The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is seeking participants for a pilot set to begin Aug. 19 to test electronic filing in the Automated Commercial Environment (here). Under the pilot, importers of distilled spirits, wine, beer, tobacco products, processed tobacco, and cigarette papers and tubes will file information with CBP through TTB’s partner government agency (PGA) message set to meet TTB import requirements. Filers who wish to participate should contact TTB’s John Kyranos at (202) 453–2265 x001, or e-mail regulations@ttb.gov. TTB is also asking for comments on draft filing instructions on how to use its PGA message set in ACE (here). Comments are due Oct. 6.
Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)
The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) is the CBP's electronic system through which the international trade community reports imports and exports and the government determines admissibility.
CBP posted two Automated Commercial Environment guides for Partner Government Agency entry information requirements.The ACE PGA Message Set Summary (here) includes a summary of PGA filing requirements. The ACE Harmonized Tariff Schedule PGA Cross Reference Guide (here) outlines the HTS codes associated with PGA entry information requirements.
CBP published a quick reference guide (here) on how to apply for an Automated Commercial Environment exporter account. The guide outlines how current ACE users and non-ACE users can apply for the account. The agency recently updated ACE to allow for an "exporter" account type (see 1506290018).
The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Agricultural Marketing Service are soliciting participants for pilot programs testing filing and release through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). The APHIS pilot (here) will test the electronic submission of Lacey Act import declaration data for imports of plant and plant products. The AMS pilot (here) will test electronic submission of data required for fruits, vegetables and specialty crops subject to federal marketing orders.
CBP posted some more documents from the July 29 Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC) meeting. Among the documents is the presentation from the event (here), which outlined all the COAC recommendations, including calls to delay some deadlines for use of the Automated Commercial Environment for cargo release and entry summary filing (see 1507290066).
The CBP Los Angeles Field Office again extended interim work-around procedures in response to continued problems with the Automated Commercial Environment for air manifests. "While the overall air manifest environment is improving in performance, CBP is still trying to resolve issues," it said. "Until further notice," it will allow for carriers and Container Freight Station operators to accept Form 3461 signed by the broker "without fear of penalty for entries that have generated a paperless release (to include split shipments)," the field office said in a notice. The agency transitioned from the Air Automated Manifest System into the ACE on June 7 (see 1506110007). Carriers and CFS operators may also accept screen printouts of ACE cargo entry releases submitted by the broker, said CBP. "The printout should have at a minimum the shipment ID and quantity being released as well as clear identification of who presented the release information," it said. The carriers and CFS operators may also accept signed Form 7512 when the 1C or 1D aren't posted, it said.
The bulk of the remaining Automated Commercial Environment pilot tests of partner government agency (PGA) message sets will begin on Aug. 19, said Cynthia Whittenburg, CBP executive director-trade policy and programs, at a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC) held July 29 in Chicago. A total of 13 PGA message set pilots will begin on that date, including the Food and Drug Administration, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-Lacey Act, National Marine Fisheries Service, and Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, she said.
The Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations made a number of recommendations to CBP meant to resolve industry concerns with the recently announced air cargo pilot for pre-departure Automated Commercial Environment export manifest filing (see 1507090011). The manifest work group within the COAC Exports Subcommittee recommended that CBP make changes to the timelines, data elements, and procedures for managing holds within the test. CBP legal staff should also be more closely in contact with the COAC Subcommittee when developing regulatory notices, it said. The COAC approved the recommendations at the July 29 meeting in Chicago.
The addition of house bill release capability to the Automated Commercial Environment would be a “fairly significant piece of programming” and CBP is considering temporary alternatives in the meantime, said CBP Assistant Commissioner Brenda Smith on July 29. CBP is looking for short-term fixes while it considers where development of the capability can be fit in “from a workload perspective,” she said at the Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC) meeting.
CBP should adopt a “phased adoption” schedule for implementation of Automated Commercial Environment entry summary and cargo release, delaying ACE requirements for partner government agencies and entry types that are currently still in the early stages of development, said the Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations in recommendations adopted at a meeting held July 29 in Chicago. The agency should also adopt an “informed compliance” approach for entry summary and cargo release, holding laggards accountable but keeping the Automated Commercial System online as a fallback for filers having trouble with the transition, it said.