CBP Launches Permanent Pharma and Electronics CEEs to Facilitate Import Processing

October 27, 2011

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced the establishment of a Center of Excellence and Expertise (CEE) for Pharmaceuticals in New York, and a CEE for Electronics in Los Angeles. Both centers, which build on recently conducted pilot programs, are designed to increase uniformity of practices across ports of entry, facilitate the timely resolution of trade compliance issues nationwide, and strengthen agency knowledge regarding industry practices. The CEEs will serve as single points of processing for businesses enrolled in CBP’s trusted shipper programs, including the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and the Importer Self-Assessment (ISA) program. The centers will also provide information for the broader trade community and develop strategies to address uniformity and compliance concerns regarding the import process for their respective industries.

Import documents for trusted partners within the pharmaceutical and electronics industries are now being routed to their respective industry center. Revenue collection will continue to be carried out at the ports of entry; however the centers will begin to perform all validation activities, protests, post entry amendment/post summary correction reviews, and prior disclosure validations for trusted partners within their industry.

In addition to pharmaceuticals, the CEE in New York is expected to cover health devices and chemicals. The electronics CEE is expected to expand to include consumer electronics and information technology. In addition to these two CEEs, CBP has proposed the following eight breakouts for future CEEs:

• Agriculture and Prepared Products
• Automotive and Aerospace
• Base Metals and Machinery
• Consumer Products
• Customhouse Brokers
• Industrial and Manufacturing Materials
• Petroleum, Natural Gas and Minerals
• Textiles, Wearing Apparel and Footwear

For further information, contact a Barnes/Richardson attorney.