The USA's "Public Health Security and Bio-terrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002," (also known as the bio-terrorism Act or BTA) includes provisions designed to protect the United States against bio-terrorist threats to its food supply including food from foreign sources.
As a result, US Customs can return or abandon all shipments that do not comply with all required provisions. The US government will enforce all fines/penalties described for non-compliance.This law has two major provisions impacting DHL Express Customers:- Registration of Facilities: The FDA will require that domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for human or animal consumption in the United States register with the FDA. US based farms, retail facilities, restaurants and non-profit food facilities in which food is prepared for or served directly to the consumer are exempt from these requirements.
- Prior Notice of Importation of Food: The FDA will require that US purchasers or US importers or their agents submit to the FDA prior notice on the importation of food. Prior notice must be submitted no less than four hours before flight arrival but may not be submitted more than five days prior to shipment arrival.
Registration and Prior Notice has a significant impact on the trading community. This document aims to provide an overview of the relevant provisions that may impact on you as customers of DHL Express.
Further guidance on the relevant requirements and the assistance that DHL can provide is available through your local DHL office. Further details on the Act and the Notices of Proposed Rulemaking are available on the
FDA Website
.
Should you have any questions regarding this change, please do not hesitate to contact your local DHL Office. Additionally, please find an enclosed list of questions and answers which may also be of assistance.