Broker Continuing Ed Regulations in Initial Review, Should See Quicker Process, CBP Official Says

CBP’s final rule creating a continuing education requirement for customs brokers is in the “stretch run,” with the regulations written and in the initial stages of review with CBP’s Office of Trade, said John Leonard, deputy assistant commissioner-trade at CBP, in remarks Sept. 19. The final rule only has to be signed by the secretary of homeland security, which will make for a quicker process than for CBP rules that also have to be signed by the treasury secretary, said Leonard, speaking at a National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America conference.

The continuing education rule has “no surprises,” Leonard said, and its requirement of 36 hours of education in three years shouldn’t pose too great a burden on brokers. The “major lift” for CBP is setting up an accreditation process for continuing education providers, which will be done via a normal government procurement process, he said. While the rule is coming soon, “I can’t put a firm date on it,” Leonard said.