Customs Corner
NMFS proposes a modification to Seafood Import Monitoring Program
On 27 Dec 2022, the National Marine & Fisheries Service (NMFS) published a Federal Register Notice detailing a series of proposed changes to the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA).
The proposed rules would accomplish several goals for the NMFS:
- Add five species to the program
- all species of snapper (Lutjanidae)
- Eels (Anguilla spp.)
- Squid and cuttlefish,
- Octopus, the queen conch (family Strombidae), and,
- Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus)
- expand SIMP to include all species of tuna not already covered by SIMP;
- clarify the responsibilities of the Importer of Record and amend the definition of the Importer of Record to align with that of Customs & Border Protection (CBP);
- amend the language requiring a chain of custody records to be made available for audit or inspection to add a requirement that such records be made available through digital means if requested by NMFS; and,
- clarify the Aggregated Harvest Report criteria, and clarify the application of SIMP requirements to imports into the Pacific Insular Areas.Comments on the proposed rules are due on or before 28 March 2023.
Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) publishes 2023 rates
On 23 Dec 2022, the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) published a Federal Register Notice that announces new rates effective 01 Jan 2023 it will charge meat and poultry establishments, egg products plants, and importers and exporters for providing voluntary, overtime, and holiday inspection and identification, certification, and laboratory services.
FSIS also announced that there will be no changes to the fee FSIS assesses to exporters applying for export certificates electronically through the export component of the Agency’s Public Health Information System.
Should you have additional questions on any of the above-covered topics or any other trade-related questions, please feel free to contact the Customs Brokerage Product Team at custominfo.ff.us@geodis.com, or the Trade Services team at tradeservices.ff.us@geodis.com.
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