The Department of Homeland Security has recently released its fiscal year 2010 budget request which contains specific requests for U.S. Customs and Border Protection initiatives.
CBP has issued a CSMS message stating that on May 18, 2009, it will begin sending follow-up Status Advisory (SA) messages to ABI ISF filers when a bill of lading (BOL) is submitted that matches to an ISF already on file with CBP. Similar notifications to AMS will also be sent.
CBP has issued a CSMS message stating that the Chicago Trade Support Office will be closed on Tuesday, May 12, 2009. For assistance, the trade can contact the Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Seattle, San Francisco, or Cleveland offices (see CSMS message for phone numbers). (CSMS 09-000222, dated 05/11/09, available at http://apps.cbp.gov/csms/viewmssg.asp?Recid=17612&page=&srch_argv=09-000222&srchtype=all&btype=&sortby=&sby)
CBP has posted the April 2009 customs broker exam and answer key to its Web site. According to CBP sources, the pass rate is not yet available. (See future issue of ITT for details when the pass rate becomes available.)(Exam and Key, posted 05/06/09, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/broker/broker_exam/exam_and_key_downloads/)
The House Energy and Commerce Committee recently held a four-day series of hearings on the discussion draft of "The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009" (ACES). The hearings were to examine the views of the Administration and a broad range of stakeholders on the discussion draft.
CBP has issued a CSMS message stating that it has resolved the problem with ABI transactions for Importer Create Update (TI), Importer/Bond Query (KI), and ACE Entry Summary (AE) not being processed in ACE. (CSMS message announcing the problem, 09-000212, dated 05/04/09, available at http://apps.cbp.gov/csms/viewmssg.asp?Recid=17602&page=&srch_argv=09-000212&srchtype=all&btype=&sortby=&sby; CSMS message announcing the problem was resolved, 09-000214, dated 05/04/09,available at http://apps.cbp.gov/csms/viewmssg.asp?Recid=17604&page=&srch_argv=09-000214&srchtype=all&btype=&sortby=&sby)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a CSMS message regarding the computer changes necessary for the implementation of the Food and Drug Administration's May 6, 2009 final rule on prior notice (PN) of food (including animal feed), which is imported or offered for import into the U.S.
CBP recently posted guidance on how it will enforce the Lacey Act Plant Product Declaration requirement for covered products beginning May 1, 2009. Among other things, the guidance provided information on a new pilot program for current participants in the Automated Line Release (ALR)/Border Release Advance Screening and Selectivity (BRASS) program whose products require a Lacey Act declaration during the current phase of enforcement. CBP's instructions for the pilot covers ALR/BRASS shipments for June 2009; CBP did not provide (or did not clearly provide) instructions for ALR/BRASS participants entering covered products during the month of May.
"Daily Update on Capitol Hill Trade Actions" is a regular feature of International Trade Today. The following are brief summaries of recent Capitol Hill actions.
CBP has issued a CSMS message stating that it has come to its attention that some surety companies and some customs brokers, acting as agents for sureties, are using CBP 301 (customs bond) forms which include extraneous information such as "Power of Attorney Limited to [dollar amount]." All sureties and brokers are instructed to discontinue, effective immediately, use of any CBP 301 form which has such extraneous information. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/05/08 news, 08020505, for BP summary announcing that CBP would reject CBP 301 bond forms or bond riders submitted with extraneous liability limitation language effective February 11, 2008.) (CSMS 09-000209, dated 04/29/09, available at http://apps.cbp.gov/csms/viewmssg.asp?Recid=17599&page=&srch_argv=09-000209&srchtype=all&btype=&sortby=&sby)