Livingston International named to participate in CBP's new simplified entry pilot program

CHICAGO, Dec. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Livingston International was one of only nine brokers selected to participate in the new Simplified Entry Pilot with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), set to begin by the end of December.

The pilot program is intended to streamline the entry process for Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) filers and expedite the release of cargo, while enhancing cargo security with more accurate information provided earlier in the import process.

"We are excited to be at the forefront of process improvements," said Livingston President and CEO Peter Luit, "and formally recognized by the CBP's Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC) as one of the most innovative and forward-thinking trade partners."

"With simplified entry," explained CBP's Brenda Smith, Executive Director, Trade Policy and Programs in the Office of International Trade, "we are leveraging the strides we've made in automation to truly transform our business processes.  The result," Ms. Smith continued, "is a streamlined approach to the entry process, in which more accurate information is provided earlier in the process.  We've seen this initial concept grow into a pilot in days and weeks, possibly due to the mutual benefits of simplified entry.  This simply would not have been possible without support for co-creation with the trade sector."

Under the new pilot, brokers on behalf of select importers will file 12 data elements and three optional elements about each shipment, rather than the 27 fields of information required currently. Initially, testing will be limited to air cargo entries and type 01 and 11 consumption entries, as well as other conditions, including the requirement that the port of entry and port of unlading be the same.

Similar pilots for shipments by ocean and rail are planned for early to mid-2012.

About Livingston
Livingston International is one of the top five customs entry filers in the United States and Canada's largest customs broker.  The company also offers customs and international trade consulting services as well as international freight forwarding across North America and around the globe.  With its U.S. air/sea hub located in Chicago and regional centers in Los Angeles, New York and Norfolk, Livingston is also a dominant customs broker along the U.S.-Canada border.  Across North America, Livingston employs over 2,300 employees at approximately 100 key border points, seaports, airports and other strategic locations.

SOURCE Livingston International Inc.