U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a press release reporting its progress in fulfilling its agriculture mission and advancing inspection processes. For example, CBP caught the Asian gypsy moth (AGM) 20 times in 2009; in mid-October 2011 the annual number was 22. As a result of the increased interceptions in 2009, APHIS began an AGM Inspection Certification program for international vessels that visit high risk countries. CBP also created a Khapra beetle training program for CBP agricultural specialists, and in fiscal year 2011, made 194 Khapra beetle interceptions. To deal with potential agriculture-related emergency scenarios, APHIS and CBP convened a group of experts to identify and propose emergency responses. The plan just received final approval and is being coordinated for a joint agency roll-out.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's November 2, 2011 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 45, No. 45) contains 10 notices of ruling actions:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted an updated version of its TRQ/TPL "threshold to fill" list, a quick reference to monitor TRQs and TPLs that are approaching their restraint limit or have filled their in-quota (low) rate. The list is divided into two sections: those that are at least 85% filled and those that are filled.
CBP has posted an updated version of its Public Automated Commercial System FIRMS (Facilities Information and Resources Management Systems) report that is organized by port code and alphabetically by company name.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and has issued the following news releases:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted the following documents for the Customs Automated Manifest Interface Requirements (CAMIR) for Ocean ACE M1:
On November 1, 2011, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Bersin met with members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's national security task force to provide an update on CBP's efforts to modernize, streamline and strengthen its operations at ports of entry. Bersin also provided an update on the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) pilot, which he states CBP plans to expand to more international sites in the near future.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted an updated version of its CF 1400 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Entrances) - an electronic query report for CF 1400 of the Vessel Management System (VMS), in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by entrances. CBP has also posted an updated CF 1401 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Clearances) - an electronic query report for CF 1401 of the VMS, in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by clearances.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued its weekly tariff rate quota and tariff preference level commodity report as of October 31, 2011.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted the weekly foreign currency exchange rate multipliers for the week ending October 28, 2011.