As the government shutdown continues, import shipments regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), seem to have been experiencing delays and limitations.

According to a news update published by the American Association of Exporters and Importers, "Several EPA region offices (regions 4, 5, 7 & 8) are not approving Notices of Arrival (EPA Form 3540-1 for pesticide/FIFRA-regulated products) during the government shutdown." Importers of pesticides need to notify the EPA of arrival, however, the majority of the agency's workers has been furloughed and this process has been delayed.

Additional delays and limitations include the following:

Import

• USDA's website is down but the agency remains open; mail is not being received; notifications or permits for importation are not being reviewed or authorized
• APHIS' management, administrative and oversight employees have been furloughed
• ITC's majority of AD/CVD employees are furloughed; all deadlines for AD/CVD duty proceedings will be extended by the amount of days that the shutdown lasts
• Fish and Wildlife Services' (FWS) website is down; manual forms will need to be submitted to F&W including documents and checks
• FDA is operating with reduced staff. FDA has stated that import operations should be in full operations, however, delays are being reported in select locations
• EPA - Offices are closed; Notices of arrival are not being processed
• Steel License Office is closed. Temporary license number to be used is "STEELX103"
• FCC is closed
• CBP Technicians and Program Managers have been furloughed, which will cause delays in Bonds and Licensing, In-bond Desk, Processing FDA Refusals
• HTSUS website has been turned off
• C-TPAT- Validations will not be processed
• Currency Rates from ABI have been turned on again
• Centers of Excellence and Expertise are open, but National Account Managers have been furloughed
• Client representative offices are closed

Export:

• Census website (including FTR, schedule B) is down
• Websites for the Departments of State (DOS), Treasury and, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) appear operational at this time. The DOS website states that they will operate normally until at least 10/4, however other licensing agencies may currently be affected.

BIS is not accepting:

• Export license applications
• Classification requests (CCATS)
• Encryption reviews
• Encryption registrations
• Advisory opinion requests

The updates by the AAEI can be accessed here

More information on Aphis and permit applications can be accessed here

Information on the Steel Import License and AD/CVD deadline extension can be accessed here