FDA Tells Northern Border Brokers to Work With Carriers to Ensure Cargo Presented for Exam

The Food and Drug Administration has seen a recent increase in trucks carrying FDA-regulated cargo entering the U.S. from Canada without stopping for FDA examination, the agency’s Division of Northern Border Imports said in a Nov. 27 memorandum to customs brokers. “While we understand communication errors may occasionally occur, it is the collective responsibility of each of the importing parties associated with the entry (customhouse broker and carrier) to become familiar with and follow established procedures for importing FDA regulated entries,” the memo said. “For entries crossing during FDA hours of operation … we strongly encourage carriers to report to FDA for exam and clearance,” it said. Doing so will prevent costly delays, including needing to return the entry for physical examination, FDA said.