The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) pilot is being suspended as of January 12, 2017. As an interim approach, while FWS continues to work with the trade, those tariff codes currently flagged as “FW2” associated with government agency processing code EDS will remain flagged as FW2 and require the FWS “EDS” Message Set in all cases.
All other tariff codes currently flagged as “FW2” will shift to “FW1” with the ability to file a newly created disclaimer code “E” that is specific to FWS or the EDS. FWS is working with CBP to program the inclusion of the FWS Designated Port Exception Permit. The timeline for implementation is dependent upon revision of the FWS Implementation Guide and CBP programming. FWS and CBP will work with the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) to understand the data needs of FWS and the trade’s concerns.
The COAC working group will explore potential alternative methods for FWS to collect data and ensure FWS regulated commodities are accurately declared. At the conclusion of the COAC working group, if not sooner, it is expected that the trade and FWS will have collaborated on a way forward.
