Section 944.400 - Designated inspection services and procedure for obtaining inspection and certification of imported avocados, grapefruit, kiwifruit, oranges, prune variety plums (fresh prunes), and table grapes regulated under section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended(a) The Federal or Federal-State Inspection Service, Specialty Crops Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, United States Department of Agriculture is hereby designated as the governmental inspection service for the purpose of certifying the grade, size, quality, and maturity of avocados, grapefruit, oranges, prune variety plums (fresh prunes), and table grapes that are imported into the United States. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is also designated as a governmental inspection service for the purpose of certifying grade, size, quality and maturity of prune variety plums (fresh prunes) only. Inspection by the Federal or Federal-State Inspection Service or the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, with appropriate evidence thereof in the form of an official inspection certificate, issued by the respective services, applicable to the particular shipment of the specified fruit, is required on all imports. Inspection and certification by the Federal or Federal-State Inspection Service will be available upon application in accordance with the Regulations Governing Inspection, Certification and Standards for Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, and Other Products ( 7 CFR part 51 ). For further information about Federal or Federal-State inspection services, contact Specialty Crops Inspection Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0240, Washington, DC 20250-0237; telephone (202) 720-5870; fax (202) 720-0393.(b) Inspection certificates shall cover only the quantity of fruit that is being imported at a particular port of entry by a particular importer.(c) The inspection performed, and certificates issued, by the Federal or Federal-State Inspection Service shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department governing the inspection and certification of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other products ( 7 CFR part 51 ). The cost of any inspection and certification shall be borne by the applicant therefor.(d) Each inspection certificate issued with respect to any of the specified fruits to be imported into the United States shall set forth among other things:(1) The name and place of inspection;(2) The name of the shipper, or applicant;(3) The Customs entry number pertaining to the lot or shipment covered by the certificate;(4) The commodity inspected;(5) The quantity of the commodity covered by the certificate;(6) The principal identifying marks on the container;(7) The railroad car initials and number, the truck and the trailer license number, the name of the vessel, the name of the air carrier, or other identification of the shipment; and(8) The following statement if the facts warrant: Meets U.S. import requirements under section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended.
7 C.F.R. §944.400
48 FR 44459, Sept. 29, 1983, as amended at 56 FR 10504, Mar. 13, 1991; 61 FR 40958, Aug. 7, 1996; 68 FR 10347, Mar. 5, 2003; 74 FR 2808, Jan. 16, 2009; 85 FR 12994, Mar. 6, 2020 85 FR 12994, 9/2/2020