USDA APHIS CORE on the Horizon for 2019-2020

At the National Customs Broker’s and Freight Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) national conference this week, a USDA representative stated that the timeline of implementation for the USDA program commonly referred to as “APHIS-CORE” is not yet decided.  APHIS-CORE is the program that will institute mandatory electronic filing of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data elements through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).

APHIS-CORE incorporates the electronic transmission of many data elements currently provided on USDA forms such as import permits, phytosanitary certificates, and health certificates.  There will be a few exceptions for documents that will remain paper and/or required to be uploaded through the CBP Document Imaging System (DIS).  The APHIS CORE PGA Message Set is available online.

The reports suggest that a minimum six (6) month informed compliance period will precede the implementation to allow brokers, importers and the trade community to adapt to the mandatory changes.  There are in excess of 2,000 U.S. Harmonized Tariff System numbers impacted by this program.  The agricultural commodities impacted range from livestock, cut flowers, potted plants, produce, grains, feed to agricultural machinery.

Willson International is continuing to follow this developing situation and new information will be available in upcoming eNews articles.  If you are not currently signed up for eNews, you can do so here.