FDA Gives NCBFAA Details on New Filer Evaluation Process for Brokers
The Food and Drug Administration released the new import filer evaluation procedures and some early feedback on the procedures in an Oct. 12 letter to the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America. "The process is now final and is the expected method of conducting filer evaluations by all our field offices," said John Verbeten, director of the FDA's Division of Import Operations. "Of course, with any new program, especially one national in scope, there will be an adjustment period and both FDA and the filing community should be prepared for hiccups; continuing our good communication will be key in getting the program running smoothly." The agency also provided a flow chart of how the evaluations work. The FDA said in September it began the new processes and it planned to provide details to the NCBFAA (see 1809250041).
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The NCBFAA worked closely with the FDA and the agency made some significant changes "due to NCBFAA input," the trade group said. "For the first time, FDA evaluators must differentiate between minor errors and substantive errors," the NCBFAA said. "The new guidelines also recognize the difference between filer errors and importer errors -- a critical distinction that was previously lacking." Still, "we continue to press FDA to develop a more reliable process for determining product codes and to allow an optional company-wide review for brokers who prefer that approach," the association said. Verbeten said in the letter that "at this time, FDA is not conducting corporate wide filer evaluations," but the agency is "willing to discuss this topic further after the implementation" of the new procedures.