U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced the next meeting of the Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection (COAC).

When:   May 22, 2012, 1 pm to 5 pm, EST
Where:  Hyatt Regency Savannah Hotel, Savannah, Georgia

If you are interested in attending, you must register to attend either in-person or via webcast.   Registration is open until May 18, 2012.

COAC is a 20-member advisory committee that was established by Congress in 1987.  The purpose in creating COAC was to serve as an advisory committee to the Secretaries of the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the commercial operations of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and related DHS and Treasury functions.  For example, COAC has considered and advised on the development of advance electronic cargo information requirements; streamlining Customs procedures, and other issues related to trade facilitation and cargo security;  safety of imports and protection of intellectual property rights; management by account and the  interaction of all government agencies in the border environment.