CBP to Begin Testing of MID Replacements

CBP plans to begin a global business identifier “Evaluative Proof of Concept (EPoC)” meant to explore possible replacements for the manufacturer identification codes, the agency said in a notice. “By testing the identifiers CBP will take its first step in determining whether to amend regulations to mandate the GBI solution,” it said. “Furthermore, CBP will understand the utility of collecting and/or combining the identifiers’ data and will be able to make an informed decision on whether to mandate the use of the GBI solution as an alternative” to the MID code.

The pilot program will test the use of three possible replacements, and participants will be required to obtain the identifiers and provide that information to CBP. “The identifiers provide additional information about trade entities and supply chain locations associated with U.S. imports, to CBP for enrollment into the GBI EPoC and, if selected, during the Entry process,” it said.

The three identifiers being tested are the Global Location Number or GLN, operated by GS1; the Data Universal Numbering System number, or DUNS number, operated by Dun & Bradstreet; and the Legal Entity Identifier, or LEI, managed by the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation. The test will require that participants file all three numbers, but CBP has said it expects to use two of those identifiers to replace the MID (see 2107230034). Comments on the proposed new information collection related to the pilot are due by Dec. 6.