CBP “has procedures in place to address system issues and communicate with users” in the event of ACE system slowdowns or outages beginning on July 23, “just as we’ve had with ACS,” which will no longer be available for most filing after that date, CBP said in an update to transition procedures for the upcoming deadline (here). “Port downtime or workaround procedures will be implemented as determined by the Office of Field Operations, and guidance to the trade community will be timely communicated via the Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS),” it said. “Filers should continue to work with the local port office regarding the movement of goods.”
The legacy Automated Commercial System should remain available for filers following the July 23 mandatory use date for most remaining entry types in ACE, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America said in a letter to CBP dated July 14 (here). Though CBP said it will begin decommissioning ACS on July 23 and the system will be unavailable as a backup (see 1605270002), ACS should remain available in cases of delays resulting from down time, slow processing or software issues, because costs to the trade community would be too great without the ACS fallback option, the NCBFAA said.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
The Drug Enforcement Administration will test import and export data submission through the the agency's ACE partner government agency (PGA) message set and the Document Image System (DIS), it said in a notice (here). The pilot can begin as early as Aug. 1, DEA said. The agency will allow for electronic submission of data from eight forms required in importing or exporting:
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
APHIS will on Aug. 15 end its “core” pilot, which includes all filings except those required by the Lacey Act, such as PGA data required for imports of plants, live animals and animal products under APHIS’ Animal Care, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, Veterinary Services and Plant Protection and Quarantine programs, APHIS said in a notice (here). After that date, "entry filers will be required to file electronic entries in ACE with APHIS data and some or all APHIS forms using the method designated on the CBP Web site for the submission of the APHIS data and forms," but “APHIS will still collect some paper documentation, such as phytosanitary certificates and health certificates for live animals and animal products,” under an Office of Management and Budget waiver. APHIS said it is ending its core pilot, which began in October, because it has “proven successful.” Lacey Act entry data has been required in ACE since March 31 (see 1603250048).
ACE AESDirect will undergo an outage from 10 p.m. July 16 to 4 a.m. July 17, the Census Bureau said in an email. Such filers may submit shipments under the AES Downtime Policy, which must be filed along with any new AES transactions in ACE AESDirect after the system comes back online. Census advised AES Downtime export users to contact the port of export before filing, and in lieu of an AES Proof of Filing citation, to use the AES Downtime citation, consisting of the phrase “AESDOWN,” individual company Filer ID and date.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
The exemption to Federal Communications Commission Form 740 filing requirements (see 1607070044) is based on the import date and not the date of entry summary filing, CBP said in a CSMS message (here). The FCC data must still be provided on the entry summary if the import date is before July 1, CBP said. That data isn't required for imports after July 1, it said. After July 23, ACE will no longer require FCC data regardless of date of import because of added system validations that will reject ACE transactions that include certain agency data, CBP said.
Filers of the revised Form 5106 that don't include Social Security or passport numbers for the company officers would risk delayed cargo and refund processing, CBP said in information recently submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). While considered optional, "the absence of other reportable data about companies or individuals will affect CBP’s ability to fully understand the level of risk on subsequent transactions, and could result in the delay of the release of cargo or the delay in the processing [of] a refund," CBP said in list of responses to public comments it filing with OIRA (here). CBP is considering adding several new data fields to the form (see 1507240009).