CSMS Message: 93-000747

RECENTLY, ACS MODIFIED THE EI (ENTRY SUMMARY) APPLICATION BOND
VALIDATION PROGRAMS IN COMPLIANCE WITH A REQUEST FROM THE OFFICE OF
TRADE OPERATIONS. TRADE OPERATIONS HAD DISCOVERED THAT IN SOME INSTANCES,
ACS WAS CHARGING THE INCORRECT BOND WHEN ONE BOND WAS USED FOR THE
RELEASE OF THE MERCHANDISE AND ANOTHER BOND WAS USED FOR THE ENTRY
SUMMARY BUT THE IMPORTER OF RECORD NUMBER HAD NOT CHANGED. ACS MODIFIED
THE BOND VALIDATION DATE TREE TO READ THE RELEASE DATE FIRST. THIS SOLVED
THE PROBLEM THAT TRADE OPERATIONS HAD REPORTED BUT CREATED A PROBLEM FOR
SOME ENTRY/ENTRY SUMMARIES THAT ARE FILED AT THE NORTHERN BORDER. THE
PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS FOLLOWS:
- MERCHANDISE IS RELEASED ON THE BROKER'S BOND AND THE ENTRY SUMMARY
IS PRESENTED IN THE IMPORTER'S NAME, USING THE IMPORTER'S BOND.
IF THE IMPORTER'S BOND EFFECTIVE DATE IS AFTER THE RELEASE DATE,
ACS REJECTS THE TRANSACTION DUE TO THE MODIFICATION TO THE BOND
VALIDATION DATE TREE.

THIS IS TO ADVISE ALL ABI PARTICIPANTS THAT ACS IS PRESENTLY WORKING
WITH THE OFFICE OF TRADE OPERATIONS TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER. WE WILL
INFORM ALL ABI PARTICIPANTS WHAT MODIFICATIONS WILL BE MADE TO THE EI
BOND VALIDATION PROGRAMS ONCE A DECISION HAS BEEN REACHED. THIS WILL
BE FORTHCOMING IN A FUTURE ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE.

HOWEVER, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT ENTRY/ENTRY SUMMARIES THAT ARE AFFECTED
BY THE AFOREMENTIONED CONDITION SHOULD DO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
1) PRESENT THE ENTRY SUMMARY IN THE BROKER'S NAME (USING THE BROKER'S
BOND) OR
2) FILE THE ENTRY SUMMARY AS A NON-ABI TRANSACTION. DUE TO
EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS WILL BE ACCEPTABLE EVEN IF THE
RELEASE WAS OBTAINED VIA ABI.

WE RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE INCONVENIENCE OF THIS MATTER BUT BE
ASSURED THAT THIS IS A HIGH PRIORITY ISSUE THAT IS RECEIVING OUR FULLEST
ATTENTION.

PLEASE DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MATTER TO YOUR CLIENT
REPRESENTATIVE.