U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted penalty mitigation guidelines for violations of the mandatory Automated Export System (AES) filing requirements and other Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR, 15 CFR Part 30). The guidelines are effective on February 1, 2009 for violations occurring on or after February 1, 2009.
In a revised frequently-asked-questions document, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has added an additional method to meet the requirement in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA1) that certificates of conformity "accompany" each product or shipment of products required to have such certificates.2
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has previously issued a general notice announcing that the 2009 annual user fee of $138 assessed for each customs broker permit and national permit held by an individual, partnership, association, or corporation is due by January 23, 2009.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document regarding the submission of the licensed customs broker triennial status report and fee.
CBP has issued a notice on the 2009 Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) Supply Chain Security Seminar that will be held on April 1-3, 2009 in New Orleans, LA. The seminar is open to all C-TPAT certified partners. The seminar will be presented in two sessions to accommodate additional registrants. Registration will begin on Monday, January 5, 2009 at 12 noon EST through the C-TPAT Members page. (CBP notice, dated 12/22/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/cargo_security/ctpat/supply_chain_seminar.xml.)
The Transportation Security Administration posted an announcement stating that applicants can check the status of their Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card online. (Announcement, dated 12/15/08, available at http://twicinformation.tsa.dhs.gov/twicinfo/index.jsp.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has again posted the final versions of two Importer Security Filing (ISF) transaction sets, the ANSI X12 309 Manifest with Security Filing and the ANSI X12 309 Importer Security Filing. The first set has been corrected to state that it is in final form and conforms to the 10+2 interim final rule. Both sets also have new posting dates and may include additional changes. (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/16/08 news, 08121605, for BP summary of CBP finalizing these ISF transaction sets.) (ISF transaction sets available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/automated/automated_systems/sf_transaction_sets/)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a memorandum on the changes made to the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) by Presidential Proclamation 8323, which was signed November 28, 2008.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued its interim final rule which will amend 19 CFR Parts 4, 12, 18, 101, 103, 113, 122, 123, 141, 143, 149, 178, and 192, effective January 26, 2009, to require Security Filing (SF) information from importers and additional information from carriers (10+2) for vessel (maritime) cargo before it is brought into the U.S.1
The Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a final rule, effective January 8, 2009, which amends 50 CFR Part 14 to clarify the import/export license and fee requirements for wildlife, including wildlife parts and products (collectively, wildlife), adjust the inspection fee schedule, and update license and inspection fee exemptions.