International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for July 30-Aug. 3 in case they were missed last week.

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:

Messaging responses for Importer Security Filing (ISF) stand alone messages in the X12 format have been inconsistent, said CBP in a CSMS message. CBP posted the 355 and 350 messages for ISF transactions to clarify this messaging, it said. There is a format change from ACS. ACS response messages were in X12 4010 format and these response messages in ACE will be in X.12 5040 format. This only applies to stand alone ISF messages in ACE. Currently, 350 response messages for ISF stand alone transmissions are being returned in 5040 format and 355 messages are being returned in 4010 format. On September 5, 2012 CBP will be transitioning the 355 messages from 4010 to 5040 format. For those already processing ISF responses from ACE, the only change in the message itself is the change from 4010 to 5040. The entire body of the message will remain the same.

CBP posted two updated sets of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), one for policy questions and another for technical questions, on the ongoing Simplified Entry pilot. CBP will being its evaluation of the pilot, which began in May, it said in the policy FAQ. Under Simplified Entry, an importer can file an entry far in advance of a shipment and receive a release indication on its cargo much earlier than under the current entry process.

Brenda Smith will replace Cynthia Allen as head of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Business Office, after Allen leaves for a position at DHL next month, said industry and government officials. Brenda Smith is now the executive director of trade policy and programs in the CBP Office of International Trade. John Leonard, director of textile and apparel policy at CBP, will replace Smith, said CBP.

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:

CBP's Office of International Trade issued Version 3.3 of the ACE Business Rules and Process Document. The updated document was edited for clarity, including renumbered chapters to correspond with the CBP internal version (for ease of reference) and additional processing details, said CBP in a CSMS message. The document is (here).

CBP will modify its selection criteria and expand the participant pool for the a National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) test on ACE simplified entry capability, the agency said in a notice in the Federal Register Aug. 14. Simplified entry allows participants to file 12 required, and three optional data elements with CBP prior to arrival in the U.S. The ongoing initial phase of the test is only for air transportation mode and will run through Dec. 31, 2013. The changes to the pilot are effective Aug. 14, according to the notice. (FR 08/14)

CBP outlined possible regulatory alternatives being considered as part of its rewrite of broker regulations (19 CFR Part 111) during a webinar Aug. 9. The webinar on "Developing regulatory alternatives and evaluating economic impacts" focused on establishing regulatory alternatives to the major issues being considered as part of the rewrite: Bona Fides, a revised Broker Permitting System, and Continuing Education.

CBP posted its draft agenda and numerous other documents for the upcoming Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) meeting on Aug. 15 in Seattle. The materials include presentations, draft recommendations, and other documents on the role of the Broker, Simplified Entry, Bonds, Residue, the Global Supply Chain, and other topics.