PGA (Participating Government Agencies) Message Set Available

The PGA Message Set was approved on May 19, 2011. With this approval, U. S.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will now move forward to program and

implement the PGA Message Set in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).

The underlying work leading up to the PGA Message Set has been ongoing for over

ten years through the efforts of the PGAs in the International Trade Data System

(ITDS). This approval is a key step forward toward the realization of the “single

window” concept of the ITDS.



The PGA Message Set is a harmonized set of information needed by the

federal agencies to approve imports of cargo so that the trade community can

supply this data electronically

one time and in one place.



Presently, PGA data is submitted through manual paper forms requiring added

processing cost, human intervention and manual correlation with import

transactions.



The PGA Message Set will extend the electronic record (data) set that is

currently provided to CBP to allow trade systems to submit PGA data

electronically to CBP along with their current required filings.



ACE will serve as the single gateway to streamline receiving, processing and

distributing PGA data to appropriate agencies, relieving trade and multiple

government agencies from exchanging information via a multitude of disparate

channels during the cargo release process



Implementation of the PGA Message Set is a key building block for the

implementation of Cargo Release in the future.



On June 3, 2011, CBP published the PGA Message Set Chapter to the

Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR)

Implementation Guide on CBP.gov. Additional information and guidance on how

the messages will be used to satisfy specific PGA reporting requirements will be

developed the near future. Please forward any comments on the PGA

Message Set to

Susan.Dyszel@dhs.gov. The PGA Message Set has been

posted to CBP.gov. The URL is as follows:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/automated/automated_systems/abi/draft_pga

_message_set/



CBP targets late 2011 for the completion of the technology build that will enable

the collection of this PGA message set. At this point, pilots of this new

capability between CBP, PGAs and Trade may begin, including trade testing.



Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.