AGRA-Services Brokerage Co., Inc.
221-20 147th Ave.
Jamaica, NY 11413

Phone: 718-527-0560
Fax: 718-723-8645

Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism
(C-TPAT) Program

Customs has recently implemented a new business initiative. The program is currently available to importers and will be expanded to include carriers and brokers. The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, or C-TPAT, is a voluntary program designed to increase border security. It involves a self-assessment of security measures from manufacture through delivery to insure security along the entire supply chain. Participants in C-TPAT have been promised a reduced number of inspections, an assigned Customs account manager to handle questions on a more personalized and, presumably, expedited basis, eligibility for account based processes (bimonthly/monthly payments) and an emphasis on self policing in place of Customs verifications.

Participation requires submission of a written agreement and "supply chain" questionnaire. These materials are available at U.S. Customs' web site. Upon review, Customs will provide participants with an analysis of security measures in place and recommendations as to potential improvements.

As mentioned, the plan is currently voluntary, however, we believe it will ultimately become mandatory in one form or another. Importers participating at this early stage will have more input in how the plan shapes up. For additional information call Frank or Howard at 718-527-0560

The 24 hour rule
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Customs and more

FDA Prior Notice Filing
Full enforcement of the Bioterrorism more

Agra-Services Secures U.S. Customs C-TPAT
JAMAICA, N.Y., Aug 18, 2003 -- more

For more information call Frank at 718-527-0560

Date: Monday, May 10, 2004
Subject: FDA Prior Notice Filing
To: All Clients
From: Howard Berman; Vice President - CFO

Please note Thursday May 13, 2004 FDA will remove the grace period for failing to file prior notice for cargo entering into the United States. FDA requires prior notice at least four hours prior to aircraft landing on all air shipments.

FDA requires prior notice at least 24 hours prior to steamship docking on all ocean shipments.

The only proof of obtaining prior notice from the FDA is the 12 digit FDA Prior Notice Certification number issued directly by FDA. Currently Agra-Services Brokerage Co, Inc. obtains this number during the normal processing of Customs Entries. Should our office not transmit arrival information for cargo and your office has not obtained an FDA Prior Notice Certification number directly, FDA has the right to hold your cargo at the port of entry. There are several reasons why our office may not transmit the FDA prior notice information within the required time frame. Some of these reasons are listed below, but they are not limited to:

All information necessary to transmit the Customs part of the entry was not provided to our office.

Authority to make Customs entry has not been given to us by the importer.

The ABI (Automated Brokerage Interface) system with Customs is down (either on our side or Customs side.)

The shipper or client is over their credit limit, which prevents our system from processing the Customs Entry. It is important for customers, importers, and shippers to understand the FDA prior notice obtained by our office may not occur within the time frame as required by FDA. Therefore it is suggested that each shipping company, and importing company set up a system within their organization to assure that Prior Notice requirements for FDA are complied with. Agra-Services Brokerage Co, Inc., it’s employees, and agents will not be held responsible or liable if shipments do not have prior notice confirmations. Specific arrangements must be made with our office in the form of a signed FDA Prior Notice Agreement. This agreement is a contract between our firms that stipulates our agreement to undertake the responsibility for processing FDA prior notice on your shipments. Additional information regarding FDA prior notice can be obtained directly from FDA’s web site at: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~pn/pnoview.html

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