On August 31, 2015, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the postponement of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Single Window program. The bulletin stated that, “While significant capabilities have been deployed to date, concerns about stakeholder readiness have necessitated a reassessment of our current timelines.” In addition to the delay, CBP announced an updated timeline for the mandatory use of ACE. Adjusted mandatory transition to ACE for electronic entry and entry summary filing as follows:
November 1, 2015: Beginning of a transition period for electronic entry and entry summary filings in ACE to allow industry and participating government agencies (PGAs) more time to test and provide feedback as they fully transition into the new system. Use of ACE is allowed and encouraged for electronic entry and corresponding entry summary filings for entry types 01, 03, 11, 51, and 52 with or without PGA data.
February 28, 2016: At this time, filers will only be permitted to file entries and entry summaries in ACE. ACS will no longer be available. In addition, electronic FDA, NHTSA, and APHIS (Lacey) data must be filed in ACE, and ACS will no longer be available.
July 2016: Upon publication of the Final Rule, ACE must be used for filing AMS, APHIS Core, ATF, CDC, DCMA, DDTC, DEA E&C, EPA, FSIS, FWS, NMFS and TTB data. Hybrid submissions will no longer be allowed. The requirement for FWS is contingent on the agency having its regulatory revisions in place by the July, 2016, publication of the CBP Final Rule eliminating hybrid filings.
The ACE system, designed to facilitate legitimate trade while enhancing border security, will improve consolidation, sharing, and processing of information submitted to CBP and government agencies. CBP does not expect that “the [extended] transition period initiated on November 1, 2015, [will impact the] December 2016 deadline for full implementation of the Single Window via ACE.”
For additional information about ACE, please send an email to marketing@anderinger.com. The ACE transition schedule for all electronic manifest fillings is available on the Customs and Border Protection website.
