| Title: | Request for Participants: USDA/AMS Trade/PGA Working Group |
|---|---|
| Date: | 2014-11-26 |
| To: | abi,acee,acep,acer,air,newace,ocean,partner,rail,truck |
| Links: | previous, next |
Announcing the Formation of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Working Group
Attention, Brokers, Importers, and Software Developers:
------------------------------------------------------
The International Trade Data System (ITDS) Committee of the Trade Support Network (TSN) needs your input and participation in our new USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Import Working Group.
Working Group Purpose
---------------------
The purpose of the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS) Import Working Group will be to provide all stakeholder groups with an opportunity to discuss the technical requirements related to the participation of USDA-AMS in the ITDS/ACE system. The working group will consist of members of the trade whose businesses are impacted by the Agricultural Marketing Service programs for imported fruit and vegetable products subject to Federal marketing order requirements, agricultural products subject to Research and Promotion program assessment fees, and imported shell eggs and inedible egg products. Additionally, the working group will include trade software developers who support the business processes, as well as representatives from USDA-AMS and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) team that are developing the ITDS software system – the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). The transition to the ITDS will result in changes to the way USDA-AMS, CBP, and the members of the trade who import these items do business. Your involvement is needed to ensure that business process changes continue to support efficient trade while complying with the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act (SAFE Port Act) requirement for USDA-AMS to participate in ITDS.
Working Group Task
------------------
The ACE system will replace the ACS system, and it will require that the trade be capable of electronically submitting specific data to USDA-AMS for certain import scenarios using the Partner Government Agency (PGA) Message Set. USDA-AMS has worked with CBP to identify the specific data elements that will need to be submitted by import filers, as well as the format and content of those data elements, in order to successfully transact business in ACE to comply with the ITDS “single window.” Through a series of conference calls, the USDA-AMS Working Group will review the draft USDA-AMS PGA Message Set guidance, as well as the impacts that ITDS will have on the importation business process for importers and the USDA-AMS. USDA-AMS will use the work group input to refine the planned message sets and importation process to create an efficient and effective product admission process for the imported products subject to USDA-AMS jurisdiction.
Working Group Commitment
------------------------
Working Group participants should be prepared to commit to weekly conference calls typically of 2 hour duration over an eight-week period. A more definitive schedule will be determined at the Working Group's first meeting. The teleconferences will focus on the technical record layouts, data flows, and business process required for the above referenced AMS Message sets in order to define the programming and operational guidelines to be implemented by CBP, AMS, importers, and importer brokers when filing and processing entries for products subject to AMS jurisdiction at US borders. Regulatory and policy issues are outside the scope of this working group.
To participate in the USDA AMS Working Group please send an email to:
Frank Korpusik at frank.j.korpusik@cbp.dhs.gov and fjktrade@verizon.net
Sandra Scott at Sandra.scott@sekologistics.com
Debbie Benish at Debbie_benish@ftn.fedex.com
PLEASE RESPOND BY COB Thursday, December 4, 2014