CBP Updates List of Fruits/Vegetables Eligible for NARP (5 Fruits/Vegetables from Certain Countries Removed)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted an updated version of its National Agriculture Release Program (NARP) commodities list. NARP provides a methodology for evaluating high-volume agriculture imports that are low-risk for the introduction of plant pests and plant diseases into the U.S.
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CBP's list contains fresh fruit and vegetable commodities from specific countries that meet the requirements for inclusion in NARP and the frozen or semi-processed fruits and vegetables that are currently approved for NARP. Among other things, these commodities may be inspected at reduced rates.
CBP's list has been updated to remove certain fresh fruit and vegetable commodities from specific countries from the list.
Five Fruits/Vegetables from Certain Countries Removed from NARP List
CBP's updated list reflects the removal of the following from the fresh fruit and vegetable NARP commodity list:
| Dominican Republic | Avocado | Persea americana |
| Dominican Republic | Pepper | Capsicum sp. |
| Mexico | Celery | Apium sp.* |
| Mexico | Prickly pear pad (nopales) | Opuntia sp. |
| Mexico | Tomatillo (husk tomato) | Physalis ixocarpa |
*Celery from Mexico was previously temporarily suspended from NARP.
The Trade May Request That a Commodity be Added to the NARP List
According to CBP's NARP frequently asked questions document, 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, and the common and scientific name(s) of the fresh, frozen, processed fruit(s) and vegetable(s). CBP Headquarters and the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) must approve the request.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 04/24/07 news, 07042415, for BP summary of the NARP commodity list being updated in April 2007.)
CBP's list of eligible fruits and vegetables (posted 01/14/09), NARP FAQ document (dated 01/08/07), and NARP informational notice available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/port_activities/agro_inspection/narp/napr.xml
BP Note
According to CBP's NARP informational notice, NARP began prior to the creation of CBP as the Border Cargo Release (BCR) program on the southern border. BCR expedited the entry of high-volume, low-risk commodities entering from Mexico. NARP expands the BCR program to include some agricultural commodities from Mexico as well as other foreign countries.
According to the NARP FAQs, NARP uses selective criteria to systematically sample, providing greater accuracy in measuring pest risk on regulated agricultural commodities and ensures program integrity. NARP can be rapidly adjusted to changing risk profiles without compromising agriculture quarantine and plant health safeguards.
To be eligible for NARP, commercial shipments in the same inspectional unit (e.g., container, truck, or vessel compartment) must contain a single commodity or a mix of commodities on the approved list for NARP.
Commercial shipments of fresh, frozen, processed and semi-processed fruits and vegetables from specific countries may be eligible for NARP. Provisions for animal products are not included in the program.
Approval to include an agricultural commodity in NARP is determined by the commodity and its country of origin and is applied at ports nationwide.