U.S. Customs and Border Protection April 4, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document announces U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) plan to modify and expand its test for the Centers of Excellence and Expertise (CEEs), originally published in the Federal Register on August 28, 2012. This document announces that six new CEEsthe Agriculture & Prepared Products CEE; the Apparel, Footwear & Textiles CEE; the Base Metals CEE; the Consumer Products & Mass Merchandising CEE; the Industrial & Manufacturing Materials CEE; and the Machinery CEEwill be opened and tested to determine how they will operate with broad decision-making authority. This notice invites public comment concerning the methodology of the test program, identifies the purpose of the test and the regulations that will be affected, determines the length of the test, explains the application process and application timeframes, and provides the eligibility and selection criteria for voluntary participation in the test. This document also provides the legal authority for the test and explains the repercussions and appeals process for misconduct under the test. This notice also expands the regulations that will be included in the test for the six new CEEs as well as the four CEEs currently participating in the test: the Electronics CEE; the Pharmaceuticals, Health & Chemicals CEE; the Automotive & Aerospace CEE; and the Petroleum, Natural Gas & Minerals CEE. To the extent not modified by this notice, all provisions, terms, conditions, and requirements of the August 28, 2012 test notice continue to apply.