ITDS Piloted Use of Product Codes for Toys with CPSC, Etc.
The International Trade Data System Board's recent fiscal year 2010 report on the status of ITDS states that it has completed a pilot on using product codes in import transactions involving toys, and that it was conducting other pilots that involve imported cut flowers and meat products.
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(In its December 2010 final report on supplementing Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes with global product numbers/codes, ITDS noted that pilots would be undertaken by ITDS in the second half of 2010 for several higher-risk product sets. It added that the results of these studies would be reported in 2011 to more precisely define the benefits, cost, and effectiveness -- the business case -- for the adoption of these processes.)
Draft Guide Outlines How to Use of Product Codes for Imports
ITDS agencies have created a draft implementation guide that outlines how these product codes could be used in import transactions. The guide has been shared with the trade community and comments have been gathered.
Agencies Pilot Testing Guide’s Approach for Toys, Flowers, Meat Products
Several ITDS agencies have been conducting three pilot tests to assess the draft’s approach. One test involving toys has been completed and the Consumer Product Safety Commission is evaluating the results. The other tests involve cut flowers and meat products.
(Various agencies require traders to provide a product classification code, in addition to a tariff number, in order, to categorize imported products more precisely (tariff codes are inadequate for many agencies’ purposes particularly those related to product purity and safety).
ITDS agencies are exploring opportunities to use international product classification codes so that traders would not be required to report multiple codes for the same product, which would also reduce the cost to the government of maintaining multiple code systems.
The identification of specific products using a globally unique product number known as the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) also has cost saving potential. Because a GTIN (known to consumers as the Universal Product Code (UPC)) can be linked to details about the individual product, one GTIN number may be all a trader would need to report, rather than requiring traders to report several data elements in order to adequately describe a product.)
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 12/28/10 news, 10122822, for BP summary of ITDS’ final report on supplementing HTS codes with global product numbers/codes.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 03/02/11 news, 11030232, for initial BP summary on ITDS priorities and the recommendations made in the report.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 03/15/11 news, 11031521, for BP summary on the report’s sections on ITDS export functionality.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 03/22/11 news, 11032226, for BP summary on the ITDS report saying funds are lacking for all ACE Cargo Release PGA features.)