According to Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sources, APHIS is now working on processing the applications it received for participation in the Lacey Act Blanket Declaration Pilot Program. APHIS has not yet given CBP a list of those that have chosen not to participate in the program and whose Line Release/BRASS C4 codes will be deactivated. (CBP was not expected to deactivate any codes until it got APHIS' list.) (See ITT's Online Archives or 05/29/09 news, 09052905, for BP summary announcing that pilot program submissions were to be post marked by May 30, 2009.)
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a press release announcing the release of application guidance for more than $500 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) preparedness grants for fire station construction, port and transit security - funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This includes $150 million for the Port Security Grant Program and $150 million for the Transit Security Grant Program. (DHS press release available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1243604359686.shtm.)
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sources have stated by phone that letters of intent to participate in the Lacey Act Blanket Declaration Pilot Program must be postmarked by Saturday, May 30, 2009 (as the May 31, 2009 deadline falls on a Sunday).
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sources have stated by phone that the date by which eligible entities must contact APHIS to participate in the Lacey Act Blanket Declaration Pilot Program is "effectively extended" until May 31, 2009.
The Foreign Trade Zones Board is requesting public comment by July 14, 2009, on a staff proposal to revise the format of annual reports that are submitted by zone grantees to the Foreign Trade Zones Board. The revisions are intended to clarify the information that is being requested and focus on the information that is most important for oversight of the FTZ program. (FR Pub 05/15/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-11421.pdf)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued its instructions and reconciliation form for the Lacey Act Blanket Declaration Pilot Program, which began on May 1, 2009.
The Lacey Act Declaration requirement is currently being enforced for nine Harmonized Tariff Schedule Chapter 44 headings (wood and articles of wood), except where such goods are cleared using Automated Line Release (ALR)/Border Release Advance Screening and Selectivity Program (BRASS)1.
The State Department has posted a transcript of comments made by Secretary of State Clinton, as well as the Presidents of Pakistan and Afghanistan at the U.S.-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Consultations II recently held in Washington, DC. According to the remarks, Afghanistan and Pakistan were to sign a Memorandum of Understanding committing their countries to achieving a trade transit agreement by the end of 2009. (Remarks, dated 05/06/09, available at http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/05/122706.htm.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has revised its guidance on how it will enforce the Lacey Act Declaration requirement for covered plants and plant products. The revision delays enforcement of the declaration requirement for Automated Line Release (ALR)/Border Release Advance Screening and Selectivity (BRASS) program participants another 30 days, until June 1, 2009.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a release stating it will begin a pilot program on May 1, 2009, initially open to those entities currently participating in CBP's expedited border release program, Automated Line Release (ALR)/Border Release Advance Screening and Selectivity (BRASS), and whose products require a Lacey Act declaration during the current phase of enforcement. This pilot program will test the feasibility of collecting the information required using a periodic "blanket" declaration, with subsequent reconciliation reports. Entities currently participating in ALR or BRASS will be able to choose whether to remain active in the expedited program and participate in this pilot program or be removed from the expedited program. (See ITT's Online Archives or 05/01/09 news, 09050105, for BP summary.) (Release, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/lacey_act/downloads/PilotProgramAnnoucement.pdf)