Blanket Declaration Pilot Program for Automated Line Release or Border Release Advance Screening and Selectivity Programs [Lacey Act]

(CBP)

The government will begin a pilot program on May 1, 2009, initially open to those entities currently participating in one of CBP’s expedited border release programs, Automated Line Release (ALR) or Border Release Advance Screening and Selectivity (BRASS), and whose products require a Lacey Act declaration during the current phase of enforcement. This pilot program will test the feasibility of collecting the information required through the use of a periodic “blanket” declaration, with subsequent reconciliation reports. Entities currently participating in ALR or BRASS will be able to choose whether to remain active in the expedited program and participate in this pilot program or be removed from the expedited program.

If the participant’s choice is to be removed from the expedited program, no further action is necessary. Effective June 1, 2009, that participant’s C4 code will be inactivated. If the participant’s choice is to remain on the expedited release program and participate in the blanket declaration pilot program, the participant must notify APHIS and CBP that they wish to remain in ALR or BRASS and agree to provide information as required by the pilot program. We currently plan to implement the pilot program using the following two step process.

Step 1
The participant must file with APHIS an advance estimated PPQ 505. Initially, and for purposes of this pilot, the estimated PPQ 505 must be filed on a monthly basis. It must include all data elements required on the PPQ 505. Genus, species, value, and quantity fields should be an estimation of the participant’s planned imports during the next calendar month. The estimated PPQ 505 must be filed on or before the 15th day of the month prior to the reporting period. The deadline for the first estimated PPQ 505 is May 15, 2009, covering expedited release shipments planned for the month of June 2009.

Step 2
The participant must file with APHIS reconciliation within 15 days after the end of the month. This reconciliation will be submitted in a format to be established and made available on the APHIS website. The reconciliation will provide information on the actual shipments made during the previous month. The deadline for the first reconciliation is July 15, 2009.
Please see related guidance at the CBP website.