CBP / Customs Automation Program Test Extended

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice republishing and superseding the previous General Notice published on December 2, 2022. This notice pertains to the National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) Test, concerning the submission of unique entity identifiers for the Global Business Identifier (GBI) Evaluative Proof of Concept (EPoC) via the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).

Three significant changes have been introduced with the republication of this notice:

1. The duration of the test period has been extended. Previously slated to conclude on July 21, 2023, it will now run through February 14, 2024.

2. A correction has been made to the web address provided for interested parties to acquire the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI). The original document wrongly directed users to the LEI Register, whereas the correct link leads to the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) domain. From there, participants can select from a list of certified third-party entities for obtaining LEIs that best suits their requirements. The corrected web address is https://www.gleif.org/en/about-lei/get-an-lei-find-lei-issuing-organizations.

3. Lastly, CBP has clarified the guidelines regarding the submission of identifiers. Participants are now permitted to provide one or more of the three identifiers (GBI, GLN, and LEI) for the manufacturers, shippers, and sellers. Optionally, these identifiers can also be provided for exporters, distributors, and packagers of the specified types of merchandise. This provision applies to specific commodities and countries of origin only. Importantly, it is not mandatory to provide all three identifiers to participate in the test.

Overall, these modifications aim to provide greater clarity and flexibility for participants in the NCAP Test regarding the GBI EPoC.

[FR Notice]