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Do you know what the SELECT Fee Covers? A few years ago I had the opportunity to open a new office in San Francisco from Kansas City. After all of the usual meetings with Customs, the company started to process entries. Then I come to find out about getting a box and paying per entry submitted at the airport. I was confused. We have to pay to get entries processed??? Over the years, I have gotten to understand the history and exact services the Select fee covers. Select was started when CBP approached CBFANC to sort the documents at the airport office. The alternative was to have the entries thrown in a bin to be self sorted by each broker. CBFANC understood that the option presented would be the best for all involved. To accommodate CBP’s request, a fee was imposed that was equal for members and non-members. Over the course of the years, CBFANC has accommodated the trade by adding additional services beyond sorting of the documentation. CBFANC provides two messenger runs per day between SFO airport and Oakland DAU. These runs were added to facilitate the handling of the documentation that was to be processed in Oakland, as CBP was only running the documents once a day. Also, FDA requested that CBFANC provide a run to the Alameda facility. This run ensures that documents are being picked up and distributed timely. When Customs & Border Protection moved airport facilities, CBFANC moved with CBP and built the new Select facility. During the last year, CBFANC has had to cut the hours at the Select facility due to expenses. However, this has not been enough to cover the day-to-day expenses. The board of directors has been brainstorming ideas to keep the Select site open. Some of the ideas we are considering include revisiting coupons, minimum billing amounts and raising the rates. We are asking the membership for input. CBFANC would like the membership to continue to enjoy the current level of service. Please send any input to info@cbfanc.org. The Board of Directors Legislative Update First Sale Per the recently passed Farm bill (Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008), starting on August 25, 2008, CBP will be required to collect data from filers concerning whether the transaction value “is determined on the basis of the price paid by the buyer in the first or earlier sale occurring prior to introduction of the merchandise into the United States.” Congress has asked CBP in other words not to go forward with plans to require transaction value reported from the Last Sale invoice. CBP will submit quarterly reports for one year, concerning tariff numbers affected, to Congress and the U.S. International Trade Commission. On January 1, 2011, however, CBP is free to resubmit a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking provided that it also consults with the COAC and House Ways & Means and Senate Finance committees. Filers can expect yet another programming change coming shortly. In testimony before the Senate Finance Committee in late June, Commissioner Basham stated that CBP would in fact halt its plans for now to change unilaterally valuation requirements to conform to Last Sale methodology. Importer Security Filing (“10+2”) The NCBFAA clarified that Basham’s closed door testimony to House Ways & Means Committee in late June matched statements to Senate Finance. In other words, rumors to the effect that CBP would not go forward with ISF until it had heard more clearly from Congress were completely false. Basham stated that the Final Rule would go out within a week to OMB for analysis, and CBP hoped the Final Rule could be issued by the end of summer. Fuel Surcharges A few bills cropped up in late April and early May which target intermediary companies who pass on fuel surcharges. The ones to watch are HR.5977 and S.2910 (TRUCC Act – Trust in Reliable Understanding of Consumer Costs). These propose to have the intermediary show ALL charges to its client upon payment to the vendor if a fuel surcharge had been shown in the vendor invoice. There is another, fairly benign bill also out there (HR.5997) which is a simple pass-through arrangement. Here, the intermediary pays the fuel surcharge as normal, but is not required to give up confidential information to its vendor. TSA House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson submitted a bill in June (HR.6247) to require TSA to pursue scanning equipment and technology on its own and quite independent from the current Certified Cargo Screening Program pilot currently under way. By Chris Garcez Legislative Chair The Board member profiled this month is Meghan
McBurney, who has been a board member for 4 ½ years and chaired a variety of
committees. Currently she is the chair of the Newsletter committee. As with many people, Meghan happened upon this industry by mistake. She grew up in a small town outside of Wichita, KS. While she did spend some time studying Architecture at Kansas State University, she graduated from Wichita State University with a Bachelors of Arts in English Literature. With no idea what to do with that wonderful English degree, she started temping for an agency. After a few “interesting” jobs, Meghan temped with Fritz Companies for a month. After finding the work interesting, Meghan took a full time position with the company. She sat for the brokerage exam in St. Louis, MO, and then set out for a larger port, Kansas City. The company that she worked for in Kansas City moved her to the Bay Area to open a new office. For those who are keeping track, that is a total of three states in one year. Filing state taxes was fun that year. The Bay Area has been the perfect place for Meghan to learn about the diversity in cultures and outdoor living. She is able to learn about new cuisines and find the best Thai restaurant in the area. On the weekends, Meghan can be found kayaking on or hiking near the water. General outdoor activities she was unable to enjoy in Kansas. Dorothy is defiantly not in Kansas anymore… Welcome to the following new members: Professional membership:
