The Consumer Product Safety Commission should stick to its current system of requiring importers to provide certificates of compliance on an “on-demand” basis, industry representatives told CPSC staff at a workshop on Sept. 18. But should CPSC move forward with requiring importers to file certificates of compliance at time of entry, as proposed in May 2013 (see 13051018), the agency must ensure the program is fully integrated into existing supply chain processes and the Automated Commercial Environment, said several industry groups. CPSC must also revise its definition of importer of record to exclude customs brokers, others said. The commission should also work closely with CBP and the trade community to ensure it comes up with a rule that’s workable for both CPSC and industry, said industry representatives.
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Data broker Experian revealed a technology that links data to provide a “real-time single customer view,” to reduce issues involving digital data quality and accuracy, it said in a news release (http://bit.ly/1BbGMY5). The new technology “allows organizations to increase the precision, authenticity and sophistication of their marketing campaigns across channels and devices,” Experian said. The feature will help companies move toward the desired one-to-one marketing strategy, the company said Wednesday. Rick Erwin, president-consumer insights and targeting for Experian Marketing Services, called it a “common denominator” and “persistent link” across “all channels."
A coming Federal Maritime Commission proposed rulemaking on Ocean Transport Intermediaries (OTIs) makes a number of major revisions to a previous proposal on the subject, said FMC Commissioner William Doyle at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America Government Affairs Conference. Doyle gave a detailed preview of a coming OTI proposal, which he said is expected to come out in the near future. The NCBFAA previously said it expected the FMC to pull back on its OTI rulemaking that would have meant some major new financial and licensing requirements for OTIs (see 14071616). Among the changes to the rulemaking, the FMC will not increase the bond amounts for Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers and forwarders and will not create new standards for OTI advertising, he said.
Progress was slow for customers hoping to snare an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus when they went on sale Friday in New York, we found from conversations with some of the faithful who had staked a place in line outside the Apple store on 14th Street and 9th Avenue. Store employees were limiting the number of people inside at a time, and the line outside was fairly static.
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The Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC) for CBP will next meet Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. in Washington, CBP said in a notice.
The other government agencies involved in the completion of the International Trade Data System have become increasingly engaged in that work following the February Executive Order on ITDS, said Carol Cave, director of Import Surveillance, Consumer Product Safety Commission. Cave and other agency officials discussed the progress on Sept. 15 during the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America Government Affairs Conference. "There is a major shift going on with [the Border Interagency Executive Council]" as the government works to finish the system by 2016, as required in the Executive Order (see 14021928). For example, there's been a lot more coordination in looking at which agencies collect the same information that the CPSC also requires, said Cave.
CBP is undergoing its "own version of a corporate reorganization" as the agency continues work to increase the role of the Centers of Excellence and Expertise, said Deputy Commissioner Kevin McAleenan , who spoke during the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America Government Affairs Conference on Sept. 16. The agency is aligning its staff with how industry is set up, he said. That includes adjustments to the agency's field operations, the Office of Trade and legal counsel, all of which is helping CBP develop a better "compliance and security posture," said McAleenan.
Mobile financial systems present privacy and security concerns for consumers and raise the risk of data brokers gaining consumer information without explicit consent, commented the FTC Thursday to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (http://1.usa.gov/1tHQPkH). It acknowledged that “mobile technologies provide consumers with unprecedented efficiency and convenience to conduct financial transactions.” The comments responded to a CFPB request for information this summer. The FTC mentioned mobile banking and location-based discounts as several perks to mobile finance: “Some mobile technologies, such as mobile carrier billing, may be especially beneficial for unbanked and underbanked consumers.” But with the benefits come risks, the FTC said. “Consumers using mobile financial services may be at risk for liability for unauthorized charges or unfair billing, as well as the increased collection, use, and sharing of consumers’ personal and financial data,” the FTC said. “These issues may raise particular concerns for the underserved or economically vulnerable consumers using these services.” Mobile payment security has been widely discussed recently, after Apple revealed its mobile wallet platform Apple Pay, which lets customers upload credit card information and simply use their phone to pay at participating retailers (CD Sept 10 p17). Apple said Apple Pay -- by generating a one-time-only number for each transaction and limiting credit card number exposure -- is more secure than credit cards (CD Sept 10 p21). The FTC issued a 2013 full report on mobile payments (http://1.usa.gov/1qodt03), which highlighted “the importance of clear disclosures about dispute resolution and liability limits and the need for mobile payment companies to provide greater transparency surrounding their data practices,” said the commission.