OIRSA Regional Organization for Plant and Animal Health.

Copies can be obtained at BAHA offices countrywide

• Need to register with FDA before 12 December 2003
• Submission of Prior Notice for all food being exported to the United States on the 12 December 2003 and thereafter.
• The need to comply with Record Keeping and Maintenance in the event that FDA requires information on any product that has been exported to the US.

• Failure to register with FDA will result in consignments not being allowed entry into the United States.
• Failure to comply with the Bioterrorism Act will be classified as a federal offense by the USA.

• It is free to register online with FDA.

Owners, operators, or agents in charge of domestic or foreign facilities that

• Manufacture
• Process
• Pack
• Hold or store food for human or animal consumption in the US.

• ·Registration with FDA can be done online at the following website: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~furls/ovffreg.html

• Any facility not located in any of the States or territories of the United States of America, in the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

• Before 12 December 2003.

• US Resident FDA Agent (any person: an individual, partnership, corporation or association, that resides or maintains a place of business in the United States of America and is physically present in the USA)
• Fill in the form with accurate information.

• All fruits and vegetables
• Fish and Seafood
• Dairy products and shell eggs
• Raw agricultural commodities for use as food or components of food
• Live food animals
• Infant formula
• Bakery goods, snack food, candy and chewing gum
• Canned and frozen foods
• Beverages (including alcoholic beverages and bottled water)
• Animal feeds and pet food
• Food packaging
• Additives such as colour, preservatives and flavours
• Dietary supplements and dietary ingredients

• Bulk shipments of chicken and beef or commodities regulated strictly by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

• All foreign facilities that manufacture, store, hold or transport food

• Non-profit establishments
• Retailers
• Farms
• Restaurants
• Fishing vessels, except those that engage in processing as defined in FDA's seafood HACCP regulations (21 CFR 123.3(k))
• Facilities regulated exclusively throughout the entire facility, by the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA): who regulates meat products, poultry products, and egg products

• Five (5) days or eight (8) hours before the consignment arrives in the United States of America, since it comes into effect on the 12 December 2003
• Except for food arriving by international mail, prior notice cannot be submitted more than five (5) days before arrival
  • ARRIVAL BY LAND via ROAD: prior notice must be given no less than two (2) hours before the food arrives at the port of arrival
  • ARRIVAL BY AIR and LAND via rail: prior notice must be given no less than four (4) hours before the food arrives at the port of arrival.
  • ARRIVAL BY WATER: prior notice must be given no less than eight (8) hours before the food arrives at the port of arrival.
  • FOOD CARRIED BY OR ACCOMPANYING AN INDIVIDUAL: time is based on manner of transportation.
  • FOOD ARRIVING BY INTERNATIONAL MAIL: the prior notice must be submitted before the food is mail.

• Prior notice will be implemented on 7th December 2003 due to the fact that Registration becomes effective on 12th December 2003.

• Receipt:
  • E-mail/Fax
• Review:
  • Central location (not FDA districts), 24 hours/day/seven days a week; separate from and occur prior to [801(a) admissibility review
• Response:
  • Prior Notice review will determine what shipments require a response at the border. Response will be accomplished by either FDA or CBP
  • Response may consist of cargo examination/verification, sample collection, direction of shipment to a secure facility or storage of the port of arrival or port of entry if prior notice is inadequate.

• Yes.

• International mail is any foreign national mail services, which does not include express carriers, express consignment operators, or to the private delivery services.

• Anticipated port, date, and time of arrival
• Importer, owner, or ultimate consignee
• Mode of transport
• Carrier and planned shipment information
• HTS Code
• Date of shipment
• US recipient

• NO. It simply means that your information was received by FDA.

• All exporters of food that will be entering the United States of America on the 12 December 2003 and thereafter.

• It is recommended that it be done electronically.

• Every consignment entering the United States of America must be notified to FDA eight (8) hours or five (5) days before the shipment arrives. Ensure that the prior notice is adhered to as stipulated above.

• Scroll down and view list of contacts below.

daobelize@btl.net, GRamirez@belizeweb.com