Background

The Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service is reminding customs brokers, filers, freight forwarders, carriers, and other members of the importing community that an APHIS core message set for clearance must be filed prior to moving cargo to plant inspection stations for inspection. Failure to do so will result in cargo delays.

APHIS explains that when electronic information is submitted through the Automated Commercial Environment, a properly filed APHIS core message set must be submitted along with any required documents in the ACE Document Imaging System. If the cargo is exempt from electronic submission, or a non-electronic means of clearance is being used, and the cargo must go to a PIS for clearance, a properly completed PPQ 368 paper form and accompanying paper documents must be submitted for clearance of cargo.

APHIS recommends that importers submit electronic information or paper documentation in advance of the cargo’s arrival, including products that meet U.S. Customs and Border Protection requirements for de minimis exemptions. APHIS does accept the use of entry type 86 test data for cargo meeting those requirements.

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