The House approved HR-4251, the Securing Maritime Activities through Risk-based Targeting (SMART) for Port Security Act , June 28 under suspension of the rules. The legislation is meant to authorize, enhance, and reform port security programs through increased efficiency and risk-based coordination within the Department of Homeland Security. Text of the bill, which still needs Senate approval, is here.
CBP is looking into establishing a pilot program that would waive the requirement to maintain a place of business within the district where customs business is being conducted, allowing for more virtual transactions, said CBP officials June 28. The officials spoke during a CBP Webinar on "Modernizing broker permitting requirements," the third of several Webinars on changes to broker regulation.
CBP set a target of September for getting the next two Centers for Excellence and Expertise (CEEs) operational, said Tom Overacker, project manager of the CEEs at CBP, speaking at the Import Compliance and Enforcement Conference in Washington June 21. Overacker said CBP will seek volunteers for the CEEs “soon” in a Federal Register notice.
CBP is hoping to hold its annual Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) Security Conference near the end of September, said Carlos Ochoa, supervisory program manager of C-TPAT at CBP. Ochoa spoke at the Import Compliance and Enforcement conference June 20. The conference requires approval from the Department of Homeland Security for the first time this year and that approval was still pending, he said.
The Department of Homeland Security has decided to delay the effective date for 100-percent scanning of incoming maritime cargo containers for at least two years, as expected (see ITT's Online Archives 12060123), the department's top spokesman has confirmed. "Based on engagement with industry and foreign partners, as well as the results of several pilots, DHS has concluded that 100-percent scanning of incoming maritime cargo is neither the most efficient nor cost-effective approach to securing our global supply chain and has extended the implementation of the 100 percent scanning mandate as allowed by the SAFE Port Act," spokesman Matthew Chandler told us.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Inspector General's Office released an audit report recommending improved security verification procedures for truckers approved within the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program. CBP said it concurred with the report and is working on the issues.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its Northern Border Strategy (NBS), described as" the first unified strategy to guide the Department’s policies and operations along the U.S.-Canada border." DHS said the strategy will work closely in conjunction with the "Beyond the Border" plan released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in February.
In the June 5-6, 2012, editions of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted:
The House Homeland Security Committee approved in a voice vote HR-4251, the Securing Maritime Activities through Risk-based Targeting (SMART) for Port Security Act , June 6. The legislation is meant to authorize, enhance, and reform port security programs through increased efficiency and risk-based coordination within the Department of Homeland Security. Text of the bill is here.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) posted an updated listed of frequently asked questions on the Centers of Excellence and Expertise. CBP officials said during the May 22, 2012 COAC meeting another update is expected shortly. The questions and answers are: