Have any of you had to deal with the new "Prior Notice of Imported Foods" regulation being imposed by the FDA.
The regulation is still open for comment by the public. Some of you adventurous Tax Payers who order foodstuffs from abroad may want to leave a comment!
Simply placing an order for tea from another country now requires that this form be submitted by either the sender or the receiver. Having just registered on the FDA site and submitted one of these things I have found it to be a major pain in the A**. They want to know details like what ship is it coming in on, what day will it arrive, what port city is it coming into, etc.
"What information must be included in the prior notice? The prior notice must be submitted electronically and contain the following information:
Identification of the submitter, including name, telephone and fax numbers, email address, and firm name and address Identification of the transmitter (if different from the submitter), including name, telephone and fax numbers, email address, and firm name and address Entry type and CBP identifier The identification of the article of food, including complete FDA product code, the common or usual name or market name, the estimated quantity described from the smallest package size to the largest container, and the lot or code numbers or other identifier (if applicable) The identification of the manufacturer The identification of the grower, if known The FDA Country of Production The identification of the shipper, except for food imported by international mail The country from which the article of food is shipped or, if the food is imported by international mail, the anticipated date of mailing and country from which the food is mailed The anticipated arrival information (location, date, and time) or, if the food is imported by international mail, the U.S. recipient (name and address) The identification of the importer, owner, and ultimate consignee, except for food imported by international mail or transshipped through the United States The identification of the carrier and mode of transportation, except for food imported by international mail Planned shipment information, except for food imported by international mail "
Now imagine you are sending a box of cookies to China, you wrap it up and send it via UPS or Fedex (which is NOT considered International Mail). Now China asks you which port it will arrive in, what day it will arrive, and ship it is coming in on. Do you really think UPS or Fedex will give that information.
The FDA is going over the edge here. It is my understanding that they have the right to return the package if this document has not been submitted. "Food that is imported or offered for import with inadequate prior notice is subject to refusal and holding at the port or in secure storage."
Mike Petro snipped-for-privacy@pu-erh.net