TORONTO, (Dec. 6, 2004) — Some carriers scrambling to comply with U.S. Custom’s new Advance Electronic Commercial Information (AECI) program are creating longer than necessary delays at the border, reports a prominent North American customs broker and trade services firm.

Livingston International says that because only Free and Secure Trade (FAST)-approved drivers and carriers can continue to process shipments with BRASS (Line Release) under the new rules, many non-FAST carriers are jumping from BRASS to the PreArrival Processing Systems (PAPS) release procedures all at once. The immediate upsurge in PAPS requests has led to increased border wait times and delays.

However, despite the rule officially going into effect, CBP has stated it will implement a phase of soft enforcement. Until Jan. 30, 2005, all non-FAST approved drivers carrying BRASS shipments will be given a Notice of Noncompliance and processed for release. Only, on or after that date will BRASS shipments by non-FAST drivers be denied initial entry to the U.S. and face enforcement by CBP.

To manage the transition to AECI procedures most effectively, Livingston joins many other trucking and shipping associations in recommending that all approved importers and carriers continue to utilize BRASS procedures until January 31 — and use the next two months in getting drivers FAST-approved.