[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 236 (Tuesday, December 9, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 73099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28858]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection


Notice of Change in Policy on the Publication of Customs Broker 
License and Permit Cancellations

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security.

ACTION: General Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document announces U.S. Customs and Border Protection's 
(CBP's) plan to discontinue publication in the Federal Register of the 
cancellation of individual and corporate customs broker licenses and 
permits under section 111.51 of title 19 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations. A current list of active customs brokers is maintained on 
CBP's Web site: www.cbp.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maranda Sorrells, U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection, Office of International Trade, Commercial Targeting 
and Enforcement, at 202-863-6218 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Customs broker license and permit 
cancellations fall under Sec.  111.51 of title 19 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (19 CFR 111.51) and are voluntarily requested by 
the customs broker in the event that the broker no longer wants to or 
cannot conduct customs business. Requests for cancellation of a license 
or permit are directed to the Port Director of the port through which 
the license was issued. The Port Director forwards the broker's written 
request for cancellation of a license or permit to the Broker 
Management Branch in the Office of International Trade, requesting that 
it be canceled. Most often, CBP receives the license cancellation 
request because the customs broker has retired or the business has 
dissolved. CBP receives permit cancellation requests when a customs 
broker has ceased operations in a particular district or has determined 
that a certain permit is no longer necessary for their business 
operations. Historically, CBP has published notice in the Federal 
Register when a customs broker's license or permit has been cancelled. 
Publication in the Federal Register is not required by statute or 
regulation, but rather has been provided by CBP as courtesy notice to 
the public. See section 641 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 
U.S.C. 1641), and section 111.51 of title 19 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (19 CFR 111.51).
    Given the ease of access to current information available online 
and with consideration for the most efficient use of CBP customs broker 
management resources, CBP will no longer publish notice of customs 
broker license or permit cancellations pursuant to 19 CFR 111.51 in the 
Federal Register. Alternatively, CBP will maintain an active customs 
brokers list at www.cbp.gov as a resource for the public to verify 
active brokers. When a customs broker submits a license or permit 
cancellation request to the Port Director of the port through which the 
license was issued, the request is forwarded to the Broker Management 
Branch in the Office of International Trade at CBP. The Office of 
International Trade will then acknowledge the receipt of the 
cancellation request and provide the customs broker with an appropriate 
CBP point of contact. The confirmation letter will also be copied to 
the port through which the customs broker's license was issued.
    While CBP will no longer publish specific notice in the Federal 
Register reporting customs broker licenses and permits that have been 
cancelled under 19 CFR 111.51, CBP will continue to publish Federal 
Register notices for customs broker licenses that have been suspended 
or revoked pursuant to 19 CFR 111.30, 111.45 and 111.74. CBP maintains 
an active customs brokers list at www.cbp.gov to provide notice to the 
public of all active customs broker licenses.

    Dated: December 4, 2014.
Brenda Smith,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of International Trade.
[FR Doc. 2014-28858 Filed 12-8-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P