Monday, October 5,2020
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’S (USDA)
ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE (APHIS) NOTICES
ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE (APHIS) NOTICES
US Customs and Border Protection posted on October 1, 2020 CSMS #44279127 advising that the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced earlier this week that it will delay full implementation of the APHIS Core Message Set in the ACE environment until January 25, 2021. This decision was made amidst stakeholder concerns about operational and economic setbacks due to COVID-19 pandemic and provides additional time to the trade community to prepare for the change. You can read the FR Notice here.
Although the APHIS Core Message Set is currently not required, APHIS recommends that stakeholders begin using it before the January 25, 2021 deadline. A series of informational webinars providing a general overview of the APHIS Core Message Set covering APHIS-regulated products, including fresh fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, animal products, miscellaneous and processed products, seeds not for planting, and plants for planting is available online here.
_________________________________
CSMS #44293641, dated October 2, 2020 states that USDA APHIS has extended the interim guidance for the electronic submission of phytosanitary certificates, PPQ 203 forms and veterinary health certificates for shipment clearance due to COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance is now effective through December 31, 2020.
Acceptable phytosanitary certificates include scanned copies of original certificates, electronic certificates created through a participating country’s ePhyto system, or signed paper forms. Certificates should be legible and include APHIS-required statements. View APHIS’s message here: phytosanitary certificates for imported plants and plant products.
Electronic copies of veterinary certificates for animal products and byproducts should be submitted in ACE-DIS. Trade entities are required to provide a reason for submission via DIS in the comments field, as part of the DIS submission email body, or as an additional statement included with document uploads. This reason should address the impact of COVID-19 on their ability to provide the original signed veterinary certificate.
View APHIS’s message here: veterinary certificates for animal products and byproducts
Although the APHIS Core Message Set is currently not required, APHIS recommends that stakeholders begin using it before the January 25, 2021 deadline. A series of informational webinars providing a general overview of the APHIS Core Message Set covering APHIS-regulated products, including fresh fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, animal products, miscellaneous and processed products, seeds not for planting, and plants for planting is available online here.
_________________________________
CSMS #44293641, dated October 2, 2020 states that USDA APHIS has extended the interim guidance for the electronic submission of phytosanitary certificates, PPQ 203 forms and veterinary health certificates for shipment clearance due to COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance is now effective through December 31, 2020.
Acceptable phytosanitary certificates include scanned copies of original certificates, electronic certificates created through a participating country’s ePhyto system, or signed paper forms. Certificates should be legible and include APHIS-required statements. View APHIS’s message here: phytosanitary certificates for imported plants and plant products.
Electronic copies of veterinary certificates for animal products and byproducts should be submitted in ACE-DIS. Trade entities are required to provide a reason for submission via DIS in the comments field, as part of the DIS submission email body, or as an additional statement included with document uploads. This reason should address the impact of COVID-19 on their ability to provide the original signed veterinary certificate.
View APHIS’s message here: veterinary certificates for animal products and byproducts
