U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced plans to accelerate testing and adoption of global interoperability standards as part of an effort to modernize the Automated Commercial Environment.
Interoperability is the ability of different computer systems and software to communicate with each other and that interoperability standards are detailed guidelines for software development that enable different systems to connect and exchange data. CBP states that these standards will increase supply chain transparency and set the stage for faster, more secure data sharing by enabling federal agencies to safely exchange data with traditional and non-traditional trade entities worldwide in near real-time. CBP believes better quality data earlier in the import process will lead to speedier admissibility determinations and the ability to focus more resources on identifying and acting on non-compliant goods and entities.
According to CBP, two data standards groups and the Food and Drug Administration have agreed to participate in CBP’s 2024 testing phase, which will include data exchange and credential verification abilities in the e-commerce, food safety, and natural gas sectors. Additionally, representatives of the Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will observe the technical demonstration to evaluate data collection related to APHIS requirements.
CBP has previously said the e-commerce test will enhance the traceability of goods bought and sold online and ensure that importers comply with CBP and partner government agency requirements, that the natural gas test will facilitate origin determinations and prevent goods entering from prohibited countries, and that the food safety test will track perishable goods from farm to import, reduce importer waste, and enable identification of packing materials used in shipping food products. CBP completed the first interoperability standards tests last year, focusing on verifying credentials and transmitting data to PGAs in the pipeline oil and steel sectors.
In 2025, CBP plans to conduct three tests of data exchange with select foreign customs authorities to confirm that CBP can issue and exchange information in a globally interoperable manner.
For more information on these developments, please contact attorney Lenny Feldman at (305) 894-1011 or via email.
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