Transit of Regulated Shipments
The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s regulations apply to not only import shipments but also transit shipments (those transiting the U.S. to a third country destination – entry types 62 (T&E) and 63 (I&E)) of certain agricultural commodities. APHIS transit requirements can be found here for plants and plant products and here for animal products.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently reminded the trade that transit shipments must meet APHIS requirements at the first U.S. port of arrival even though the Automated Commercial Environment does not currently allow message set for entry types 62 or 63. Importers and brokers may therefore submit paper documents at the port of arrival. Non-compliant shipments will be held by CBP may be refused entry.
Exports to India
The USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service reports that India recently extended to Sept. 1 the effective implementation date for the mandatory registration of foreign food manufacturing facilities for the import of certain categories of foods. These include milk and milk products; meat and meat products, including poultry, fish, and their products; egg powder; infant food; and nutraceuticals. As a result, until Aug. 31 both registered and non-registered manufacturing facilities (including U.S.-origin ones) will be allowed to continue exporting products in these categories to India.
Poultry Imports
Effective May 22, APHIS has restricted the importation of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and byproducts, and certain fresh poultry products originating from or transiting the state of Victoria in Australia based on a determination that highly-pathogenic avian influenza exists in domestic birds in this area.
- Imports of unprocessed avian products and byproducts originating from or transiting this area are prohibited.
- Imports of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, and hatching eggs from this area are prohibited.
- Processed avian products and byproducts originating from or transiting this area, imported as cargo, must be accompanied by an APHIS import permit and/or government certification confirming that the products were treated according to APHIS requirements.
- Importation as cargo of fresh, unprocessed shell/table eggs and other egg products, void of the shell (i.e., liquid eggs, dried egg whites), originating from or transiting any restricted area is prohibited unless the products are consigned from the port of arrival directly to an APHIS-approved breaking and pasteurization facility. An import permit and/or certificate is not required for these shipments when consigned directly to an APHIS-approved establishment.
Separately, effective May 29 APHIS has removed restrictions on imports of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and byproducts, and certain fresh poultry products originating from or transiting zones PCZ-228 in British Columbia and PCZ-232 in Nova Scotia.
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