Not so new, they have run checks for some time; this would just formalize the process and allow them to establish a procedure to be followed instead of just someone deciding to make a phone call.
Not too different from the IRS of which BATFE used to be a part. If I claim on my income tax I contributed $10 million dollars to some charity, I have no doubt IRS will want some evidence that there really is such an organization and that I am not just evading taxes.
Jim
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