On May 29, the optional import component of the web-based Public Health Information System (PHIS) will be partially operational, the Food Safety and Inspection Service said in a letter to importers dated April 18, 2012. On that date, in all U.S. official import inspection establishments handling imports of meat, poultry and egg products, PHIS will: (i) provide for a government-to-government electronic transmission of inspection certificate data as an alternative to the paper certification, beginning with Australia and New Zealand; and (ii) begin transfer of 10 data elements from U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) to FSIS.
Some Customs broker licenses were inadvertently revoked on November 18, 2011, said U.S. Customs and Border Protection in a notice a the Federal Register notice May 1, 2012.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection provided Colombia Free Trade Act system requirements in a CSMS message April 30, 2012.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection sent a reminder that on September 29, 2012, ACS/AMS EDI Ocean Manifest functionality will be transitioned to ACE as part of the ACE eManifest: Rail and Sea Deployment. When this transition takes place, filers will no longer be able transmit or receive data via ACS/AMS, said CBP. Programming changes to comply with the modified record formats must be made in order to continue filing manifests electronically pursuant to the Trade Act of 2002, it said.
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Centers of Excellence and Expertise are game changers in the trade world and are deserving of additional funding from Congress, said Thomas Winkowski, acting deputy commissioner at CBP, speaking at the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America conference April 25. Winkowski was a last minute replacement for Acting Commissioner David Aguilar, who was scheduled to speak at the conference but was summoned to the White House, said Winkowski.
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - The budget environment will force the move to Automated Commercial Environment whether industry feels completely ready or not, said CBP’s Executive Director of the ACE Business Office Cindy Allen, speaking at the National Association of Customs Brokers and Forwarders of America conference April 25. As previously announced, the funding may be used up by next year, forcing the agency to make difficult choices on continuing to use certain pre-departure information systems, she said.
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) will be looking at three main issues in coming months, said Gerry Horner, Senior Trade and Industry Analyst in the Office of Technology Evaluation at BIS. Horner spoke at the Natinoal Customs Brokers and Forwards Association of America April 24, 2012. The first will be a review of the use of the destination control statement, said Horner. There have been challenges with its use for years and BIS will go out to look at bills of lading and airplane bills at random airports, he said. He noted the review won’t be for enforcement purposes but to see how it is used in order enhance it.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted Amendment 11 (April 2012) to the CATAIR (Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements). Amendment 11 consists of two changes. An additional introductory paragraph has been added to the Automated Manifest System (AMS) Broker Download section of the CATAIR for Record Identifier NS50 (Output). NS50 (Output) contains remarks relating to the posting of a bill of lading or the status of the importing conveyance . In addition, the ACH application form has been located to another section of Appendix J. Revised AMS Broker Download section available here. Revised Appendix J available here. List of these Amendment 11 changes available here. Entire CATAIR available here (zip file) .
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Richard Lidinsky said the FMC will begin improving NVOCC regulations next month. Lidinsky spoke at the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America conference April 24, 2012. Lidinsky mentioned a recent FMC notice of inquiry seeking comments on its rules that exempt non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) that enter service arrangements from certain tariff filing requirements of the Shipping Act of 1984. At the May FMC meeting, the commission will begin the process of modernizing regulations for NVOCC and Freight Forwarder licensing, registration, and proof of financial responsibility, Lidinsky said.
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director of Import Operations Domenic Veneziano went into detail in describing the plans for the voluntary qualified importer program (VQIP) while speaking at the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America April 25, 2012. The plans are still in development, said Veneziano. The VQIP was required as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act.