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Questions and Answers Related to PHIS Import Implementation |
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Conference Call with National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, Inc. (NCBAA) and
Meat Import Council of America (MICA) (May 2, 2012)
Conference Call with Industry and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (May 3, 2012)
ENTRY/ENTRY SUMMARY
1. In the briefing, you mentioned transmitting entry and entry summaries. What about immediate delivery privileges
in land border requirements?
The entry filed with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) will provide
FSIS mandatory prior notice of the shipment. If industry does not file the entry electronically with CBP, such as
immediate delivery shipments, then the importer (or agent) would provide a paper copy of FSIS form 9540-1
and the foreign inspection certificate to FSIS import inspection personnel at the official import inspection
establishment.
2. In order for data to flow to USDA we would have to do a summary certified for release. Just release data alone
would not give enough info for advance notice of arrival. Is that correct?
FSIS will receive entry/entry summary data from CBP at the implementation of PHIS. If possible, FSIS recommends
that the entry summary certified for cargo release be filed at entry. That summary will provide the most accurate
shipment data available and require fewer data adjustments (i.e., time savings) in PHIS when the shipment is presented
for reinspection at the official import inspection establishment.
3. What is the expected impact on brokers submitting data when PHIS implements on May 29, 2012?
On May 29 effectively, you will do nothing different. You will continue to file your entries with CBP as you have
been doing, and you will continue submitting the same FSIS Form 9540-1 to FSIS. The only difference is that entry
and entry summary information will be coming to PHIS from the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) or the
Automated Commercial System (ACS).
4. If an entry summary isn't filed for a week, would that be the first time the inspector is going to see the data
in PHIS?
No, the data is transferred to PHIS when the entry is filed. FSIS will proceed with the reinspection, and will
monitor any changes made by the broker when filing the entry summary that would impact FSIS reinspection activities.
5. Can you clarify where you want the e-mail address on FSIS Form 9540-1?
FSIS is requesting two pieces of information in "Box 31 Remarks" of FSIS Form 9540-1: (1) the e-mail address of the
importer (or agent) and (2) the estimated date of arrival of the shipment at the official import inspection
establishment.
6. Will FSIS inspectors continue to stamp FSIS form 9540-1 with the U.S. mark of inspection?
FSIS will continue to stamp FSIS Form 9540-1 for the present time. Once the PGA Message Set is implemented,
replacing the paper applications, industry will be able to request a copy of the application. PHIS is designed to
generate a paper copy of FSIS form 9540-1 (or an electronic image).
7. Will the Canada exporter no longer provide the 9540-1 to the import inspector 72 hours in advance, typically
requiring FedEx overnight delivery?
The Canada exporter will no longer submit FSIS Form 9540-1 to the FSIS import inspector 72 hours in advance of the
shipment. Advance notification will be when the importer files entry with CBP through ACE and the
entry/entry summary data is transmitted to PHIS. The importer of record or designee is responsible for providing
FSIS Form 9540-1 to the import inspector.
8. Can the importer send a scanned copy of FSIS Form 9540-1 (import inspection application) directly to the
import inspector?
FSIS will accept an electronic copy of the FSIS Form 9540-1.
9. On the draft FSIS Form 9540-1, are we expected to complete each block individually?
Yes, FSIS expects each lot certified on the official inspection certificate to be included on the application.
However, the revised application will not be used until Customs and Border Protection (CBP) implements the PGA
Message Set, which will provide the ability for FSIS specific data to be collected through ACE. At that time,
brokers filing through ACE will no longer use a paper application, as the data will transmit electronically
directly into PHIS. FSIS will notify stakeholders in advance of the PGA Message Set implementation, which is
estimated sometime in fall 2012.
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COMMUNICATION AND STANDARDIZED MESSAGING
10. What is the timeframe of messaging coming from CBP into PHIS? Is that real-time or batched?
FSIS will pull the information from ACE into PHIS at a frequency that will ensure that FSIS inspection personnel
will be able to retrieve data in a timely manner to alleviate delays.
11. In terms of any messages that come from the PHIS itself, are they standardized messages?
There will be standardized messages from PHIS to the importer (or agent) identified on FSIS Form 9540-1 for such
things as failures to present (FTP) warnings, FTP notifications and refused entry notifications as well as
"free text" e-mail exchanges from the import inspector for such things as questions or needed corrections
to FSIS Form 9540-1.
12. If PHIS uses e-mail communication between FSIS and the importer (agent), is it one e-mail or can it be multiple
e-mails in the e-mail address block?
