CBP Expects Final PGA Interoperability Plan in April, Data Share Next
During recent trade events1, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials discussed actions that the agency has taken to develop interfaces/interoperability with Participating Government Agencies (PGAs). A plan for how the agency will communicate with the PGAs is expected to be finalized by CBP in April 2011.
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!
Interoperability is 1 of the Top 3 ITDS Priorities
The International Trade Data System (ITDS) Board has designated technical interoperability as one of the three priorities recommended to help PGAs meet their needs and get them back on track with ACE/ITDS. The other two priorities are the Document Imaging System (DIS) and the PGA message set.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 03/02/11 news, 11030232, for BP summary of ITDS Board reporting on these priorities and the progress that has been made on them. See ITT’s Online Archives or 04/25/11 news, 11042515, for BP summary of CBP saying the PGA message set for cargo is scheduled to finalized in April 2011.)
CBP Working to Identify, Build Interfaces and Protocols for Data Sharing
CBP has been working to identify and then build the interfaces and protocols through which the PGAs and CBP will communicate and share information related to imports of cargo. It is developing and institutionalizing (1) the common sets of technical standards that will cover data interface protocols, and (2) the types of data to be delivered through the interfaces. CBP is formulating PGA requirements for web service to deliver cargo release data upon implementation.
Final Interoperability Plan Expected in April, Data Share Set to Begin in August
The interoperability plan is set to be finalized by CBP in April 2011. Once this capability becomes available -- the target date is August 2011 -- CBP will provide to PGAs data currently collected electronically that is currently unavailable to them.
(The PGA message set, which is also expected to be finalized in April 2011, will include additional inbound data elements required by other agencies to the major import reporting messages. Once the message set is loaded into ACE, the PGAs will also be provided with that data. CBP expects to build the technology that will support the collection of this PGA message set by August 2011. CBP has stated that it has not yet decided if this PGA message set will be operational in ACE and/or ACS.)
Four Agencies to Date Have Indicated Interest in Data Sharing
Several PGAs have indicated interest in participating in the data sharing, including:
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
- Department of Transportation (DOT)
- Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
1The April 3-6 NCBFAA conference, April 12 COAC meeting, and April 13-14 Annual CBP Trade Symposium.