| FDA Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP) Application Portal to Close Monday May 31, 2022 The Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP) application portal for fiscal year (FY) 2023 benefits will close on May 31, 2022. The portal opened on January 1, 2022. VQIP is a voluntary fee-based program for importers who achieve and maintain control over the safety and security of their supply chains. VQIP participants enjoy the benefits of expedited review and importation of human and animal foods into the U.S. To participate in VQIP, food importers must meet certain eligibility requirements, including ensuring that the facilities of their foreign suppliers are certified through the FDA’s Accredited Third-Party Certification Program, part of the Food Safety Modernization Act. Certification bodies conduct food safety audits of foreign facilities and farms, and issue the certifications that importers need to participate in VQIP. Importers have until May 31,2022 at 11:59 pm EST to submit their online application to participate in VQIP for FY2022 benefits, beginning October 1, 2022. If you have already submitted an application, you may check the status at https://www.access.fda.gov/. For questions, you may also contact the VQIP Importers’ Help Desk via 1-301-796-8745 or via email to FSMAVQIP@fda.hhs.gov. Read the CSMS Here. EPA Update on Filing Paper Notices of Arrival (EPA Form 3540-1) During EPA’s Workforce Transition EPA has updated a notice posted in March 2020 that alerted the regulated community of a temporary process EPA established for handling paper NOA filings during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the beginning of the pandemic, EPA shifted to telework-based operations and adjusted procedures normally conducted through the exchange of paper documents, such as the filing of some Notices of Arrival of Pesticides and Devices (EPA Form 3540-1). As EPA transitions their workforce return to the workplace and workplace flexibilities, EPA will continue the process established at the beginning of the pandemic regarding the submission of EPA Form 3540-1. Important: The paper EPA Form 3540-1 must be signed by EPA before filing in ACE. When filing in ACE, the importer or their authorized agent must file either a Disclaim Code C or D in ACE. Disclaim Code C is to be used when a digital or electronic image of the paper EPA-signed Form 3540-1 will be uploaded in the Document Image System (DIS). Disclaim Code D is to be used to indicates the hard copy of the paper EPA-signed Form 3540-1 will be sent with the shipment rather than uploading the image of the signed form in DIS. The updated notification can be found at https://www.epa.gov/compliance/importing-and-exporting-pesticides-and-devices. Read the CSMS Here. |
| FDA ITACS Status “No public status available” Clarification Due to recent inquiries, FDA would like to clarify the line level messaging of ‘No public status available’ in FDA’s Import Trade Auxiliary Communication System (ITACS). This messaging may occur during the following two scenarios: 1. ‘No public status available’ will display as the line level messaging when the local FDA office has not yet taken any action and the lines are still pending initial review. OR 2. ‘No public status available’ will display as the line level messaging AND the red text “FDA entry status information is not available pending receipt of Conveyance Arrival Notification.” will display on the ITACS screen for truck and air shipments if FDA has not received the electronic notification from CBP’s system that the cargo has arrived. If the cargo has physically arrived, and ITACS is still displaying this message, please check with the broker for the status in ABI. If ABI status is not available, contact the local FDA office at the port of entry for status inquiries. Contact information for all FDA import offices can be found at the FDA Import Office Locations and Contact Information link at the bottom of every ITACS page: Import Offices and Ports of Entry | FDA. Further information regarding ITACS and ITACS statuses can be found on FDA’s ITACS for Industry web page at: ITACS | FDA. Please contact ITACS Support at ITACSSupport@fda.hhs.gov with any additional ITACS questions. Read the CSMS Here. Update to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) for Food Importers Data Requirements U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Trade Relations and Office of Trade will host a webinar May 12, 2022, at 1:00pm eastern time. This educational webinar will cover reconciliation fundamentals and provide insight to the various issues the trade community and CBP