CBP Announces "National Agriculture Release Program" to Expedite Release of Certain High Volume/Low Risk Fruits and Vegetables

Commercial shipments of certain fruits and vegetables from specific countries are eligible for NARP. As the program is based on commodity and commodity origin, CBP states that importers do not have to sign up for this program and that no fees are required.

NARP's Predecessor was BCR on the Southwestern Border

According to CBP, NARP's predecessor program was the Border Cargo Release Program (BCR) on the southwestern border. The purpose of BCR was to inspect high volume/low risk agricultural cargo from Mexico at a reduced rate.

Certain Low Risk/High Volume Fruits & Vegetables from Specific Countries to be Eligible for Inspection at Reduced Rates Under NARP

CBP states that NARP expands the BCR nationally to include specific agriculture commodities - fresh, frozen, processed or semi-processed fruits and/or vegetables - from specific countries, that are considered low risk and that are imported commercially in large volume.

Eligible commercial shipments must contain only a single eligible commodity or mixed eligible commodities in order to be expedited using this program. Shipments in which non-NARP commodities are commingled with NARP commodities are not eligible for the program.

(According to CBP, for NARP purposes, commingling means to ship NARP approved fruits and vegetables in the same inspectional unit - truck trailer, airway bill, or bill of lading - with non-NARP fruits and vegetables. If commingling occurs, inspection will occur using normal protocols.)

CBP states that eligible commercial shipments are inspected at reduced rates based on risk, biological and statistical principles, and systematic sampling to accurately measure pest risk. NARP will allow CBP to expedite trade and adjust to rapidly changing risk profiles without compromising U.S. agriculture.

CBP Issues List of Fruits/Vegetables from Specific Countries Eligible for NARP

CBP has issued a list of fresh fruit and vegetable commodities from specific countries that meet the requirements for inclusion in the program. The eligible country for many of the listed fresh fruits and vegetables is Mexico (but Belize, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Honduras are also listed for certain fresh fruit or vegetables).

CBP also lists the frozen or semi-processed fruits and vegetables that are currently approved for NARP. CBP states that examinations will be conducted to verify that the commodity is frozen or is semi-processed, and to determine the presence of contaminants.

(Some of the listed frozen or semi-processed fruits and vegetables are eligible from all countries.)

The Trade May Request That a Commodity be Added to the NARP List

According to CBP, the trade may request that a commodity be included in the NARP program.

Requests must be made in writing and sent to the local CBP Port Director. The commodity request must include the country of origin, common and scientific name(s) of the fresh, frozen, processed fruit(s) and vegetable(s). CBP Headquarters and USDA's Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) must approve the request.

(CBP notes that animal products are generally not eligible for the program.)

CBP Contact- Agriculture Safeguarding Division (202) 344-3298

CBP announcement, FAQ, and list of eligible fruits and vegetables (posted date of 12/22/06) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/cargo_summary/narp/napr.xml

BP Note

According to CBP sources, NARP is expected to be available nationwide in January 2007, perhaps as soon as this week.