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ACE COMPLIANCE. BE PREPARED.

Mandatory use of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) is now in effect for most entry types. Learn what you need to keep shipments moving.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency has announced their intention that all electronic cargo releases for most entry types, and their related entry summaries, be submitted through the ACE system.

Key ACE rollout dates

January 2021

October 2020

  • Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for wildlife, wildlife parts, and products will require filing through ACE.

September 2020

  • Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) for Irish potatoes, tomatoes and onions.

September 2019

  • Section 321, Entry Type 86, including PGAs. Allows the filing of low value entries under Section 321, which are subject to PGA requirements.

August 2019

  • Full access to Importer Trade Activity (ITRAC) data in ACE Reports.
  • PGA ACE Reports updated and a new report, REF-003, available to query HTS for their PGA code.

July 2019

  • Enhancements to Mass Liquidation functionality. Phase 1 provides enhancements to mass liquidation functionality. Phase 2 scheduled for November 23, 2019 to allow mass updates for post release activity.
  • Consolidated Express filings for non-ABI entries. Automates manual processes for non-ABI entries in the express consignment environment, to allow the electronic filing of consolidated informal entries summaries.

April 2019
Update to ACE Reports in the ACE Portal:

  • New reports available for Trade Remedies
  • Updated Cargo Release Universe
  • Transition for Entry Summary (ES) reports, retiring old Account Management (AM), and Entry Summary Management (ESM) reports

April 18, 2019

  • CBP begins transition of Importer Trade Activity (ITRAC) data to ACE Portal, with new ITRAC reports for Bond, Cargo Release, Entry Summary, and Reconciliation.
  • ISA participants may continue to use CTPAT portal for ITRAC reports.

April 1, 2019

March 22, 2019

  • Imported composite wood products subject to Section 13 Certification under Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) PGA.

March 16, 2019

  • Automated CBP Form 5106 deployed.
  • Unique Center of Excellence and Expertise (CEE) identifier added to all post-release work flow in ACE.

February 24, 2019

  • Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (TFTEA) drawback claims filed in ACE.

August 6, 2018

  • CBP Form 7512 for In-Bonds must be filed in ACE, paper no longer accepted.

February 24, 2018

  • Liquidation processing to begin in ACE. Liquidations will be processed on a weekly basis instead of a two-week cycle.
  • Reconciliation processing to begin in ACE, instead of ACS.
  • Drawback processing to begin in ACE, instead of ACS. This includes both ‘Core’ drawback and ‘Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (TFTEA)’ drawback.
  • Automated Surety Interface to begin in ACE.

January 6, 2017

  •  Statement processing to begin in ACE, transitioning Daily and Post Monthly Statements (PMS) from ACS to ACE.

January 1, 2018

  • Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) added to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) PGA. New program covers Atlantic cod and blue crab, dolphinfish (Mahi Mahi), grouper, red king crab, Pacific cod, red snapper, sea cucumber, sharks and tuna.

December 31, 2017
EPA Hazardous Waste Exports

  • All U.S. exporters of manifested hazardous waste, universal waste, and spent lead-acid batteries for recycling or disposal, and all exporters of cathode ray tubes for recycling will be required to file EPA information in the Automated Export System (AES) or AESDirect for each export shipment. The AES resides in CPB’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). Paper processes will no longer be allowed on or after the compliance date.

December 9, 2017

  • Electronic filing of Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Application for Admission or Status Designation (CBP form 214) to be filed in ACE, instead of paper.
  • Manufacturer Identification (MID) Code queries, additions, and updates to begin in ACE, instead of ACS.

November 2, 2017

  • FCC 740 form no longer required for imports of Radio Frequency (RF) devices, but imported RF devices must still comply with FCC rules, obtaining equipment grants or supplier’s declaration of conformity, and be appropriately labeled showing the device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules.

September 16, 2017

  • NAFTA Duty Deferral entries and Importer Security Filing (ISF) now filed in ACE, instead of ACS. The ACE Portal remains available for small volume filers (less than 12 a year), and for ocean manifest filers through existing manifest technical standards.

July 31, 2017

June 22, 2017

  • Filers must use ACE to file distilled spirits, wines, beer, tobacco products, and cigarette papers and tube shipments regulated by The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).

May 30, 2017

  • Additional Food and Drug Administration (FDA) data required for food importation to comply with the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSV) under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

April 27, 2017

  • Filers must use ACE for shipments regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as Pesticide Products, under the  Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

March 21, 2017

  • Filers must use ACE for shipments regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA), Vehicles and Engines (VNE) under the Clean Air Act, and or Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS).

March 21, 2017

  • Filers must use ACE for shipments regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) and Vehicles and Engines (VNE) under the Clean Air Act.

December 31, 2016

  • Filers must use ACE for shipments regulated by Center for Disease Control (CDC), and for shipments regulated by Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC).

September 20, 2016

July 23, 2016

  • ACS is no longer allowed as an alternate filing method and all quota entries/entry summaries are mandatory in ACE.

June 15, 2016

May 28, 2016

  • Filers must use ACE to file FTZ entry types with no additional PGA data and FTZ entry types with APHIS Lacey and NHTSA data.

March 31, 2016

Pending dates:

August 2020:

  • Transitioning to National Broker Permit

September 2020:

  • Modernizing Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) 214 Online Admission Process to incorporate PGA requirements

Pending PGA list:

  • Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) for peanuts, eggs, and Marketing Orders
  • Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for wildlife, wildlife parts, and products
  • Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
  • Office of Marine Conservation (OMC) for shrimp

Livingston is ACE-ready

Livingston’s people, processes and technology are ready for ACE:

  • We’ve been participating in both ACE entry summary and cargo release for some time, ensuring our familiarity with ACE and its requirements.
  • We’ve upgraded our brokerage systems to be fully ACE-compliant.
  • We’re committed to keeping clients informed of changes, as we become aware of them.

If you have any further questions regarding ACE, please contact your local client service representative; call us at 1-855-225-5548; or email us.