CSMS Message: 15-000331

CBP's maintenance on Saturday June 6, 2015 from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM will result in FDA operating under Prior Notice Contingency Scenario 5, where OASIS, PNSI and the link between ACS and OASIS are operational but ACS is non-operational. If prior notice has already been submitted via ABI/ACS prior to the system outage, and a prior notice confirmation number has been received, the submitter may proceed with prior notice using the standard process. However, if prior notice is submitted via ABI/ACS and a prior notice confirmation number is not received prior to the outage, submitters should provide to CBP officers, at the time of cargo release, an endorsed (signed) copy of the ABI transmission or some other evidence adequate to show that prior notice has been submitted via ABI/ACS.

If prior notice has not already been submitted, ABI filers may decide to wait out the ACS downtime if they determine that the timeliness of prior notice will not be adversely affected. Filers who choose this option should understand that they remain responsible under section 801(m) of the Act and under the prior notice interim final rule for filing timely prior notice. Alternatively, filers may submit prior notice via PNSI, in which case the prior notice confirmation number must accompany the article of food (21 CFR 1.279(g)). If prior notice is submitted through PNSI, FDA and CBP recommend that the PNSI confirmation page, including the prior notice confirmation number and time stamp, be presented to CBP officers for cargo release. If the PNSI confirmation page is not presented, this may delay cargo release while the CBP officer, without being able to access OASIS, contacts FDA for verification of the prior notice confirmation number(s) and time of submission. If you have any questions during this downtime, please contact the FDA's Division of Food Defense Targeting at (866) 521-2297.