"Detention Without Physical Examination of Animal Feed, Animal Feed Ingredients and Other Products for Animal Use Consisting or Containing Ingredients of Animal Origin and Not the Subject of a Valid USDA Import Permit"

On December 7, 2000, USDA/APHIS enacted an immediate prohibition on the importation into the United States of all meat and bone meal (MBM), meat meal, bone meal, blood meal, tankage, offal, or any product containing such, which originated directly from Europe or was rendered/processed in European plants processing animal materials, regardless of species of origin, including poultry and fish meal. This prohibition was deemed necessary by APHIS because of the possibility of cross contamination with the BSE agent.

BSE is the bovine form of a group of uniformly fatal neurological diseases known as TSEs (Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies). BSE appears to be spread in part through feeding of infected material to cattle. At this time, the causative agent is unknown and there is no test for the presence of the agent in animal derived products. There appears to be a link between the bovine TSE, BSE, and a human form of TSE known as vCJD (new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease).

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) regulates the importation of animals and animal-derived materials. More specifically, under 9 CFR 95.4, the USDA does not allow the importation of animal feeds or feed ingredients that contain or consist of processed animal protein (e.g. meat and bone meal) and other animal waste and by product materials that have been derived from animals that have been in specified BSE-affected and BSE-at-risk countries. The USDA may, however, allow for the importation of specific non-ruminant animal-derived products, provided the product is the subject of a valid USDA import permit (VS Form 16-6).

Districts may detain without physical examination shipments of animal feeds (including pet food), animal feed ingredients, and other products for animal use consisting of, or containing, ingredients of animal origin as identified in the Red List from the designated countries if the product is not the subject of a valid USDA import permit (VS Form 16-6).

OASIS Screening Criteria have been loaded to ensure that entries of products that contain or may contain animal protein or by-products will be selected for review by the entry reviewer. As part of the review process, the entry reviewer should contact the filer/importer, request paper entry documents (USDA import permit, VS Form 16-6)), and remind the filer/importer of their requirement to hold the shipment intact pending FDA release. Additionally, the entry reviewer should determine the intended use of the product, the ingredients, and the name and address of the ultimate consignee.

If the filer/importer does not agree to hold the product intact pending FDA release, contact the local office of US Customs and ask that they detain the product.

Products which (from labeling or other documentation) appear to contain animal protein or by-products and which are not the subject of a valid USDA import permit (VS Form 16-6)should either be detained by FDA or recommended to USDA/APHIS for appropriate action. (The location of the APHIS/Plant Protection and Quarantine office can be determined by calling USDA's Veterinary Medical Office.

Products detained and refused under the above reference charge may not be reconditioned or converted to non-FDA regulated use. They must be either destroyed or exported.

Please note that APHIS has received information that shipments of animal-derived products may be offered for entry under descriptions that may be misleading or appear to not be subject to their prohibition, such as fertilizer, adhesive, supplement, nutritional supplement, additive, feed/food additive.

For questions or issues concerning science, science policy, sample collection, analysis, preparation, or analytical methodology, contact the Division of Field Science at (301) 796-6600.

All animal feed (including pet food), animal feed ingredients, and other products for animal use consisting of or containing ingredients of animal origin

"The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(1) in that it appears that such article has been manufactured, processed, or packed under insanitary conditions."

OASIS charge code - MFR INSAN