Associate membership:
CBFANC / SFACA Annual Golf Tournament a great success Judging by the broad smiles of those attending Monday’s golf tournament, everyone had a great time. The tournament generated over $10,000.00 for the Leonard R. Flynn Elementary School in San Francisco. Thanks to Aaron Hardy of Expeditors International, Judy Ferrigno of RK Logistics, and Linda Frankal of STI for their tireless efforts in planning this year’s event. Thanks also to Sharon Spencer and the entire staff of Crystal Springs Golf Course for another fine tournament and delicious dinner buffet. The wine at dinner was provided by Bobac CFS. A great many people contributed to the success of this year’s tournament. The box lunch before the start was sponsored by Velocity Courier and the upgrade over last year’s basic hot dog was much appreciated. The Contest Hole Sponsors included: Long Drive - Forward Air Transportation Closest to the pin - California Sierra Express, Roanoke Trade, NF Stroth & Associates, and Tuttle Law Offices All the good folks who greeted the players at various holes with beverages, snacks, and give-aways and cheered us on our way included: Shipco Transport, C-Line Express, World Courier, TLR, Anytime Services, PCC Logistics, Encore Trucking, Expeditors, The RK Logistics Group, Inc., Summit CFS, Select Staffing, Citibank/Paychex/Merchant Services, and Westaff. The beverage cart was provided by Avalon Risk Management – very much appreciated! Gold Sponsors: California Trucking Assn., Colma Drayage, Thornley & Pitt, Inc. Silver Sponsor: Pisani & Roll PLLC Bronze Sponsors: Benz Trucking, Masterpiece, B2 Express, Custom Freight, MR Trucking Logistics, Evelyn’s Antique Chinese Furniture, Inc., and Mighty Bulldog Trucking Auction Sponsors: DHL, St. George Warehouse, Southwest Airlines, Arrow Trucking, C-Line Express, PCC Logistics, Shopping – The Musical, Roanoke Trade, Liberty Bank Lunch Sponsor: Velocity Wine for Dinner Sponsor: Bobac Thank you to Alex Budiman from Masterpiece for over-seeing the putting contest. Of course we can’t forget Southwest Airlines and EFI Logistics for providing the prizes for the putting contest. Also, thank you to all those who competed and contributed.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS Sept 11th EAR & Census Oct 23rd U.S. Fish & Wildlife Nov 19th FDA Program FDA San Francisco District Import Contact Information and Communication Procedures To contact us, please follow the instructions below. Remember, correct and complete information will greatly speed-up the processing of your entry. E-mail is preferable to fax and phone calls, but DO NOT e-mail entry documents. 1. Entries that have NOT been detained or refused a) Questions regarding Documents for Review Email: sanimportsentryreviewers@fda.hhs.gov Fax: (510) 337-6706 Questions regarding import documents requested for further review. A decision should be made within 3 working days. Please DO NOT email the entry documents (Customs Form 3461, Invoice, Bill of Lading, etc.). Send documents by courier, fax or mail. b) Availability Email: sanimportsstatus@fda.hhs.gov Fax: (510) 337-6706 Notification of availability for examination. An FDA Investigator will contact you within four working days. c) Status Email: sanimportsstatus@fda.hhs.gov Phone: (510) 337-6722 Fax: (510) 337-6706 You should receive a response by the following workday. Questions regarding the status (for example: when is an investigator coming out to examine my shipment; did FDA receive my documents; a sample was not collected). d) OASIS System Problems Email: sanimportsstatus@fda.hhs.gov Phone: (510) 337-6722 Fax: (510) 337-6706 Darla Bracy is the OASIS Implementation Liaison - Questions regarding software problems (for example: entry rejects). 2. Detained or Refused Entries Email: sanimportscompliance@fda.hhs.gov (Please include the entry number and the product on the subject line) Fax: (510) 337-6707 Questions regarding an entry that has been sampled, detained or refused, (including submission of private laboratory analysis). Please contact the Compliance Officer referred to in the Notice of FDA Action at the phone number, Email, or fax number. Prior to contacting the Compliance Officer, please read the Notice of FDA Action in its Entirety. 3. Prior Notice and Food Facility Registration Questions For Prior Notice and Registration technical questions (e.g., passwords) as well as general questions regarding Food Facility Registration, contact the FDA Industry Systems Help Desk at (800) 216-7331 or (301) 575-0156. For Prior Notice general questions, contact the Prior Notice Center Hotline at (866) 521-2297. These numbers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Import Supervisors and Branch Directors Darla Bracy, Import Program Manager/Supervisor (510) 337-6773 Steve Gillenwater, Supervisor (510) 337-6802 Miguel Hernandez, Supervisor (510) 337-6847 Darlene Almogela, Compliance Branch Director (510) 337-6769 *Contact for Compliance Only
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