CSMS# 15-000213 - Request for Participants: APHIS Multi-Program Import (Non-Lacey Act) Working Group

Automated Broker Interface

Announcing the Formation of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service APHIS) Multi-Program Import (Non-Lacey Act) Working Group.



PLEASE REFERENCE THE ATTACHMENT FOR DETAILS ON THE WORKING GROUP.



Attention, Brokers, Importers, and Software Developers: The International Trade Data System (ITDS) Committee of the Trade Support Network (TSN) needs your input and participation in our new APHIS Multi-Program Import (non-Lacey Act) Working Group. Sandra Scott (Seko Logistics) and Stuart Schmidt (UPS) serve as Trade Co-Chairs of the ITDS Committee.



Working Group Purpose

The purpose of the APHIS Multi-Program Import Working Group will be to ensure that all stakeholder groups are invited to participate in a discussion of the technical requirements that will be necessary for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), APHIS to participate in the ITDS/Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) System. The working group will consist of members of the trade whose businesses are regulated by APHIS Programs concerning plant and animal health pests and diseases, trade software developers who support the business processes, as well as representatives from APHIS Programs and from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) team developing the ITDS software system –ACE. The transition to ACE will result in changes to the way APHIS Programs, and the members of the trade who import these items, do business. Your involvement is needed to ensure that the proposed changes continue to support efficient trade while at the same time APHIS programs comply with the ITDS requirements of the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act (SAFE Port Act).



Working Group Task

The ACE system will replace the Automated Commercial System (ACS), and it will require that APHIS-specific data be submitted electronically via the Partner Government Agency (PGA) Message Set. APHIS has worked with CBP to identify the specific data elements that will need to be submitted by import filers, as well as the format and content of those data elements, in order to successfully transact business in ACE to comply with the ITDS “single window.” Through a series of conference calls, APHIS Program representatives will review the PGA Message Set guidance, as well as the impacts that the transition to ACE will have on APHIS’ importation business processes. The working group will focus on the specific import requirements for the following Program/Commodity Groups: 1) Animal Care; 2) Plant Protection & Quarantine; 3) Biotechnology and Regulatory Services; and 4) Veterinary Services. The discussions will focus primarily on commodities covered in Harmonized Tariff System Chapters 1- 8, 10 and 12.



Working Group Commitment

Working Group participants should be prepared to commit to the conference call schedule outlined by APHIS. APHIS plans to conduct a 4-week series of technical review sessions consisting of 2 conference calls per week, each being 3 hours in length, starting on April 21 & 22 from 11:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. Eastern Time. The agenda for each session will outline the commodities to be discussed.



To participate in the APHIS Multi-Program Work Group please send an email to:



Frank Korpusik at frank.j.korpusik@cbp.dhs.gov

Sandra Scott at Sandra.scott@sekologistics.com

Stuart Schmidt at Schmidt.stuart@ups.com



Copy

Cindy Walters at cindy.l.walters@aphis.usda.gov

RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN COB THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015








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