Reminder: Comments on Participating in ESAR A2.2 Test and Filing Formal and Informal Entries via ACE Due October 27, 2008
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a CSMS message reminding the trade that ABI (Automated Broker Interface) trade volunteers interested in participating in the test for Entry Summary, Account, and Revenue (ESAR) A2.2, which includes filing informal and formal entries (type 01 and 11) via ACE, must submit their comments and indication of interest by October 27, 2008.
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(In August 2008, CBP issued a general notice announcing its plans to conduct a National Customs Administration Program (NCAP) voluntary test for ESAR A2.2. See ITT's Online Archives or 0827/08 news, 08082700, for BP summary.)
Deployment of ESAR Test to be Phased In
In its notice, CBP stated that the test of the new ESAR capabilities will be conducted in a phased approach, with initial deployment scheduled for no earlier than January 23, 20091.
CBP Requests Comments from Volunteers to Determine Deployment Phases
CBP invites ABI trade volunteers interested in submitting type 01 and 11 entries for this test to provide comments to CBP by October 27, 2008, with regard to the number of expected ACE entry summaries that will be submitted to each of the locations listed below:
| Miami, FL New Orleans, LA Houston, TX Long Beach, CA Laredo, TX San Francisco, CA Seattle, WA | Chicago, IL El Paso, TX Boston, MA San Diego, CA Buffalo, NY Detroit, MI Atlanta, GA |
Based on comments received, CBP will publish a subsequent Federal Register notice setting forth the deployment schedule at dates to be announced for specified ports.
New ESAR Capabilities
CBP stated that this test concerning ACE ESAR capabilities will provide new ACE Secure Data Portal (ACE Portal) and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) capabilities specific to entry summary filing and processing of consumption and informal entries.
Functionality will include ABI Census Warning Overrides and issuance of CBP requests for information and notices of action through the ACE Portal. New functionality will enhance Portal Account Management and allow for ACE Portal reporting. Initially, this ESAR release will be limited only to formal entries, commonly referred to in the Automated Commercial System (ACS) as type 01 entries, and informal entries, commonly referred to in ACS as type 11 entries. (See BP's earlier summary for details on the capabilities.)
Functionality for other entry types will be implemented as it becomes available and will be announced via subsequent publication in the Federal Register.
Eligibility Requirements for New ESAR Test
Importer and broker volunteers wishing to benefit from ACE Portal functionality available in this test must have an ACE Portal Account. Volunteers may also participate as non-Portal accounts, but they will not be able to avail themselves of all functionality offered.
ABI volunteers wishing to participate in this test must:
File entries on a Statement (i.e., no non-statement, single pay entry summaries will be allowed).
Use a software package that has completed ABI certification testing for ACE.
(Software providers need not reply to CBP's general notice but should contact their client representative if they are interested in ABI certification testing for ACE.)
1CBP previously announced that due to problems discovered during testing, M1 would be delayed until April or June 2009. CBP has also stated that as a result of the M1 schedule slip, the deployment of ESAR A2.2 was also delayed. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/28/08 news, 08072805, for BP summary.)
According to an ACE update from the September 2008 Trade Support Network meeting, ESAR A2.2 is scheduled for deployment in May/July 2009 - August/October 2009. (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/22/08 news, 08092205, for BP summary.)
CSMS 08-000249 (dated 10/03/08) available at http://apps.cbp.gov/csms/viewmssg.asp?Recid=17273&page=2&srch_argv=&srchtype=&btype=&sortby=&sby
CBP general notice (FR Pub 08/26/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-19780.pdf