CBP Selects Broker Self-Assessment Pilot

Participants

Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Original Press release can be found here: CBP.gov

Washington - U.S. Customs and Border Protection completed the review of the 26 brokers that applied to participate in the Broker Self-Assessment Outreach Pilot. Four brokers have been selected to participate in the year-long pilot, which will help CBP determine whether to formally implement the BSA program and what changes might be needed to ensure its effectiveness.

Under the BSA program pilot, participating customs brokers will update and improve internal controls, perform periodic testing of these internal controls, and disclose to CBP deficiencies discovered through the testing. The primary goal of the pilot is to ensure a high level of broker compliance with CBP laws and regulations.

“This new partnership is another example of CBP’s continuing effort to facilitate legitimate trade,” said Assistant Commissioner Daniel Baldwin, Office of International Trade. “By strengthening compliance with CBP laws and regulations, and by building cooperative relationships between CBP and participating customs brokers, we believe that this program will facilitate legitimate trade so that CBP can focus on higher-risk trade enforcement issues.”

The BSA pilot is based on the Importer Self-Assessment Program announced in 2002. The ISA program has successfully facilitated trade by strengthening importer compliance with CBP laws and regulations and by building cooperative relationships between CBP and participating importers.

CBP announced the BSA pilot and the call for participants on April 27. BSA pilot requirements can be found in the Federal Register. ( Federal Register - Vol. 74, No. 79 )

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.