APHIS Provides an Update on Import and Export Activities for Plants and Plant Products

CSMS #42176039 - APHIS Provides an Update on Import and Export Activities for Plants and Plant Products U.S. Customs and Border Protection sent this bulletin at 03/27/2020 12:32 PM EDT   Cargo Systems Messaging Service CSMS #42176039 - APHIS Provides an Update on Import and Export Activities for Plants and Plant Products APHIS recognizes the many challenges the COVID-19 pandemic poses to trade. We are doing all we can to ensure the health and safety of our employees while still delivering the services you need. At this time, we continue to provide all of our regular plant and plant product import and export services, including: Accepting and processing permit applications, Inspecting imported plants and plant products, Identifying intercepted pests, Monitoring phytosanitary treatment activities, and Inspecting and certifying plants and plant products for export. Accepting Electronic Certificates and Forms During the COVID-19 Emergency To help facilitate the clearance of imported plants and plant products during the COVID-19 emergency, APHIS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will accept electronically produced versions of phytosanitary certificates, effective immediately. Importers and brokers may upload the electronic documents to the Automated Commercial Environment using the Document Imaging System or provide them by other means, such as email attachments. 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. In addition, we will allow precleared consignments to be accompanied by an email from APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) with an electronic copy of PPQ Form 203 attached, if the original form is not available. We Are Here For You Please continue to work with our PPQ staff as you normally do. They are available by phone and email. You may also submit import or export-related questions using the following contact information: Plant or plant product imports: email plantproducts.permits@usda.gov or call 1-877-770-5990 Plant or plant product exports: locate your export certification specialist or email ppqexportservices@usda.gov We continue to closely monitor this evolving situation and will provide updates  as needed. Be sure to regularly check the APHIS website for the latest informat ion.     Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page . You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com . This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Customs and Border Protection . Privacy Policy | GovDelivery is providing this information on behalf of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and may not use the information for any other purposes. Powered by Privacy Policy | Cookie Statement | Help