ITDS Board's Annual Report Lists Status of PGAs, Etc.

(ITDS, which is a part of ACE, is an interagency effort to eliminate redundant reporting by creating a "single-window" system, replacing multiple filings (often on paper) with a single electronic filing. Relevant data would be distributed electronically to the appropriate agencies, providing them with the ability to process that data electronically.)

Highlights pertaining to the ITDS status of U.S. Customs and Border Protection² and ten Participating Government Agencies include the following:

(The ten PGAs highlighted below are those the Trade Support Network³ identified in early November 2009 as priority PGAs, as they (1) have direct or indirect hold authority or (2) would benefit from a reduction of paper processing. See the annual report for the status of the other 36 PGAs listed.)

CBP

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is developing its own plan to operate in an ITDS environment. CBP had asked other agencies to develop such a plan, but never did so itself. CBP's plan is scheduled to be completed in December 2009.

(CBP is no longer receiving funds to hire contractors to assist PGAs plan for ITDS; that funding instead will be used to deliver basic ITDS functionality.)

CPSC

The Consumer Product Safety Commission already has access through the ACE Portal to import profiles, data on shipments filed by importers, and contact information for importers; however, it is working on developing more operational benefits, including rule sets for the Automated Targeting System (ATS). There are 30 staff members that have access to data on imports through the ACE Portal.

Once ACE M2.3 (Cargo Release) is implemented (it is currently unscheduled, but its original target date was June 2009), CPSC will use ACE to identify suspect shipments at time of arrival and request CBP to hold these shipments for CPSC investigation. CPSC will also use this functionality to provide notifications to CBP and the trade regarding the actions the CPSC is taking.

FDA

For the Food and Drug Administration, there is currently a direct interface between the FDA's OASIS system and CBP's Automated Commercial System. The FDA currently uses both ACS and ACE to screen and target shipments of regulated commodities arriving in the U.S.

FDA is in the process of implementing PREDICT (Predictive Risk-based Evaluation for Dynamic Import Compliance Targeting). PREDICT is a system to improve import screening and targeting to prevent the entry of adulterated, misbranded, or otherwise violative goods. Currently the FDA has only one staff member with access to the ACE Portal, but will obtain security clearance documentation for additional personnel that will require access to the ACE Portal.

(PREDICT is not an alternative to ACE and ITDS. PREDICT will use data that FDA already receives from CBP.²)

Once ACE M2.3 (Cargo Release) is implemented, FDA plans on using ACE to identify imports of commodities under FDA jurisdiction; place holds and/or refuse shipments on FDA regulated commodities; transmit admissibility decisions via OASIS through ACE to appropriate CBP officials; etc. FDA plans to have all current interface functionality transferred from ACS to ACE.

FSIS

The Food Safety and Inspection Service began to utilize the ACE Portal early on; currently 46 staff members have access to the Portal. It is using ACE reports to determine:

Whether shipments have entered from ineligible countries or establishments,

Ports-of-entry of noncompliant shipments,

Importer of Record and Consignee for noncompliant shipments, and

Detention action taken by FSIS or redelivery actions taken by CBP.

In 2007, FSIS awarded a contract to develop their Public Health Information System (PHIS), which is scheduled to deploy in late 2010. The PHIS system will enable data exchange with ACE upon delivery of ITDS functionality - until then, the importer will file the inspection application directly with FSIS.

(FSIS is the only agency currently developing a new data collection system - PHIS - that will not be ACE-based, but this is only temporary, until ACE comes online.²)

Once ACE M2.3 (Cargo Release) is implemented, ACE is expected to provide FSIS with real-time data and the ability to communicate with CBP and other regulatory agencies to ensure adequate control of shipments.

FWS

The Fish and Wildlife Service will continue to use its Electronic Declaration Subsystem (eDecs) to determine admissibility of entries subject to FWS regulations. FWS currently has 114 staff members with access to the ACE Portal.

Once ACE M2.3 (Cargo Release) is implemented, FWS plans to use ACE to notify CBP of FWS decisions to admit or deny entry, use the ACE Portal to track all cargo movements under CBP control, use the ACE Portal for remote clearing of shipments, etc.

APHIS

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service currently acquires data through direct access to CBP systems and requests CBP to hold shipments when APHIS determines it is appropriate to do so.

Once ACE M2.3 (Cargo Release) is implemented, APHIS plans to either use permit information reported to ACE by APHIS via system-to-system interfaces, or ACE will query an APHIS system to determine if individual importations meet APHIS licensing requirements. APHIS is also planning to address its new Lacey Act import declaration responsibilities utilizing ACE/ITDS.

ATF

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives currently has the ability to use the ACE portal to retrieve entry summary information. ATF plans to automate its paper-intensive license and registration process for importation and exportation of firearms and explosives, and will use ACE in these processes.

Currently 19 staff members access the ACE portal to determine when licensee/permittees have imported firearms or explosives. These data can be used to help ensure that licensees/permittees are properly accounting for the imported products.

Once ACE M2.3 (Cargo Release) is implemented, ATF will be able to identify shipments that may require ATF issued licenses, registration or permits. ATF may also develop and implement an interface with ACE that will allow the trade to file for CBP release electronically.

USCG

The U.S. Coast Guard is working with CBP to institute a pilot project in Spring 2010 in the Port of Charleston using ACE functionality in detaining vessels or containers based on information obtained by examining bills of lading and "BAPLIE" (vessel stow plans) through ACE. The results of USCG research may be shared with other agencies. There may be an opportunity for USCG's WatchKeeper System (a web-based application to collect operational and intelligence data from a variety of agency databases) to interface with ACE. The USCG currently has two ACE Portal users.

NHTSA

National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration plans to maintain a file in ACE, using the ACE portal, of persons and businesses licensed to import non-conforming vehicles. NHTSA has one staff member who has received training for the ACE Portal.

DEA

The Drug Enforcement Administration currently has no ACE Portal users. Once ACE M2.3 (Cargo Release) is implemented, DEA plans to use ACE to identify shipments which require permits and for which the importer must be licensed and report to DEA, etc.

CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's plans for ACE M2.3 (Cargo Release) include using ACE to monitor the usage of import permits and place holds on imports subject to CDC scrutiny, audit CDC permit holders, etc.

¹The "Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006" (P.L. 109-347)

²This information was obtained from government sources.

³TSN is a group of trade representatives who provide input into the design and development of modernization projects, such as ACE. CBP has been meeting with the TSN since May 2001 regarding the development of ACE and has previously stated that the TSN has over 150 members of the trade community, including trade associations, importers, brokers, carriers, sureties, and others.)

(See ITT's Online Archives or 11/06/09 news, 09110605, for ITT's first summary of this report, which covers the recommendation to have basic ITDS functions implemented using ABI.

See ITT's Online Archives or 11/09/09 news, 09110910, for the second summary, which focused on ITDS funding and the use of DUNS and UPCs.

See ITT's Online Archives or 11/10/09 news, 09111010, for third summary, which focused on the ITDS standard data set.)

Report to Congress on the International Trade Data System (dated September 2009) available at http://www.itds.gov/xp/itds/whats_new/