CSMS Message: 96-000705

THIS MESSAGE IS THE 90 DAY NOTICE TO FILERS THAT THE FOOD AND
DRUG ADMINSTRATION (FDA) INTERFACE WILL BECOME MANDATORY
FOR ABI FILERS ON 12/02/96. PURSUANT TO CUSTOMS DIRECTIVE,
3530-008, PARTICIPATION REMAINS VOLUNTARY AT ALL EXPANSION
PORTS UNTIL ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST PLANNED EXPANSION PORT
BEGINS OPERATION. ON 09/27/95, CUSTOMS TURNED ON THE LAST PORT
FOR THE FDA INTERFACE. FOR CONVENIENCE, CUSTOMS SELECTED
12/02/96 TO BE THE MANDATORY PARTICIPATION DATE.

FILERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT AS OF 12/02/96, THEY WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO USE ABI FOR CARGO RELEASE, ENTRY SUMMARY, OR ACH FOR
ENTRIES CONTAINING FDA-REGULATED PRODUCTS WITHOUT
TRANSMITTING FDA INFORMATION FOR CARGO RELEASE OR ENTRY
SUMMARY FOR LINE RELEASE ENTRIES. IN ADDITION, CUSTOMS WILL
REVOKE ANY EXISTING LINE RELEASE PERMITS COVERING
FDA-REGULATED PRODUCTS FOR NON-PARTICPATING FILERS AS OF
12/02/96.

IT IS FDA'S POLICY TO GIVE PRIORITY PROCESSING TO ELECTRONIC
ENTRIES TRANSMITTED VIA ACS/ABI/OASIS, AND TO PROCESS MANUAL
ENTRIES AS TIME AND RESOUCES PERMIT. FILERS ARE URGED TO
BEGIN ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF FDA ENTRIES AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE BEFORE 12/02/96.

FOR THE FDA ENHANCEMENT SCHEDULE, REFER TO ADMIN NUMBER
96-0334.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE FDA INTERFACE
MANDATORY DATE, CALL JOE PALMER AT 202-927-0173.