The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reminds importers, brokers, and filers that, beginning on January 25, 2021, they will have to submit an APHIS Core Message Set in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) when they file entry for APHIS-regulated plants, plant products, animal products, or live dog imports.

Although filing the APHIS Core Message Set is not required at this time, APHIS strongly recommends that stakeholders begin using it now. On the APHIS website, stakeholders can view a series of informational webinars that explain the steps for using the APHIS Core Message Set in ACE. The webinars—six in all—cover a wide range of APHIS-regulated products, including fresh fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, animal products, miscellaneous and processed products, seeds not for planting, and plants for planting as well as a general overview of the APHIS Core message set. Click here to view the webinar series.

In addition, we recently posted APHIS Core Message Set Questions and Answers, which covers some of the most commonly asked questions about submitting APHIS Core Message Set.  

For help getting started with the APHIS Core Message Set or to ask questions about submitting import data for a specific product type, please visit our website or send an email to mailto:ace.itds@usda.gov.