The Consumer Product Safety Commission and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have announced their joint intent to conduct a second test to assess the electronic filing of data from a certificate of compliance for regulated consumer products under the CPSC’s jurisdiction. This electronic filing will be done via the partner government agency message set to the Automated Commercial Environment. The CPSC plans to conduct this test for at least six months.
This beta test follows an alpha test conducted in 2016 that examined the trade community’s ability to use a product registry and submit certificate data through the Automated Broker Interface, CBP’s ability to collect and transfer PGA message set data to the CPSC, and the CPSC’s ability to receive that data into its risk assessment methodology tool. The CPSC states that the alpha test successfully demonstrated the ability of eight importers, their customs brokers, CBP, and the CPSC to work together to gather and electronically file data at import.
The beta test will build on the alpha test by (1) developing and testing the information technology infrastructure necessary to support a full-scale e-filing requirement, (2) advance the concept of a single window to facilitate electronic collection, processing, sharing, and review of trade data and documents required by the CPSC during the cargo import process, and (3) assess CPSC and importer capabilities for electronically filing certificate data elements via the PGA message set and incorporating those data elements into the RAM to risk score and interdict noncompliant products. Compared to the alpha test, the beta test will include more participants (up to 50), add two data elements, and involve products classified under about 300 HTSUS numbers.
Requests to participate in the beta test are due no later than July 25, although the CPSC will consider applications until reaching the test capacity of no more than 50 participants. The CPSC will also consider applications to volunteer for a beta pilot test IT project until the capacity of nine participants is filled.
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