• 14-000553
• Oct 16, 2014

• To : Automated Broker Interface, ACE Outreach Events, ACE Portal Accounts, ACE Reports, Air Manifest, Ocean Manifest, Partner Government Agencies, Rail Manifest, Truck Manifest

**UPDATE: Attachment added with additional information concerning the PGA APHIS/Lacey Act 
Working Group.** 

Announcing the Formation of the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)/Lacey Act Working Group

Attention, Importers, Brokers, and Software Developers: the International Trade Data System (ITDS) Committee of the Trade Support Network (TSN) needs your input and participation in our new Lacey Act Working Group.  

Working Group Purpose
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The purpose of the Lacey Act Import Working Group will be to ensure that all stakeholder groups are invited to participate in a discussion of the technical requirements that will be necessary for U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to participate in the ITDS/ACE system. The working group will consist of members of the trade whose businesses are regulated by the APHIS Lacey Act Program, trade software developers who support the business processes, as well as representatives from the Lacey Act Program and from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) team developing the ITDS software system – the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).  The transition to ACE will result in changes to the way Lacey Act, CBP, and the members of the trade who import these items, do business.  Your involvement is needed to ensure that the proposed changes continue to support efficient trade movement while at the same time the Lacey Act Program complies with the ITDS requirements of the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act (SAFE Port Act). 

Working Group Task
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The ACE system will replace the ACS system, and it will require that Lacey Act specific data be submitted electronically via the Partner Government Agency (PGA) Message Set. APHIS has worked with CBP to identify the specific data elements that will need to be submitted by import filers, as well as the format and content of those data elements, in order to successfully transact business in ACE to comply with the ITDS “single window.”  Through a series of conference calls, the Lacey Act Working Group will review the PGA Message Set guidance, as well as the impacts that the transition to ACE will have on Lacey Act’s importation business processes.

To participate in the APHIS Lacey Act Work Group, please send an email to: 

Frank Korpusik at [email protected] and [email protected]
Sandra Scott at [email protected]
Debbie Benish at [email protected]

PLEASE RESPOND BY COB: Friday, October 24, 2014