CBP Requiring Importer Self-Certifications for Seafood Imports to Enforce Russia Ban
CBP is requiring importer self-certifications for imports of salmon, cod, pollock and crab to comply with a Dec. 22 executive order banning imports of those products from Russia (see 2312220007), the agency said in a CSMS message issued late that day.
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Beginning on the executive order’s Dec. 22 effective date, all entry and certified from summary transactions and all foreign-trade zones admissions require a self-certification statement, uploaded to the ACE Document Image System, CBP said. The certification must be on official company letterhead in PDF format, and must contain the statement:
“I certify that any such products in this shipment were not harvested in waters under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation or by Russia-flagged vessels, notwithstanding whether such product has been incorporated or substantially transformed into another product outside of the Russian Federation.”
Only one self-certification will be required per entry, entry summary or FTZ admission, CBP said. The DIS submission should list CBP as the agency code, “other” as the official document name/description, “other” as the document type, “other” as the document label code and “CBP03” as the “DocCode.”
CBP said it will be “issuing additional filing requirements under the EO once the necessary ACE enhancements are deployed,” and that “these requirements will be communicated via subsequent CSMS message.”
DIS submissions also will be required for imports taking advantage of Office of Foreign Assets Control General License 83, which allows imports of certain Russian seafood through Feb. 20 where a written contract is in place. The submission must be accompanied by “purchase orders and/or executed contracts and/or any other documentation showing when the order and/or contract went into effect,” CBP said.
The Biden administration’s Dec. 22 executive order expands an existing ban on Russian seafood and diamonds so that the ban also covers Russia-origin goods that have been processed elsewhere, even if the good has undergone a substantial transformation.