice announcing this upcoming voluntary test, which is currently limited to air, sea and rail.)
Delivery of Voluntary Test of Electronic CBP Form 214 Approaching
CBP states that the delivery of the electronic FTZ-CBP Form 214 is approaching, with CBP sources adding that there is no firm date for the commencement of this voluntary test; however, the test is now anticipated to begin in early December 2005 (from the prior target date of early to mid-November 2005).
Initial Rollout to be to Software Vendors, Self-Programmed Companies, Etc.
According to CBP, the initial roll-out of this voluntary test will be to software vendors, self-programmed importers, brokers or other companies wanting to develop their own software. Testing will be conducted for those interested parties.
Current ABI participants. Current ABI participants that want to participate in the test should contact their assigned client representative and express interest for testing in the program.
Non-ABI participants. CBP adds that any software vendors, or self-programmed importers, brokers or software developers that want to participate in the test but are not currently ABI participants should file a letter of intent (LOI) with the Client Representative Branch by fax to 703.650.3538 or by mail to: CBP, Client Representative Branch, Attn: Beauregard, Outreach Office, A-314-1, 7681 Boston Blvd, Springfield, VA 22153. (See CBP notice for information that LOI must include.)
Upon receiving the LOI, CBP states that a Customs Client Representative will be assigned to work with the company and serve as technical advisor during the development, testing, and implementation stages (if necessary).
Interconnection Security Agreement. In accordance with the implementation of CBP's Information Systems Security Policy, all participants that transmit electronic data directly to CBP's Automated Export System (AES) or Automated Commercial System (ACS) are required to have a signed Interconnection Security Agreement (ISA) on file with CBP. For information to identify those participants that are required to file an ISA and instructions on how to complete and forward the ISA to CBP, see CBP's Web site.
(According to CBP sources, most software vendors and self-programmers already have signed ISAs.)
Zone Operators and Those Intending to File Using Leased/Purchased Software
CBP states that the above requirements are for software vendors, self-programmed importers, brokers and other companies developing their own software. Requirements are not the same for zone operators, users or brokers intending to file the electronic CF-214, using software leased or purchased. Those individuals should follow the guidelines below:
If currently an ABI participant. If your company is currently an ABI participant, you should contact your assigned client representative indicating your intent to participate. If you are going to be using a Customs broker, there is no need to file a LOI.
If you are not currently an ABI participant. If you are not currently an ABI participant, send a letter of intent to the address or fax listed above. Companies should determine how they will transmit the e-214 data. CBP will be publishing a list of software vendors who have completed application software testing (as is currently the case for other ABI software applications). Once companies have selected a software vendor, an LOI should contain, at minimum, certain information. (See CBP notice for the information this LOI should include.) Companies using a Customs broker do not need to send a LOI.
CBP states that there is no firm date for zone users and/or operators to begin transmission of data.
CBP contacts: assigned client representative, or those without a client representative may contact maria.l.navarrete@dhs.gov or call 202.344.3023.
New Version of [Unofficial] e-214 CATAIR Record Layouts Posted
According to CBP sources, CBP has separately posted to its Web site another version, dated October 13, 2005, of its [unofficial] record layouts for the electronic CBP Form 214 admission application.
(In its previous update, CBP had stated that the official record layouts will be published at a later date in the Customs Automated Trade Interface Requirements (CATAIR); however, [unofficial] record layouts would be posted to CBP's website in the form of a CATAIR chapter (and termed 'automation requirements' by CBP), that would change with a measure of frequency.)
(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 FTZ Electronic CBP Form 214 update (dated 10/24/05), available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/cargo_control/ftz/ftz_status_update.xml
October 13, 2005 [unofficial] CATAIR record layouts for the FTZ electronic CBP Form 214 ("FTZ Automation Requirements"), available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/cargo_control/ftz/ftz_trade_req.ctt/ftz_trade_req.doc