CUSTOMS TO ADJUST COBRA FEE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA

CUSTOMS TO ADJUST COBRA FEE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA    U.S. Customs said it will adjust the industry membership criteria for the COBRA Fees Advisory Committee.
   The committee was established through a 1999 amendment to the 1985 Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act (COBRA). Originally, the committee membership was limited to one Customs representative and up to eight parties that are subject to pay COBRA user fees. Those transport entities include railways, trucks, barges, commercial cargo vessels, commercial passenger vessels, general aviation, and passenger planes. If possible, Customs would like to have representatives from all the transport modes involved.
   The fees, which are specific to the transport mode, cover Customs’ inspection processing costs.
   Under the new criteria, Customs will not restrict membership to those who are directly paying these fees. This opens the membership to other interested parties such as trade associations.
   Applications for membership will be accepted until Jan. 22. For more information contact Richard Coleman of the Customs’ Trade Compliance Team at (202) 927-0563.