U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Fresh Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs Inspections

May, 2012

Our Mission

We are the guardians of our Nation’s borders.

We are America’s frontline.

We safeguard the American homeland at and beyond our borders.

We protect the American public against terrorists and the instruments of terror.

We steadfastly enforce the laws of the United States while fostering our nation’s economic security through lawful international trade and travel.

We serve the American public with vigilance, integrity and professionalism.

CBP’s Agriculture Mission

To protect the American public.

To detect and prevent agro-terrorism and bio-terrorism.

MIA Agriculture Inspections

MIA is the largest U.S. gateway for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Is one of the leading international freight airports in the world.

MIA Air Cargo leads all U.S. airports with 68 percent of fresh fruits and vegetables imported into the U.S. every year.

Port of Miami

Known as the Cargo Gateway to Latin America.

Ranks as the number one port in Florida and the eleventh busiest in the nation.

Cargo traffic with South and Central America and the Caribbean.

Fruits, Vegetables & Herbs

Might serve to introduce exotic pests.

Outbreak of plant pests can:

Cause damage to crops, trees, flowers, or lawns.

Cause millions of dollars of damage.

Increase the price

Reduce the quality of food

Lower property values,

Ruin recreational areas.

Suggestions to the Exporter for faster Clearance of your Merchandise

Include invoice information

Type invoice information clearly

Include packing list information

Provide a detailed description

Mark merchandise legibly with the country of origin

Comply with provisions of any special laws of the U.S. that may apply to your merchandise

Suggestions to the Exporter for faster Clearance of your Merchandise

(Continuation)

Develop packing standards for your commodities

Establish sound security procedures

Consider shipping on a carrier participating in the Automated Manifest System (AMS)

If you use a licensed Customs broker for your transaction, consider using a firm that participates in the Automated Broker Interface (ABI)

For additional information: www.cbp.gov

Entry Process

File entry documents for goods with CBP at the POE.

Must be filed within 15 calendar days of arrival at U.S. POE.

Entry for consumption

Must be filed and estimated duties deposited at the port with an entry/entry summary within 10 working days of the goods' entry into the commerce.

Must be accompanied by evidence that a bond has been posted with CBP

In the event that a customs broker is employed, the broker may permit the use of his bond to provide the required coverage

Following presentation of the entry, the shipment may be examined, or examination may be waived by CBP

Agriculture Inspection Hold

Placed on items of agricultural interest.

Using CBP automated tools.

Serves as a notification to the carrier and the other parties that the cargo is being restricted for agricultural reasons.

Should not be released until CBP has authorized the release.

Prerequisite to the GeneralInspection Procedures

CBP will collect information and review necessary documents prior inspection:

Air waybills and shipping papers

Foreign phytosanitary certificates

Invoices (obtained from importer or broker)

Labels

Packing lists

Notices of Arrival

Permits (PPQ, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and

Flora (CITES), Endangered Species Act (ESA))

Note: Import Requirements are subject to change.

For additional information visit: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/index.shtml

Invoices Detailed description of the

merchandise: Name by which each item is

known; The grade or quality; The marks, numbers and symbols

under which sold and packaged; Quantities in appropriate weights

and measures being imported; Purchase price of each item in the

currency of the purchase; All charges itemized by name and

amount; All discounts, commissions and

rebates; and Country of origin

Generally Admissible Fruits, Vegetables & Herbs

Aloe vera (above ground parts)

Bat nut or devil pod (Trapa bicornis)

Cannonball fruit

Chinese water chestnut

Coconut, see Seed Manual

Corn smut galls 1

Cyperus corm

Edible flowers 2 (inflorescences only 3)

Garlic cloves, peeled

Ginger root

Lily bulb (Lilium spp.)

Maguey leaf

Matsutake

Mushroom

Palm heart, peeled

Peanut

Pomegranate arils

St. John's Bread

Singhara nut (Trapa bispinosa)

Tamarind

Truffle

Water-chestnut (Trapa natans)

Admissible into the United States from all countries.

Admissible Fruits, Vegetables & HerbsColombia

Import Permit Requirements

USDA PPQ

•Regulates the importation of plants and plant products under the authority of the Plant Protection Act.

•Issues Transit Permits in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations Title 7, CFR Part 352

Import Permits

Required for the importation into the U.S. and transit through the U.S. of regulated plants and plant products.

