CSMS 61723113·System update·August 9, 2024·View on csms.cbp.gov ↗

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service – National Organic Program (NOP) ACE Updates & Reminders

Plain-English explanation

CSMS 61723113 is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Cargo Systems Messaging Service bulletin (system update), published on August 9, 2024. It carries the official CBP guidance brokers and importers must follow for the topic — "USDA Agricultural Marketing Service – National Organic Program (NOP) ACE Updates & Reminders". CSMS messages are the operational layer between Commerce determinations and at-the-border collections: when Commerce publishes a new rate, scope ruling, or instruction, CBP turns it into a CSMS that ACE/ACS systems and brokers act on.

Message body

Full text as published by U.S. Customs and Border Protection

CSMS # 61723113 - USDA Agricultural Marketing Service – National Organic Program (NOP) ACE Updates & Reminders U.S. Customs and Border Protection sent this bulletin at 08/09/2024 11:37 AM EDT Cargo Systems Messaging Service CSMS # 61723113 - USDA Agricultural Marketing Service – National Organic Program (NOP) ACE Updates & Reminders Effective September 19, 2024, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) will no longer allow the use of the temporary filing code (999-999-T) in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) for organic entries without an NOP Import Certificate (NOP-IC). Brokers/filers are reminded not to use this code for filing in the OR Message Set after that date. Shipments using the temporary code after September 19, 2024, will be subject to adverse actions or additional enforcement actions. If a valid NOP-IC is not available at time of filing, the shipment must either be changed to a conventional (non-organic) status, or reexported. The NOP-IC must be obtained prior to the shipment departing the foreign port of lading from the exporter. The NOP-IC cannot be issued after the product has departed. U.S. importers facilitating organic trade must be certified organic under the new USDA organic regulations. Certified importers are listed in the Organic Integrity Database ( https://organic.ams.usda.gov/integrity ). Organic imports not associated with a valid NOP-IC will not be allowed to claim the shipment as certified organic . Also, the AMS AM8 tariff flag will be enforced with a reject severity in ACE Production. AM7 flags will continue to be enforced with a warning severity. New Codes for entries that will flag in ACE but are not required to have an NOP-IC – these are filed under OR2: American Certified Organic Goods Returned: 333-550-R Non-Retail Sales/Donations: 333-800-E Personal Goods/e-Commerce: 010-737-M NOP has deployed a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) for all certifiers to issue the NOP-IC in the event of an extended outage of USDA systems. Certifiers will issue a manual version of the NOP-IC, and the Import Certificate Number will be a 9-digit code that ends with “C” (e.g., 840-395-C) that is unique to the certifier that issued the NOP-IC. Brokers and filers will notice that in the event of a system outage, certificate numbers will be 9 digits, not the usual 21 digits. Please be aware that the 9-digit certificate numbers that end with “C“ must be filed under the OR1 Message Set . For further information on the Strengthening Organic Enforcement regulation including updated FAQs, see: https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/strengthening-organic-enforcement . 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

Frequently asked questions

What is CSMS 61723113?

CSMS 61723113 is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Cargo Systems Messaging Service bulletin titled "USDA Agricultural Marketing Service – National Organic Program (NOP) ACE Updates & Reminders". CSMS bulletins are the operational instructions CBP issues to brokers, importers, and ACE filers covering rate changes, system updates, scope guidance, and other day-to-day customs-operations changes.

When was CSMS 61723113 published?

CBP published CSMS 61723113 on August 9, 2024. The bulletin's instructions are typically operative as of the publication date unless the body specifies a different effective date.

Is the CBP CSMS the legally binding instruction?

Yes — for at-the-border filing and entry collection. CSMS messages translate Commerce's Federal Register determinations into operational CBP instructions that ACE/ACS systems and brokers execute. The Federal Register notice is the underlying legal authority; the CSMS is the operational implementation. Both should be read together when reconciling a rate or scope change.

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