CBP Warns of Possible Problems Following Oakland Fumigation Facility Closure

The CBP Port of San Francisco warned the trade of potential difficulties following the "imminent shutdown of the only remaining fumigation facility in the Oakland area." CBP recently received word of the coming closure from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, it said in an information notice. The operator of the facility has decided to decrease and eventually stop all fumigations at the site, said CBP. "Containerized cargo entering the port containing commodities requiring mandatory fumigation will be adversely affected when the existing fumigation facility begins to scale down and eventually cease operations," said CBP. "As a result, arriving legitimate cargo requiring USDA mitigation (fumigation) may be refused entry and require re-exportation or destruction. "While there is no "firm date" for the closure, CBP and USDA will keep the trade apprised of developments, said CBP.