This week, the National Customs Broker and Freight Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) published a question and answer article with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that contained some general guidance for the trade through the current COVID-19 crisis.
Most importantly, APHIS stated that they have not experienced any impacts to cargo related activities. Pest identification services has moved digitally and the majority of the policy staff is in telework status. Finally, APHIS has informed CBP that the USDA will accept scanned versions of phytosanitary certificates uploaded into DIS while the emergency lasts.
Understanding that the situation is fluid, it is reassuring that the cargo activities are not impacted by the crisis and commercial traffic is ‘business as usual.’