CSMS Message: 00-000140

TO: ALL ABI/FDA INTERFACE PARTICIPANTS

FROM: FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION
DIVISION OF IMPORT OPERATIONS AND POLICY

IN THE PAST, FDA SCREENED ALL FDA INTERFACE ELECTRONIC ENTRIES WITH
CRITERIA RESIDENT IN CUSTOMS' ACS. FROM THIS SCREENING, EACH ENTRY
RECEIVED EITHER A "FDA REVIEW" OR "FDA MAY PROCEED" MESSAGE. THE FDA
REVIEW ENTRIES WERE PASSED TO THE FDA SYSTEM FOR FURTHER SCREENING AND
DECISIONS. FDA DETERMINED THE CRITERIA IN ACS DID NOT MEET THE
REQUIREMENTS OF ITS ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND A NUMBER OF FOOD
SAFETY AND SPECIAL INITIATIVES.

AS A RESULT, DURING THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS FDA HAS MOVED MOST ENTRY
SCREENING TO ITS OWN PROCESSING SYSTEM. PROCESSING OF "DISCLAIMED"
ENTRIES AND ENTRIES FOR SOME PRODUCTS WILL STILL TAKE PLACE IN ACS.
FOR THOSE ENTRIES REQUIRING PROCESSING ON THE FDA SYSTEM, ACS WILL
SEND THE FILER AN "FDA REVIEW" MESSAGE. FDA'S SCREENING WILL SEND BACK
"FDA MAY PROCEED" MESSAGES ON MANY OF THESE WITHIN MINUTES OF RECEIPT.
THESE MESSAGES WILL BE AT THE ABI LINE LEVEL AS THEY ARE NOW.

WHEN ALL CHANGES ARE IN PLACE AT FDA, FILERS SHOULD RECEIVE A "MAY
PROCEED" RATE SIMILIAR TO THAT GENERATED IN THE PAST THROUGH ACS. FDA
HOPES TO INCREASE THESE MAY PROCEEDS AS THEY ARE BETTER ABLE TO REFINE
THEIR CRITERIA TO ENSURE THEY SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THESE CHANGES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO FDA, DIVISION
OF IMPORT OPERATIONS AND POLICY AT 301-443-6553.