U.S. CUSTOMS, PETROLEUM IMPORTERS DEVELOP COMPLIANCE STANDARDS

U.S. CUSTOMS, PETROLEUM IMPORTERS DEVELOP COMPLIANCE STANDARDS    The U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and the American Petroleum Institute have completed a list of standards for petroleum import compliance.
   The standards, which are part of the agency’s importer self-assessment (ISA) program, provides the most compliant importers with “maximum facilitation and minimal intrusion on business,” Customs and Border Protection said.
   The ISA program is based on the development and use of established business practices and internal controls. It also involves the importer’s participation in the agency’s Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.
   “This is truly a milestone, not only in the ISA program, but also in our efforts to enhance security processes throughout the global supply chain,” said Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner Douglas M. Browning.
   To establish the compliance standards, the agency and the American Petroleum Institute identified the “risks” in the petroleum import process and created the required controls needed to diminish those risks.
   The agency and institute also developed documents that define the expectations for petroleum importers participating in the ISA program, including:
   * Joint Standards of Petroleum ISA.
   * Petroleum Industry ISA Memorandum of Understanding.
   * Petroleum Industry ISA Questionnaire.
   * Petroleum Industry ISA Risk/Control Matrix.
   For more information about ISA and the petroleum import business, access the agency’s Web site at https://www.cpb.gov.