01/31/2025
CBP Announces Customs Broker License Exam Registration
Check out this week's Customs Corner to read about the Customs Broker License Exam (CBLE), certification deployment of sanctions, and more
Trade and Customs Updates
1) CBP Announces Customs Broker License Exam Registration
CSMS # 63901874 announces that registration for the April 23, 2025 Customs Broker License Exam will be open on Monday, February 10, 2025 EST and close Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 4:30 pm.
The link to register can be found on the Customs Brokers webpage of CBP.gov in the “Customs Broker License Exam Information” section.
2) Certification Deployment of Sanctions and GBI Requirements
CSMS #63860498 notes that on January 28, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plans to implement several updates to the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE):
- Cargo Release Certification (CERT) Environment: Deployment of Cargo Sanctions, updated requirements for Global Business Identifier (GBI) Enrollment, and a revised GBI Party Type Description.
- ACE Entry Summary: Introduction of the GBI Party Type Description and Cargo Sanctions.
These updates are detailed in the Draft Cargo Release CATAIR V38.3 and CATAIR Entry Summary Create/Update V97 and V98. Both documents are available in the "Draft Chapters: Future Capabilities" section on CBP's official website.
3) CPSC Final Rule on Safety Standard for Non-Full-Size Baby Cribs
In December 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) established a mandatory safety standard for non-full-size baby cribs (NFS cribs) under section 104 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). This standard incorporated ASTM F406, the Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Non-Full-Size Baby Cribs/Play Yards, with specific modifications to exclude sections exclusively applicable to play yards.
Following the CPSIA's protocol for updating mandatory standards based on revised voluntary standards, ASTM approved a new version of ASTM F406 on August 1, 2024. In response, the CPSC issued a direct final rule to update the mandatory standard for NFS cribs to incorporate the 2024 version of ASTM F406 by reference.
This rule is set to take effect on April 5, 2025, unless the Commission receives significant adverse comments by March 3, 2025. If such comments are received, the CPSC will publish a notice in the Federal Register to withdraw the direct final rule before its effective date. The Director of the Federal Register has approved the incorporation by reference of this publication as of April 5, 2025.
For more detailed information, you can refer to Federal Register as well as CPSC's business guidance on non-full-size baby cribs.
4) APHIS Updates Requirements for Imports of Fresh Bell Peppers from Spain
APHIS has announced that “effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is updating requirements for importation of fresh bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) from Spain. APHIS and the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Spain have jointly developed an operational workplan (OWP) of mitigation measures for Mediterranean fruit flies (Ceratitis capitata or Medfly). The completion of this OWP will allow the importation of fresh bell peppers from Spain into the United States to resume.
The following document was updated in ACIR: Bell Pepper (Fruit) from Spain into All Ports. More information can be found here.
EVENT: CBP’s Trade Facilitation and Cargo Security Summit
May 6 - 8, 2025 | Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Two Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130
This event will be hosted in person and webcasted. Event and registration details will be available soon and posted to the TFCS Summit web page. Click here for more information.
Get expert advice on customs and foreign trade, direct from our comprehensive customs brokerage and trade services teams.