Meeting/Event Information

*Join us as we have our first in person meeting of 2021*

This meeting is free of charge but we ask that you register online so we can plan for meals.  

APHIS Core

Our guest speaker Richard Leshin, APHIS Coordinator for ACE/ITDS, Management and Program analyst USDA, APHIS, PPQ will be joining our live meeting via a live broadcast Webinar focusing on APHIS Core message set updates, and a walkthourgh of the many resources APHIS has to offer to assist in the filing of the APHIS Core message set. 

APHIS is responsible, in part, for ensuring the free flow of agricultural trade by keeping U.S. agricultural industries free from pests and diseases. The range of commodities subject to APHIS-Core import requirements is very broad, covering plants and plant products, seeds, animal products and miscellaneous processed products. Some of the commodities are obvious: plants for planting, seeds, cut flowers or live dogs. Others are not so obvious (certain straw hats, used farm equipment, feathers for stuffing, or certain gelatin products, for example) and will require diligence on the part of brokers and importers to determine when the APHIS-Core Message Set is required in ACE.

The Harmonized Tariff Schedule flags (AQ-1 or AQ-2) over 2000 subheadings that contain or may contain APHIS-Core regulated products. For AQ-1 flagged products, where the APHIS-Core PGA Message Set may or may not be required, the general rule is: if a license, permit, certificate or other (LPCO) document is required, then a PGA Message set must be filed in ACE. If no LPCO is required by APHIS, then a disclaim is filed. Often, this may depend upon the country where the product originated or the particular material or ingredients used to produce the product.

This means you will need to have an understanding of APHIS requirements so you can determine whether to file a disclaim or a PGA Message Set. Following are resources on APHIS’ website that will help you in this effort.

"Comment from the RAC: APHIS-Core is one of the most challenging PGA Message Sets for brokers. Up until now, most brokers were not part of the APHIS-Core related information flow, since APHIS-Core documents were in paper form and passed on to CBP-Ag by the carrier. Adding to the complexity, many of the data elements are unfamiliar to brokers - such as the genus and species. So, it is tough, but stay with it. It will eventually make sense."

***Before clicking register, please note the following when registering for multiple attendees****

If you are a member company and will be taking two additional guests from your own company, please add the total number of guests (3) to the ticket field and click add. This will open a box where you can enter the seperate names for each attendee. If you are a member and wish to take 2 guests from a non member company, add the number of tickets to each field ("1" Member ticket) and click add and it will add that single member ticket and then select "2 HCBFFA Non Member" tickets and click add and it will open the screen to type additional names of guests.