CBP Expands Simplified Entry/Cargo Release Pilot, Drops C-TPAT Requirement for Brokers and Self-Filers

Customs brokers and importer self-filers in CBP's Simplified Entry pilot will no longer be required to have Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) status to test the program, CBP said in a notice. The agency is expanding the pilot program and officially rebranding it as the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Cargo Release test, said CBP.

CBP also opened the ACE Cargo Release pilot "to all eligible applicants for an indefinite period," it said. "CBP will endeavor to accept all new eligible applicants on a first come first served basis; however, if the volume of eligible applicants exceeds CBP’s administrative capabilities, CBP will reserve the right to select eligible participants in order to achieve a diverse pool in accordance with the selection standards."The first phase of the pilot was announced at the end of 2011 and expected then to last for two years (see 11110918). CBP said it now expects the pilot, which is only for air transportation mode, to run until Nov. 1, 2015. CBP has said it plans to add ocean transport to the pilot in 2014 (see 13011827).

The removal of the C-TPAT status requirement for brokers and self-filers follows CBP's removal of that requirement for importers last year (see 12083015). While importers weren't required to be C-TPAT certified since then, brokers and self-filers in the pilot were required to have Tier 2 or higher C-TPAT status. The agency also added some new filing capabilities, including automated corrections/cancellations, split shipments, entry on cargo which has been moved by in-bond from the first U.S. port of unlading, and entry for a quantity less than full manifested bill quantity if no in-bond is involved, said CBP.

CBP also added three new data elements for certain situations, it said. The new data elements are:

• Port of Entry (if an in-bond number is provided in the entry submission, the planned port of entry must also be provided).
• In-Bond (if applicable).
• Bill Quantity (if bill of lading quantity is specified in the entry, it becomes the entered and released quantity for that bill. If the bill quantity is not specified, full bill quantity will be entered and released for that bill).

The pilot previously required participants to file 12 data elements and gave the option for filing three more data elements in lieu of filing CBP Form 3461 data. Once a participant submits the necessary data, "CBP will process the submission and will subsequently transmit its cargo release decision to the filer," it said. "Releases will be made at the house bill level. The merchandise will then be considered to be entered upon its arrival in the port with the intent to unlade."

(Federal Register 11/04/13)