Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives May 18, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) announces cessation of its voluntary participation in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) pilot test of the International Trade Data System (ITDS) for processing import and export-related ATF forms and data using the Partner Government Agency (PGA) Message Set and the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). The Border Interagency Executive Counsel (which oversees ITDS implementation) requires each agency to announce the start and cessation of the required pilots. ATF's participation for the imports and exports requirements were done separately with the imports pilot being completed in 2015. See 81 FR 60022 (August 31, 2016). This notice now concludes ATF participation in the pilot for the exportation requirements. While this notice announces the cessation of the pilot program, CBP has not yet announced the date that filing entries in ACE will be mandatory. The pilot test allowed participating exporters to submit ATF Form 9, Application and Permit for Permanent Exportation of Firearms (Form 9), and additional information to CBP electronically to obtain CBP certification of exportation. During the pilot, CBP validated that information and electronically transmitted export information to ATF to satisfy CBP's certification requirements.