Centers of Excellence and Expertise (Centers) experience when filing and processing reconciliation entry summaries (Entry Type 09). Registration for the webinar can be found at: Reconciliation Webinar Registration link. The information to access the webinar will be sent to the email address you provide on the day of the webinar. CBP resources available to the trade community concerning reconciliation are below. If you would like to submit questions prior to the webinar, please contact ot-reconfolder@cbp.dhs.gov with a subject line title of “Reconciliation Webinar Question”. Your questions will be answered during the question and answer portion of the webinar. Please feel free to share this email notice with your membership and colleagues. If you have questions about this webinar or registration, please email TradeEvents@cbp.dhs.gov. Read the CSMS Here. |
| APHIS Veterinary Services Requires eFile System for all New and Renewal Permit Applications – Effective May 31, 2022 Effective May 31, 2022, APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) will require submission of all new and renewal permit applications for live animals and animal products, organisms, and vectors – via the APHIS eFile system. New permit applicants can create an APHIS eFile account here. Additional information for setting up an account may be viewed under eFile training here. The eFile VS Permitting Assistant (VSPA) determines movement requirements and prompts applicants to obtain the required documentation and/or apply for permits. All applicants must use the VSPA to start the permit application. Additionally, applicants with existing VS 16-6 permits must renew them using the VSPA to select materials that match the existing permit. For help with the application process, please see the written guidance and “How-To” videos under the “Veterinary Services” section – here. As for amendments to existing permits, applicants must request those changes in the system the permits exist (i.e., ePermits or eFile). All permits in the ePermits system will remain valid until they expire. For questions, please call 301-851-3300 or email apie@usda.gov (Animal Products, Organisms, and Vectors) or LAIPermits@usda.gov (Live Animals). Read the CSMS Here. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) End-Dating Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) Product Codes The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be end-dating the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) product codes listed below. The end-date will be in 30 days, on June 5, 2022. Product Code/Description78N[][]WR/Kit, catheter, foley (excludes hiv testing)79G[][]EL/ Gauze, Nonabsorable, Medicated (Internal Sponge)81M[][]ZJ/ System, Concentration, Hematopoietic Stem Cell78N[][]WQ/Kit, catheter, external, male (excludes hiv testing) Please send any questions or concerns to the email address for the Product Code Builder Feedback: PCBFeedback@fda.hhs.gov For assistance with product code identification, the public may also refer to the FDA Product Code Builder. Read the CSMS Here. |
| Check Out This Week’s Customs Bulletin! This update includes: General Notices Visa Waiver Program Carrier Agreement (Form I–775)Proposed Revocation of a Ruling Letter, and Proposed Revocation of Treatment Relating to the Tariff Classification of a Chafer Set U.S. Court of Appeals for Federal Circuit Mid Continent Steel & Wire, Inc., Plaintiff-Appellee v. United States, Defendant-Appellee PT Enterprise Inc., Pro-Team Coil Nail Enterprise Inc., Unicatch Industrial Co., Ltd., WTA Interntional Co., Ltd., Zon Mon Co., Ltd., Hor Liang Industrial Corporation, President Industrial Inc., Liang Chyuan Industrial Co., Ltd., Defendants-Appellants U.S. Court of International Trade Slip Opinions Dongkuk Steel Mill Co, Ltd., Plaintiff, v. United States, Defendant, and Nucor Corporation, Defendant-IntervenorOman Fasteners, LLC, et al., Plaintiffs, v. United States, et al., DefendantsZ.A. Sea Foods Private Limited, B-One Business House Pvt. Ltd., Hari Marine Private Limited, Magnum Export, Megaa Moda Pvt. Ltd., Milsha Agro Exports Private Ltd., Sea Foods Private Limited, Shimpo Exports Private Limited, Five Star Marine Exports Pvt. Ltd., HN Indigos Private Limited, RSA Marines, and Zeal Aqua Ltd., Plaintiffs, v. United States, Defendant, and Ad Hoc Shrimp Trade Action Committee, Defendant-IntervenorNEXTEEL Co., Ltd. et al., Plaintiff and Consolidated Plaintiffs, and Husteel Co., Ltd. and Hyundai Steel Company, Plaintiff-Intervenors, v. United States, Defendant, and California Steel Industries, Inc. et al., Defendant-Intervenors and Consolidated Defendant-Intervenors |