Until two-way capability become available in ACE, PHIS is designed to accommodate an electronic exchange of
communication between the FSIS import inspector and the importer (or agent). FSIS expects a single point of
contact for this electronic exchange to resolve any issues with the application (FSIS Form 9540-1) or to resolve
issues with the shipment itself.
13. Is there a timeframe for status message that will be going from PHIS to ACE?
The two-way communication between FSIS and the importer (or agent) through ACE is on CBP's timetable. Additional
details will be forthcoming at a later time.
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FAILURES TO PRESENT
14. Will the process for failures to present stay the same starting on May 29?
With the entry data transmitting directly to PHIS, FSIS will be aware of the shipment's entry with CBP and the
estimated date of arrival of that shipment at the official import inspection establishment. This additional
information will enable better tracking and enforcement, which should minimize the number of failures to present.
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FOREIGN INSPECTION CERTIFICATES
15. Currently, there are FSIS Form 9540-1s that are submitted and do not match inspection certificates.
With everything being submitted to PHIS, how is that handled in terms of inspection purposes?
Discrepancies between FSIS Form 9540-1 and the foreign inspection certificate must be rectified by the importer
(or agent) before FSIS reinspection takes place just as it is currently. PHIS allows this process to take place
electronically between the importer (or agent) and the FSIS import inspector. FSIS requires product to be presented
for reinspection in lots certified on the foreign inspection certificate. Importers (or agents) are expected to
correlate the lotting of product with the exporting establishment in the foreign country in advance of the foreign
government certifying the shipment.
16. Currently, there are entries filed with multiple custom entry numbers that do not align with the lots
identified on the foreign inspection certificate. How are these going to be handled by PHIS?
FSIS is researching this issue with CBP and will be posting a response soon.
17. If we need certificate guarantees, how will that be processed?
When PHIS implements on May 29, FSIS will no longer accept the foreign government's guarantee to replace the
non-compliant inspection certificate. FSIS will require replacement certificates in order to continue with the
reinspection of the shipment. For countries that have a government-to-government electronic certification exchange
in PHIS, replacement certificates are issued through that process. For countries that do not have electronic
certification, FSIS will accept replacement certificates in alternative format, such as a facsimile or through
e-mail (e.g. digital image) from the foreign government to the import inspector.
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EGG PRODUCTS
18. Will PHIS affect current jurisdiction of egg products standards (e.g. U.S. Food and Drug Administration versus FSIS)?
There will be no changes in the jurisdiction of egg products.
19. How will egg products import procedures be affected by PHIS?
When the Public Health Information System (PHIS) is implemented on May 29, the FSIS Form 5200-8 Import Request
Egg Products will be replaced with the current FSIS Form 9540-1 Import Inspection Application. This form will be
used for all imported shipments of meat, poultry and egg products. Canadian exporters will no longer be responsible
for providing FSIS with advance notification. This notification will occur when the importer (or their designated
agent) files entry with CBP, provided this entry is made through ACE. ACE will transmit data to PHIS, including the
Customs Entry Number (CEN), Bill of Lading (BOL) number and the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) number, which will
provide FSIS with advance notice of the egg products shipment. PHIS Import implementation interim procedures
require the importer to continue to submit FSIS Form 9540-1 to FSIS no later than when filing entry with CBP.
FSIS will complete the data entry for the shipment prior to generating the inspection assignments. By submitting
FSIS Form 9540-1 and the inspection certificate to the import inspector when the Customs entry is filed but
prior to shipment arrival at the import inspection establishment, FSIS can pre-enter data to avoid
unnecessary shipment delays.
Specific to egg products:
All pasteurized egg products must stop at an official import inspection establishment. The importer
must provide FSIS Form 9540-1 and the foreign inspection certificate (with microbiological testing results) to
the import inspector for data entry into PHIS. FSIS reinspection will occur at the official import inspection
establishment or the establishment/plant designated on the FSIS Form 9540-1. Following reinspection at an official
import inspection establishment, pasteurized egg products may also proceed to end user facilities.
Non-pasteurized egg products are not required to stop at an official import inspection establishment.
Non-pasteurized egg products must proceed directly to an official egg plant in the United States.
PHIS Import implementation interim procedures require the importer to continue to submit, when the Customs
entry is filed but prior to shipment arrival, (e-mail or fax) the FSIS Form 9540-1 and the foreign inspection
certificate for non-pasteurized egg products to FSIS, OIA, IID Headquarters for reinspection assignment
in PHIS. FSIS reinspection will occur at the official egg plant designated on the FSIS Form 9540-1.
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Last Modified: May 18, 2011
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