[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 217 (Thursday, November 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 56576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-27797]



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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Announcement of Public Comment Period on the Implementation of 
the Electronic Visa Information System

November 6, 1995.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Seeking Public Comment on the Implementation of the Electronic 
Visa Information System

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Carducci, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202)482-3588.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended; 
section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 
1854).

    The Electronic Visa Information System (ELVIS) allows foreign 
governments to electronically transfer shipment information on textile 
and apparel shipments which are subject to quantitative restrictions, 
to the U.S. Customs Service. Preparations are underway to move beyond 
the current test phase and begin implementation of ELVIS with China, 
Korea, the Philippines and Singapore on January 1, 1996, pending 
bilateral agreement to amend the existing visa arrangements. As other 
trading partners complete the technical requirements, they will also be 
added to this system. (Note: This implementation will not eliminate the 
current requirement for a valid paper visa to accompany each shipment. 
After six months from the date of implementation, an assessment of the 
dual visa system will be made to determine whether a transition to a 
paperless ELVIS system with selected trading partners is appropriate.)
    Implementation will require a complete and accurate ELVIS 
transmission before the U.S. Customs Service permits entry for a 
shipment. U.S. Customs will:
    A. Not release merchandise if an ELVIS transmission has not been 
received from the country of origin.
    B. Not release merchandise if the ELVIS transmission for that 
shipment is missing any of the following: visa number, category or part 
category, quantity, unit of measure, date of issuance, manufacturer 
identification number; or if information in the transmission does not 
match information supplied by the importer, or agent on behalf of the 
importer.
    C. Not release merchandise if the quantity being entered is greater 
than the quantity transmitted.
    D. Not release merchandise if the visa number has previously been 
used, except in the case of a split shipment.
    E. Require a new, correct ELVIS transmission from the country of 
origin before releasing a shipment that has been denied entry because 
of one of the circumstances mentioned above.
    The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements is 
requesting interested parties to submit comments on the January 1, 1996 
implementation of the Electronic Visa Information System. Comments must 
be received on or before Friday, December 8, 1995. Comments may be 
mailed to the Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of 
Textile Agreements, room 3001, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230.
    The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has 
determined that these actions fall within the foreign affairs exception 
of the rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C.553(a)(1).
D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc. 95-27797 Filed 11-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F