CBP Sends Out Reminder on New USDA AMS National Organic Program Regulations

New USDA Agricultural Marketing Service National Organic Program requirements are mandatory starting on March 19, CBP said in a CSMS message on March 19. The message reminded the trade public of the USDA Strengthening Organic Enforcement final rule on January 2023 that required electronic National Organic Program import certificates for organic agricultural products (see 2301180051).

The new regulations require that each shipment of organic agricultural products imported into the U.S. must be "associated with" a National Organic Program import certificate issued by "an accredited certifying agent," CBP said. The import certificate will be submitted as part of an ACE entry filing.

Importers of "certified organic shipments" must also be certified under the new rule. Certified exporters or final handlers who want to export "certified organic products" to the U.S. must also get their National Organic Program import certificate.

Certificates may be issued for single or multiple shipments or a specific time frame, CBP said. One certificate is issued per commodity/product or Harmonized Tariff Schedule code, the agency said. When the good arrives, the "accredited certifiers" generate the import certificate that will be provided to the exporter or final handler who will put that into ACE, CBP said.