WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced in a Federal Register Notice published July 23, 2013 that the agency will expand its single window Document Image System (DIS) pilot in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) to include three new Partner Government Agency (PGA) forms, for a total of six including Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
"A single point of input for the trade community is a major component of CBP's efforts in trade transformation," said CBP Acting Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski. "With DIS, filers can electronically submit documentation into one location during the importation and exportation process, reducing paperwork costs and allowing for faster, more efficient cargo processing, strengthening U.S. economic competiveness."
Expansion benefits to the trade community include:
- Reduced data submission requirements. The expanded pilot benefits the trade by reducing the number of data elements required to accompany the electronic forms to only four.
- Helping to facilitate compliance with all federal requirements by increasing the amount of Partner Government Agency (PGA) forms eligible for electronic submission via DIS.
- Providing the ability to submit specific Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) forms at time of manifest.
CBP encourages the trade community to begin testing the expanded DIS capabilities. Implementation Guides describing how to prepare for the upcoming pilot expansion and information on the expanded DIS pilot are available online. A Federal Register Notice was published, July 23, 2013 announcing the details of the expanded pilot, including eligibility requirements.