(Journal of Commerce Online – R.G.Edmonson)

‘A customs broker is not an importer,’ says industry association

The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America cautioned the Food and Drug Administration to use care in its definition of ‘importer’ under the Food Safety Modernization Act.

April 29 is the deadline for comments on rules to implement the 2010 law, which gives the FDA greater oversight of the import food chain, including registration of foreign producers, and the authority to recall products it considers hazardous.

In a letter Thursday from NCBFAA, President Jeff Coppersmith said the “importer” under the law “must be the party that is actually responsible for the food product,” should have a financial interest in the product, and “be the person who caused the goods to come to the U.S.” Read more here.