International Trade Data System (ITDS): Helping Boost Trade

Michael Durando, Director

Point-of-Sale (POS) transactions and traceability systems are just two of the technological advances used today in the produce industry to automate retail sales, track consumer preferences, and provide safer produce. The federal government is also working to update its technological capabilities with the introduction of the International Trade Data System (ITDS), which will speed multiple agencies’ approval and release of a range of imported and exported products.

By Executive Order, ITDS will become the main system through which traders connect with the federal government for approval to accept loads for transport. The timeframe for this electronic filing requirement began in July, 2016 with all import filings on the electronic system to be implemented by October, 2016.

ITDS does away with the old system for obtaining the federal government’s approval for accepting loads for transport, which involved providing similar information to several government agencies, often on different paper forms. ITDS allows traders to submit required documents and relevant data to all of the 47 participating government agencies at one time. The platform’s “single window” concept will eliminate redundancy and paper transactions. 

AMS will make preliminary decisions and arrangements for inspections on products at the time the importer/exporter enters data into their ACE portal.  These inspections can occur at either the port of entry or receiving market.  In return, USDA will provide the inspection results back to Customs and Border Protection and those who requested the inspection.  Data transmissions will occur much faster than the previous system of using paper forms.   

Under the old system, traders who present agricultural products subject to Section 8e and related import regulations for import/export must submit forms to Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Those traders then have to wait for separate responses from all three agencies before an inspection or Customs release could be completed.

For an overview of the fundamentals of the ACE ITDS project and the proper way to file an entry in compliance with Section 8e requirements, view the webinar “Importing Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops Using ACE.”

Questions on the implementation of ITDS or other USDA electronic initiatives may be directed via email to me at michael.durando@ams.usda.gov.