Import Safety

Cathy SaucedaDirectorImport Safety Branch and Interagency Requirements DivisionOffice of International TradeJanuary 2010

Office of International Trade - Import Safety and Interagency Requirements

DivisionMission:

• Facilitate communications and strengthen CBP’s partnerships between other government agencies and the trade community.

• Assist in the prevention of the importation of unsafe products into the United States.

CBP’s Import Safety Priority Trade Issue (PTI)

Actions and Priorities

• Integration of Presidential, Legislative and Regulatory Import Safety Initiatives

• Leadership Role in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)

• Increased Collaboration to Advance Common Mission• Enforcement Activities• Increased Outreach to Strengthen Partnerships

The Import Safety Interagency Work Group

July 18, 2007: President Bush establishes Interagency Working Group on Import Safety (Executive Order 13439)

The Food Safety Working Group

• In March 2009, President Obama established the Food Safety Working Group.

• Led by the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture

• Address food safety on the principles of prevention, data collection and response.

Leadership Role in the ACE

• CBP/International Trade Data System (ITDS) Concept of Operations (ConOps) – Executive Steering Committee approved CBP/ITDS

ConOps on January 5, 2010

– Outlines the trade process in an electronic environment, while interacting with our Participating Government Agencies (PGAs)

– Includes Manifest and Conveyance, Entry and Release and Post Release data

• Interagency Meetings• Interdepartmental Procedures•Special Operations•Communications•Coordination of Referrals•Cross Training•Enhanced Laboratory Capacity

Collaboration and Common Mission

Enforcement Activities• Import Safety Operations

– Operation Guardian

– National Operations

– Local Operations

– Import Safety Special Operations Guide

•Penalties – Non Compliant Merchandise – Health and Safety Concern

– OGA Authority Approval Required

– Tougher Mitigation Guidelines

– Aggravating Factor

– Recommended Maximum Penalty

Current and Upcoming Initiatives

• Commercial Targeting and Analysis Center (CTAC)– Washington, DC

• Participants include:– CBP

– CPSC

– ICE

– FDA

– FSIS

• Newly Appropriated Funds

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)

• August 2008 Congress passed the CPSIA.

• CBP has worked closely with CPSC to develop new procedures to fulfill the CPSIA.

• Areas include: – Co-location– Bonds– Detention, seizures and

conditional release– Operational Procedures

Importer Self Assessment – Product Safety Pilot (ISA-PS)

• Voluntary Partnership Between the Trade, CPSC and CBP

• Expansion of the Importer Self Assessment (ISA) Program

• Ideal for ISA Importers that demonstrate: -Effective Control Environment -Adequate Risk Assessment Process -Sufficient Control Activities -Effective Information and Communication -Sufficient Monitoring/Quality Assurance

ISA-PS Pilot Benefits

• Reduced Product Safety Tests• Front of the Line – Lab Testing • Destruction of Products in Lieu of Redelivery• Fast Track Product Recall Program• National Electronic Injury Surveillance System

(NEISS) Point of Contact• Special Training

– Compliance– Internal Controls– Audit Trails

ISA-PS Pilot Visits

• US Visit & Foreign Visit– Vendor Selection

– Current Factory Audits

– Factory Evaluation: Quality

– Factory Security

– Audits – Production

– Product Testing / Third Party Testing

Importer Self Assessment – Product Safety Pilot (ISA-PS)

• Interested ISA partners email: isa@dhs.gov

• Website:http://www.cbp.gov