The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) annual conference had about 470 attendees this year, said an association spokesman. The previous year's conference had around 542 attendees. The NCBFAA conference for next year is scheduled for April 6-9 in Las Vegas, Nev., said the spokesman.

CBP is requesting comments by June 24, on an existing information collection concerning the Entry and Immediate Delivery Application (CBP Forms 3461 and 3461 ALT). CBP is proposing to extend the expiration date of this information collection with no change to the burden hours or to the information being collected.

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:

A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to CBP's website April 18, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for the listed CBP message number at addcvd.cbp.gov. (CBP occasionally adds backdated messages without otherwise indicating which message was added. ITT will include a message date in parentheses in such cases.)

CBP's Center for Excellence and Expertise in New York played an important role in seizing 400 pills of a controlled substance, said CBP in a press release. CBP’s Pharmaceuticals, Health & Chemicals CEE worked along with the French Customs Fake Medical Observatory to stop the seizure, said CBP. "Based on information obtained from French Customs, on March 6 the CEE identified and intercepted an incoming shipment suspected of carrying unapproved pharmaceutical products," the agency said.

CBP posted an updated summary of changes for the Automated Export System Trade Interface Requirements (AESTIR). Most recently, the following changes to Appendix F for License Exemption Type Codes were posted:

CBP posted a presentation providing some general information on the plans for a pilot project for entry of residues in instruments of international traffic (IIT). The presentation gives some very general information on the pilot, which is expected to begin by the end of the fiscal year. CBP officials recently gave an outline of the pilot for container residues (see 13041005).

Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated April 18 with 78 rulings, bringing the total number of searchable rulings to 176,897. The most recent ruling is dated 04/12/2013.

A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to CBP's website April 17, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for the listed CBP message number at addcvd.cbp.gov. (CBP occasionally adds backdated messages without otherwise indicating which message was added. ITT will include a message date in parentheses in such cases.)

CBP opened three new Centers of Excellence and Expertise, it said in a April 18 press release. The new centers, which each have specific industry focuses, are for Base Metals in Chicago, Industrial and Manufacturing Materials in Buffalo, N.Y., and Machinery in Laredo, Texas. CBP plans to open three more Centers in FY 2013.