On May 27, 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that they will
streamline the implementation of the prior notice requirements (section
307) of the Bioterrorism Act ("the Act") by allowing food importers to
provide required information on food imports to both agencies using an
integrated process.
Under the Act, importers will soon be required to provide "prior notice"
about the content of their food imports to FDA, starting no later than
December 12, 2003. Since the Act was passed last year, FDA and CBP have
worked together to find ways to modify CBP's Automated Commercial System,
currently used to obtain import information required by Customs. As a
result of this collaboration, importers, in most circumstances, will be
able to provide the required information to FDA using this existing
system, making it easier for them to comply with the new law.
Created on March 1, 2003 as part of the new Department of Homeland
Security, Customs and Border Protection combines all of the agencies with
primary responsibility for the borders, including all 18,000 customs,
immigration, and agriculture inspectors at more than 300 ports of entry
into the United States.
FDA is reviewing the comments submitted on the proposed rule, published on
February 3, 2003, and is preparing a final rule. The Act requires prior
notice for imported food shipments beginning December 12, 2003. FDA
anticipates publishing a final rule in early October.
For a copy of the complete news release go to:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2003/NEW00911.html
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For information on the "prior notice" proposed regulation (Section 307),
as well as three other proposed regulations ("detention," Section 303;
"registration," Section 305; and "records maintenance," Section 306) visit
the FDA's Bioterrorism Act web page at:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/bioterrorism/bioact.html
This site contains the most current information related to The Act and its
implementation.
Note: DECEMBER 12, 2003 is the date that the proposed regulations for
"registration," "prior notice" and "records maintenance" will be
implemented.
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