[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 83 (Tuesday, April 30, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 21322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10560]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service


Termination of Test Regarding Importer Compliance Monitoring 
Program

AGENCY: United States Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: The Importer Compliance Monitoring Program (ICMP), which 
allows interested importers to assess their own compliance with Customs 
laws and regulations, was developed by Customs under its regulatory 
audit authority and was implemented on a test basis starting in 1998. 
Customs has determined that the ICMP test should be discontinued in 
favor of an updated approach to importer self-assessment. This notice 
advises the public of the termination of the ICMP test.

DATES: The ICMP test will terminate on May 30, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Russell Ugone, Director, Trade 
Agreements Branch, Regulatory Audit Division (202-927-0728).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    As a consequence of the passage of the Customs Modernization 
provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation 
Act (Pub. L. 103-182, 107 Stat. 2057), the primary goal of Customs in 
the trade compliance process has been to maximize importer compliance 
with U.S. trade laws while, at the same time, facilitating the 
importation and entry of admissible merchandise. To meet this goal, 
Customs has made a comprehensive effort to review, improve, and 
redesign, on an ongoing basis, the trade compliance process using 
established business practices, re-engineered tools, and new 
methodologies that improve customer service without compromising the 
enforcement aspect of the Customs mission.
    In order to enable interested importers to participate in a program 
that would allow them to assess their own compliance with Customs laws 
and regulations on a continuing basis, Customs on April 24, 1998, 
published in the Federal Register (63 FR 20442) a notice of a plan to 
conduct a test regarding the Importer Compliance Monitoring Program 
(ICMP). The notice stated that the test would involve a limited number 
of importer participants and would run for a period of one year. On 
July 23, 2001, Customs published in the Federal Register (66 FR 38344) 
a notice announcing a second test of the ICMP. This notice invited 
increased importer participation, made some alterations to the earlier 
ICMP test procedures, and stated that, if Customs determines to end the 
program test, reasonable notice of the expiration date would be 
published in the Federal Register.

Termination of the ICMP Test

    Although the notice announcing the second test of the ICMP was 
published in part in order to increase the participation in the test, 
participation has remained below the level envisaged by Customs when 
the test procedures were developed. Customs therefore has determined 
that the ICMP test should be discontinued in favor of a new program 
that continues the self-assessment principles of the ICMP but will be 
an updated approach using new methodologies. This new program, which is 
called the Importer Self Assessment Program, will be the subject of a 
separate notice to be published in the Federal Register in the near 
future.
    Accordingly, the ICMP test, as described in the Federal Register on 
July 23, 2001, will terminate 30 days after publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register. All testing procedures, reporting requirements 
and other obligations assumed by importers by virtue of their 
participation in the ICMP test, and all benefits accruing to importers 
as a result of their participation in the ICMP test, will cease to 
apply upon termination of the ICMP test. However, importers are 
reminded that termination of the ICMP test has no effect on an 
importer's continuing obligation to comply with all applicable Customs 
laws and regulations.

    Dated: April 24, 2002.
Cynthia A. Covell,
Director, Regulatory Audit Division.
[FR Doc. 02-10560 Filed 4-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P