Episode: NCBFAA Spotlight: Understanding the Regulatory Agencies Committee (RAC)

In this special collaboration episode with the NCBFAA, Lalo sits down with members of the Regulatory Agencies Committee (RAC) — the team that engages with all Participating Government Agencies (PGAs) outside of CBP on behalf of the brokerage, freight forwarding, and logistics community.

Committee Chair Michael Lahar, Vice Chair Adam Lees, and Counsel Cindy Thomas walk through the RAC’s unique role, its 15 subcommittees, and how 2025 proved to be one of the most unusual years in recent memory. From staffing reductions under the Department of Justice’s GOGE initiative, to the still-ongoing government shutdown, to FDA’s surprise launch of the National Entry Review (NER) Program, the RAC has spent the year rebuilding agency relationships, troubleshooting major regulatory changes, and guiding NCBFAA members through rapidly shifting expectations.

The conversation highlights the RAC’s critical liaison function — ensuring brokers aren’t left in the dark, building interagency cooperation, and helping PGAs understand how brokers function as “force multipliers” in the import ecosystem.

The episode closes with a forward look at 2026, including the CPSC and Fish & Wildlife ACE mandates, the National Marine Fisheries implementation of MMPA requirements, and what brokers need to prepare for now.

RAC represents brokers and freight forwarders across 15 PGA subcommittees, interacting with agencies from USDA and CPSC to FDA, EPA, APHIS, and Fish & Wildlife.

Government shutdown impacts varied widely across PGAs — some were fully dark, others partially functioning.

Staffing reductions under GOGE hit PGAs hard, creating delays and inexperienced replacements.

FDA’s National Entry Review (NER) Program launched with only 30 days’ notice, causing friction but improving week by week.

Interagency cooperation is growing, with agencies proactively engaging the RAC for the first time.

Brokers are increasingly recognized as “force multipliers” for enforcement efficiency.

2026 will bring major ACE mandates for CPSC and Fish & Wildlife — importers must prepare now.

AI is being used across PGAs, often without transparency.

Resilience across both industry and government was the defining theme of 2025.

Structure & mission of the RAC

PGA staffing and shutdown impacts

FDA NER rollout challenges

Rebuilding agency relationships

Interagency collaboration wins

AI use in trade enforcement

2026 ACE mandates (CPSC, FWS)

National Marine Fisheries MMPA enforcement

Preparing brokers for regulatory change

NCBFAA Annual Conference preview

NCBFAA – National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (Website)

FDA – National Entry Review (NER) Program (Referenced during the episode)

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Website)

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) – ACE Filing Program (Website)

Global Training Center (Website)

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Produced by: Global Training Center

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