| Title: | DO NOT SEND A FOREIGN-BASED CONSIGNEE IN FDA INTERFACE |
|---|---|
| Date: | 2004-03-23 |
| To: | abi |
| Links: | previous, next |
TO: ALL ABI FILERS OF FDA AND PRIOR NOTICE ENTRIES
FROM: CLIENT REPRESENTATIVE BRANCH
FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION
SUBJECT: DO NOT SEND A FOREIGN-BASED CONSIGNEE IN THE FDA INTERFACE!
SENDING A FOREIGN-BASED CONSIGNEE IN THE FDA INTERFACE HAS CAUSED
SERIOUS PROBLEMS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE INTERFACE IN OCTOBER 1992.
FDA DOES NOT ACCEPT A FOREIGN-BASED CONSIGNEE EVEN THOUGH IT MAY PASS
ABI EDITS. SEVERAL ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGES HAVE BEEN ISSUED OVER THE
YEARS WARNING FILERS OF SERIOUS DELAYS CAUSED BY SENDING A FOREIGN
CONSIGNEE BUT THEY ARE STILL BEING SENT CAUSING FILERS MANY HOURS, IF
NOT DAYS, OF EXTRA WORK TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME
EVEN MORE ACUTE IN FDA PRIOR NOTICE CAUSING DELAYS IN OBTAINING PRIOR
NOTICE CONFIRMATION NUMBERS AND IN REGULAR FDA PROCESSING. WHEN PRIOR
NOTICE MOVES TO THE FINAL PHASE OF FULL ENFORCEMENT SHIPMENTS THAT HAVE
A FOREIGN CONSIGNEE WILL NOT BE RELEASED BY FDA AT THE POINT OF ARRIVAL.
THIS WILL HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR FILERS AND IMPORTERS. THE
SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS SIMPLE:
DO NOT SEND A FOREIGN-BASED CONSIGNEE IN THE FDA INTERFACE !!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS MESSAGE NEEDS TO GO TO EVERY EMPLOYEE IN EVERY FILER'S OFFICE WHO
PREPARES FDA INTERFACE ENTRIES. IT NEEDS TO GO TO YOUR EXPORTERS AND
IMPORTERS. ALL PARTIES MAY NEED TO CHANGE THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICES IN
ORDER TO OBTAIN THIS NUMBER. THE CONSIGNEE NUMBER MUST HAVE A U.S.
ADDRESS. A MORE CUMBERSOME METHOD OF AVOIDING A FDA REJECT IS TO OBTAIN
A FOOD & DRUG ESTABLISHMENT NUMBER (FEI NUMBER) THROUGH ABI BEFORE THE
ENTRY IS SENT AND INCLUDING IT IN THE FDA DATA IF YOU ABSOLUTELY
CANNOT OBTAIN THE U.S. CONSIGNEE NUMBER. SEE THE "OTHER GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES QUERY" SECTION OF THE CATAIR (OGQ-6). THIS IS A MUCH MORE
CUMBERSOME METHOD AND IS NOT RECOMMENDED. AGAIN THE SIMPLE WAY TO
AVOID PROBLEMS IN THIS AREA IS:
DO NOT SEND A FOREIGN-BASED CONSIGNEE IN THE FDA INTERFACE/PRIOR NOTICE!
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ASSIGNED CLIENT
REPRESENTATIVE.
CLIENT REPRESENTATIVE BRANCH
FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION