CBP Administrative Messages, Web Postings, Etc.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted its Instructions for the Customs Broker License Examination, which provides information for the October 2007 exam. It covers much of the same information as CBP's previously released Notice of Examination, but has some additional details (e.g., silent calculators are allowed, examinees may keep the exam booklet, etc.). (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/01/07 news, 07080110, for BP summary of CBP's Notice of Examination: October 2007 Customs Broker Examination, which announced that applications for the October exam are due August 31, 2007.) (CBP exam instructions, posted 08/08/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/broker_management/broker_exam/exam_instructions.ctt/exam_instructions.doc)
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1. CBP Posts Instructions for October 2007 Customs Broker Exam
2. Upcoming "ACE on the Road" Events
CBP has posted to its Web site a list of upcoming "Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) on the Road" events, as follows:
October 15 - 19, 2007 - Atlanta, GA
ACE Exchange VII Conference
November 2007 - San Francisco, CA
ACE Exchange VIII Conference
(CBP's event schedule, dated 08/07/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/ace_on_the_road.xml)
3. CBP's Bond Team Issues New "Policies and Procedures" Document
CBP's Revenue Division Bond Team has posted to its Web site its July 27, 2007 issue of its "Policies and Procedures" document1.
Although this document states that the Continuous Transaction Bond program is being centralized at the Revenue Division in Indianapolis (to include the filing, approval, and maintenance of all continuous bonds), CBP sources state that only activity code type 1 continuous bonds are currently centralized there.
1According to CBP sources, this document, along with the "Current Issues" document, is replacing its previously issued guidance entitled "Latest News and Developments." Sources explain that the "Current Issues" document provides the latest news, while the "Policies and Procedures" offer information about polices and procedures that have been in place, but are still relevant.
(CBP Bond Team's Policies and Procedures, updated 07/27/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/communications_to_trade/pilot_program/news_develop/bond_pol_proc.ctt/bond_pol_proc.doc)
4. Various Postings to CBP's Web Site
The following have recently been posted to CBP's Web site:
Updated interconnection security agreements. CBP has posted updated Interconnection Security Agreements (ISAs) for Frame/MQ users and MPLS/MQ users. (All participants that transmit data directly to CBP's Automated Export System (AES) or Automated Commercial System (ACS) are required to have a signed ISA on file with CBP.) (Updated ISAs, posted 08/02/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/operations_support/automated_systems/isa/)
C-TPAT fact sheet. CBP has posted a Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) fact sheet, which provides general information about the C-TPAT program. (Fact sheet, dated 06/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/newsroom/fact_sheets/port_security/ctpat.ctt/ctpat.pdf)
Certain C-TPAT minimum security criteria posted in French, Spanish. CBP has posted the C-TPAT minimum security criteria for highway carriers and foreign manufactures in Spanish and French. (Highway carriers, in French, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/criteria/carrier_french.ctt/carrier_french.doc; in Spanish, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/criteria/carrier_spa.ctt/carrier_spa.doc. Foreign manufactures, in French, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/criteria/criteria_french.ctt/criteria_french.doc; in Spanish, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/criteria/criteria_spa.ctt/criteria_spa.doc)
LA agriculture specialists intercept pests never seen in U.S. CBP has issued a press release announcing that agriculture specialists at Los Angeles International Airport recently intercepted mealy bugs, which had never been discovered before in the Continental U.S., as well as two other foreign pests that entered with shipments of plants and fresh cut flowers. (Press release, dated 08/07/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/08072007_4.xml)
CBP posts documents regarding recent foot & mouth disease outbreak. CBP has posted two documents regarding the recent diagnosis of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in cattle in the United Kingdom. CBP's documents provide (1) actions that CBP is taking to prevent the introduction into the U.S. of FMD, and (2) a document providing information on what travelers and importers need to know with regards to the FMD outbreak in the UK. (CBP document on actions its taking, dated 08/08/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/08082007_6.xml; CBP info. for travelers/importers, updated 08/08/07, available at http://help.cbp.gov/cgi-bin/customs.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=987&p_created=1186585923&p_sid=rr74XEIi&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD01NzAmcF9wcm9kcz0mcF9jYXRzPSZwX3B2PSZwX2N2PSZwX3NlYXJjaF90eXBlPWFuc3dlcnMuc2VhcmNoX25sJnBfcGFnZT0x&p_li=&p_topview=1)