CCS - Certified Customs Specialist Partner Government Agency Regulations Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An importer is bringing in a commercial shipment of canned tuna for retail sale. In addition to standard CBP entry data, what specific Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirement must be fulfilled *before* the shipment arrives at the U.S. port of entry?
- The foreign facility must renew its biennial Food Facility Registration.
- A Certificate of Free Sale must be submitted for the product.
- Prior Notice (PN) must be electronically filed with the FDA. (Correct answer)
- A USDA import permit for fish products must be obtained.
Correct answer: Prior Notice (PN) must be electronically filed with the FDA.
The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 requires that the FDA receive prior notice of food imported or offered for import into the United States. This notice must be submitted electronically within specific timeframes before the food arrives at the port. While the facility must be registered, this is a separate requirement from the per-shipment Prior Notice.
Question 2: A U.S. company is importing a batch of children's bicycles. To comply with Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations, what key document must the importer of record issue and provide upon request?
- A General Certificate of Conformity (GCC)
- A Children's Product Certificate (CPC) (Correct answer)
- A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
- An NHTSA Declaration Form HS-7
Correct answer: A Children's Product Certificate (CPC)
For products designed or intended primarily for children 12 years of age or younger, the U.S. importer is required to issue a Children's Product Certificate (CPC). This document certifies that the product complies with all applicable CPSC-enforced children's product safety rules based on testing from a CPSC-accepted laboratory.
Question 3: A shipment of machine parts packed in a solid wood crate arrives from a foreign country. Upon inspection, CBP and APHIS determine that the wood packing material (WPM) does not bear the required ISPM 15 mark indicating it has been properly treated. What is the most likely enforcement action?
- The shipment will be fumigated at the port of entry at the importer's expense.
- The importer will be allowed to unpack the goods and destroy the non-compliant crate.
- A monetary penalty will be issued, and the cargo will be released.
- The entire shipment will be ordered for immediate re-exportation from the United States. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The entire shipment will be ordered for immediate re-exportation from the United States.
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has a strict policy for non-compliant Wood Packing Material (WPM) to prevent the introduction of timber pests. When WPM is found to be non-compliant, the standard procedure is to order the entire shipment to be immediately exported from the U.S. territory.
Question 4: When importing a non-conforming motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old, which agency's regulations provide an exemption allowing for its lawful importation into the United States?
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (Correct answer)
- Department of Commerce (DOC)
Correct answer: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulates vehicle safety standards. A motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old is exempt from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Importers must still file a DOT Form HS-7, declaring the vehicle's eligibility for importation under this age exemption.
Question 5: Which of the following scenarios would require the filing of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Declaration for Importation or Exportation of Fish or Wildlife (Form 3-177)?
- Importing a shipment of leather shoes made from cowhide.
- Importing a commercial shipment of frozen tilapia fillets. (Correct answer)
- Importing a wool sweater made from sheep's wool.
- Importing a wooden chair with a small amount of shell inlay.
Correct answer: Importing a commercial shipment of frozen tilapia fillets.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) requires a declaration for virtually all commercial importations of fish and wildlife, including parts and products. Frozen tilapia fillets are a fish product requiring this declaration. Common domestic animal products like cowhide and sheep's wool are generally exempt, as are products containing minimal amounts of certain wildlife components (de minimis exception), like a small shell inlay on furniture.
Question 6: An importer is bringing in a shipment of industrial cleaning chemicals. To comply with the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), administered by the EPA, what must the importer certify at the time of entry?
- That all ingredients are listed on the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP).
- That the shipment is either compliant with TSCA or is not subject to TSCA. (Correct answer)
- That the manufacturer holds a valid ISO 9001 certification.
- That the chemicals are not considered hazardous materials by the Department of Transportation.
Correct answer: That the shipment is either compliant with TSCA or is not subject to TSCA.
At the time of importation, the importer must certify that the chemical shipment is either in compliance with all applicable rules under TSCA (a 'positive certification') or that the chemicals are not subject to TSCA (a 'negative certification'). This is a mandatory electronic declaration for chemical imports.
CCS - Certified Customs Specialist Partner Government Agency Regulations Questions and Answers 1
An importer is bringing in a commercial shipment of canned tuna for retail sale.
In addition to standard CBP entry data, what specific Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirement must be fulfilled *before* the shipment arrives at the U.S. port of entry?