TORONTO, Ont. — US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has granted a one month extension to carriers hauling municipal solid waste shipments into the US to switch customs release programs from BRASS to PAPS. The policy, which was communicated to the trucking industry on July 11, was initially scheduled to come into effect on July 31. With the extension carriers will be required to comply with this policy by Sept. 1.

“The trucking industry has known for sometime that BRASS would be phased out; but the schedule for phase-out has been a significant unknown,” said OTA president David Bradley. “Providing the supply chain with three weeks notice for a policy change such as this was simply not practical from a training and awareness perspective drivers need to be educated on the PAPS system and custom brokers and their customers have to make adjustments. The one month delay will allow a smoother transition for all involved in the municipal waste supply chain.”

Bradley also highlighted the need for a similar communication process whenever CBP is planning to introduce changes impacting carrier operations.

“OTA appreciates the complexity of introducing changes that may impact multiple parties in the supply chain. And I think we have a reasonable appreciation, from the outside, of the sorts of pressures the agency is under to get things done. We have in the past, and will continue in the future, to offer to work with CBP in the development of meaningful but realistic timelines that recognize the challenges inherent in the supply chain,” added Bradley.

For more details of the CBP policy concerning municipal solid waste visit www.ontruck.org/news/releases/2006/prel_2006_07_26_145249_r.php3.