DHS Recommends Clear Goals for Importer Self Assessment

Customs and Border Protection has not clearly defined the purpose of its Importer Self Assessment, the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General said on Monday.

The report of the inspector general’s audit showed that Customs had not established performance measures or operating procedures for employees managing the program. Nor had it verified the effectiveness of applicants’ internal controls before admitting them to the program.

DHS news from JOC:
Rules of Engagement.

Customs launched ISA in 2002 as a program in which importers with very high rates of compliance with import laws could police themselves and report results. ISA companies benefited from fewer inspections by Customs auditors. In 2008 the agency launched a pilot program to extend the self-assessment program to include import safety regulations.

The inspector general recommended that Customs establish clear goals for the program and performance metrics and assess the risk to overall trade compliance from admitting importers into the program. Customs concurred with all the recommendations.

-- Contact R.G. Edmonson at bedmonson@joc.com.