What is the importing process?
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has primary responsibility for regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. trade laws. Information must be filed with CBP for all goods imported or offered for importation into the United States. This information, presented in an “entry notice,” must be filed with CBP by the importer of record. Frequently, a Customs broker files entry on behalf of the importer of record. The person presenting entry information to CBP is known as the “filer.” When submitting an entry notification, a filer will determine the appropriate tariff code for the product being offered for importation. CBP uses the tariff code, in part, to determine if other government agencies also need to make an admissibility determination. However, a tariff code may cover a wide range of products and may include products that are not subject to FDA jurisdiction. When this is the case, filers are usually given the option of “disclai
