OHL in CBP broker self-assessment pilot

OHL in CBP broker self-assessment pilot    Tennessee-based logistics company OHL said Wednesday it is one of the four customs brokers chosen by U.S. Customs Border Protection to participate in the Broker Self-Assessment (BSA) pilot program, a voluntary partnership with the primary goal of facilitating a higher level of broker compliance with CBP laws and regulations.
   The BSA Pilot Program is a CBP-broker partnership to effectively assess and manage risk while cultivating uniformity in the application of trade laws and processes. The pilot will allow brokers to measure trade compliance so that CBP can focus on higher-risk trade enforcement issues. Under terms of the pilot, OHL will update internal controls, perform periodic testing of these internal controls, and disclose to CBP deficiencies discovered through the testing. The BSA pilot program will be reviewed after one year to weigh achievements and determine if the program will become permanent.
   'We are excited and honored to be selected to participate in the BSA pilot program,' said Mary Jo Muoio, senior vice president, trade services for OHL Global Freight Management and Logistics. 'We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with CBP on the pilot program over the next year and create more compliant broker requirements.'

Muoio

   According to CBP, OHL is the 10th-largest U.S. broker based on total number of entries filed in 2008.
   To apply for the BSA Pilot Program, brokers had to meet a variety of requirements, including a broker national permit, membership in Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), and the ability to develop a self-testing plan. Some notable advantages to participating include:
   ' CBP assistance with corrective action plan prior to penalty assessment.
   ' Accelerated review and disposition of electronic drawback claims, reconciliation applications, and ruling requests.
   ' Only being subjected to single-issue audits.
   CBP announced in late July that it had chosen four participants for the pilot, but did not name the companies. When CBP launched the application process for the program in April, it specified it wanted one large broker, one medium-sized one and two small ones to participate.