Friday, May 8, 2009

C-TPAT Members to Get “10+2” Report Cards

(American Shipper)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will issue the first “10+2” progress reports on May 10 to let importers and their agents know how well they are complying with the rule for submitting advance electronic data about their cargo shipments, Assistant Commissioner Thomas Winkowski announced Wednesday.

The report cards will be sent by e-mail to all parties that have submitted Importer Security Filings (ISF) for their ocean shipments since the rule went into effect on Jan. 26.

CBP originally intended to send the progress reports only to filers, which will then be responsible for separating the individual spreadsheets and sending them on to their various customers. Most importers are using third-party vendors, such as customs brokers, forwarders and compliance software providers, to file on their behalf.

In a new twist, the border agency will also begin issuing report cards directly to all importers that participate in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, Winkowski told the 20 industry representatives on the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee meeting in Washington. Read more here (subscription required).