The Department of Homeland Security has recently released its fiscal year 2010 budget request for salaries and expenses, which contains specific requests for U.S. Customs and Border Protection initiatives such as international cargo screening, Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, and other international programs.
During the May 6, 2009 Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC) meeting, CBP officials stated that they are not likely to adjust the continuous bond formula based on participation in a CBP partnership program, such as the Importer Self Assessment (ISA) program.
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/)
During the May 6, 2009 Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC) meeting, Richard DiNucci, Director of CBP's Secure Freight Initiative, provided an update on 10+2.
The Transportation Security Administration is requesting comments by June 12, 2009 on the information required to be submitted to the government by applicants and participants in the Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP) pilots1, which allow shippers, indirect air carriers, and other entities to screen cargo off-airport before it is tendered to aircraft operators for transport on passenger aircraft.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a general notice seeking volunteers for the Broker Self-Assessment Outreach Pilot (BSA pilot program, also referred to as the Broker Compliance Management program).
On April 22, 2009, at the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America annual conference, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials announced that it will soon publish a Federal Register notice seeking participants for the Broker Self-Assessment pilot program (also referred to as the Broker Compliance Management program).
CBP issued a notice stating that on March 31, 2009, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued an "Importer/Broker" letter to clarify the import permit process for FSIS-exempted food products containing small amounts (less than two percent) of meat and/or poultry ingredients. Further, APHIS has informed CBP that a U.S. Department of Agriculture import permit will now be required for all FSIS-exempted food products containing small amounts of meat and/or poultry ingredients. CBP enforcement of this USDA administrative change is scheduled to start on June 22, 2009. (See future issue of ITT for details.) (CBP notice, dated 04/14/09, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/agriculture/meat_poultry_regs.xml)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted nine frequently asked questions and answers on the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) validation process.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a revised version of its Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) minimum security for rail carriers.