CBP to Accept Electronic Submission of Some Veterinary Health Certificates During COVID-19 Pandemic
CBP agriculture specialists will accept electronic submissions of all import documents, including veterinary health certificates, via the ACE Document Image System (DIS) for some products, CBP New York said in an informational pipeline dated March 23. The new policy, meant to address concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, will remain in effect through May 16, CBP New York said.
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The policy will apply to shipments of gelatin and collagen with any species of origin, as well as vitamin D3 of ovine origin, from any country, as well as any shipments from countries “recognized by [the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)] as free, or free with special requirements, from foreign animal diseases, as this is applicable to the species of origin of the product,” the pipeline said. “Trade entities are required to provide a reason for submission via DIS in the comments field of their email, as part of the email body, or as an additional statement included with document uploads,” it said. Emailed submissions for eligible products will be allowed during ACE downtime, CBP New York said.
Hard copy veterinary health certificates will still be required by CBP agricultural specialists for shipments from countries recognized by APHIS as affected with foreign animal diseases applicable to the species of origin of the product, the pipeline said. Hard copies will also still be required for bovine serum and fresh or frozen meat and poultry.
“Shipments arriving to the United States without a veterinary health certificate, in hard copy format or uploaded to DIS shall be refused entry or held until the required documents are received,” the pipeline said. Inquiries about these requirements should be directed to the local APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Veterinary Medical Officer, the pipeline said.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the pipeline.