Import Permit Requirements (Continuation)

Transit Permits Required in advance of arrival for the unloading, landing or other

movement of plants, plant products, or soil in cargo through the United States.

Two types: Transportation and Exportations (T&E)

Immediate Exports (IE)

Contact Permit Services:

Telephone: (301) 734-0841 or (877) 770-5990 (Toll-Free Automated System);

Fax (301) 734-4300; Email: Permits@aphis.usda.gov

USDA-APHIS E-Permits

Is a web-based tool that gives customers the ability to apply for a permit, check its status, and view it online.

E-Permit customers can apply for the following: PPQ Application for Permit to Import Plants or Plant Products Veterinary Services (VS) Applications for Permits Biotechnology Notifications VS Notification of On-Hold Shipment and Other PPQ applications for permit

E-Permits users are required to complete a registration process called e-Authentication.

USDA’s e-Authentication: www.eauth.egov.usda.gov

E-Permits: www.aphis.usda.gov/permits

Fruits and Vegetables Arriving Without a Permit

In general,

Most importations of admissible fresh fruits and vegetables require an import permit.

Lack of an import permit is not grounds to prohibit entry to an admissible consignment.

If the importer lacks an import permit,

Importer must apply for a permit

Provide proof of application to CBP

Phytosanitary Certificates

Is issued by the foreign plant protection organization (exporting country).

Is a statement of fact (certifies the inspection) attesting to freedom from pests and admissibility into the destination country.

Can be valid and accurate, yet still be insufficient to meet conditions of entry.

Even when plants or plant products are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, CBP inspects the importations to confirm admissibility.

Examining and Monitoring Cargo Policy

All foreign cargo of agricultural interest are to clear at the first port of arrival or first port of unlading.

OR

Shipments may be authorized movement to another approved CBP port, if cargo is remaining on board a carrier and has an USDA Transit Permit.

Operational Methods

May vary from port to port

The use of automated CBP systems, CBP release programs, and other CBP initiatives may vary from location to location.

Sample Size

Is how many boxes you should open and examine from each inspectional unit.

Standard Sample is a 2 percent .

CBP verifies samples for inspection and may request additional samples, if needed.

Fruits, Vegetables & Herbs Inspection

CBPAS inspect for the following:

Insects

Mites

Mollusks

Nematodes

Noxious weeds and their seeds

Pathogens

Plant debris

Soil

Packing Material

Conveyance for hitchhiking pests

Fruits, Vegetables & Herbs Inspection

If product is infested with insects, mollusks, or pathogens,

CBP will HOLD the shipment and

Will send the interception to the nearest USDA Plant Inspection Station.

Wood Packing Material

Regulation restricts the importation of many types of wood articles, including wooden packaging materials such as:

Pallets

Crates

Boxes

Bracings.

WPM must be marked with the WPM mark.

wood_packing_material.wmv

Wood Packing Material

Acceptable mark

Wood Packing Material

Non-Compliant Wooden Pallet

Wood Packing Material

Enforcement Link Mobile Operations Cargo

Is a web basis CBP application via BlackBerry®.

Benefits:

Expedite the process of recording a Physical exams and release immediately after inspection.

Conduct queries of Agriculture bill holds from ATS by Port of Unlading, Arrival date, Vessel name or Container number.

Presents result sets from queries to the user on handheld device (BlackBerry® PlayBook).

Retrieves search results from ATS within minutes.

Emergency Action Notification

CBP will consult with USDA to decide the regulatory action.

CBP will complete an Emergency Action Notification (EAN) (PPQ Form 523) and provide the importer or broker with the following options:

Treat the inspectional unit under USDA monitoring

Destroy the contaminated shipment under CBP supervision at the owner’s expense

Reexport the inspectional unit under proper safeguarding measures

Our Mission

We are the guardians of our Nation’s borders. We are America’s frontline.

We safeguard the American homeland at and beyond our borders. We protect the American public against terrorists and the instruments of terror. We steadfastly enforce the laws of the United States while fostering our nation’s

economic security through lawful international trade and travel. We serve the American public with vigilance, integrity and professionalism.

Our Mission

We are the guardians of our Nation’s borders. We are America’s frontline.

We safeguard the American homeland at and beyond our borders. We protect the American public against terrorists and the instruments of terror. We steadfastly enforce the laws of the United States while fostering our nation’s

economic security through lawful international trade and travel. We serve the American public with vigilance, integrity and professionalism.