CUSTOMS DEEMS 150 IMPORTERS AS “LOW RISK”

CUSTOMS DEEMS 150 IMPORTERS AS “LOW RISK”

CUSTOMS DEEMS 150 IMPORTERS AS “LOW RISK”

   U.S. Customs has given 150 importers the status of “low risk” for their record of complying with the country’s import rules.
   “Low risk importers will be rewarded for their efforts with fewer cargo exams, fewer requests for information and fewer reviews,” said Charles Winwood, acting commissioner of Customs. “U.S. Customs in turn can divert resources to focus on companies most likely to violate U.S. laws.”
   The low risk designation means that the agency has conducted a thorough review of an importer’s compliance and found no significant problems. The review includes a combination of compliance assessments, targeted cargo exams and document reviews, account manager evaluations, compliance measurement, enforcement results, and financial health.
   “Customs is committed to a significant reduction in examination rates for low-risk importers,” the agency said. “They will be removed from the general universe of importers where cargo exams are generated by local and national criteria.”
   Low-risk importers will also receive fewer requests for shipment data from Customs. Site visits by inspectors and requests for shipment samples will be kept to a minimum, the agency added.
   “Customs will deliver on the benefits earned by low risk importers,” said Bonni G. Tischler, assistant commissioner of Customs’ Office of Field Operations. “Our goal is to have the trade see and feel the impact of those benefits starting in March.”