APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) and the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will expand the Risk-Based Sampling at Ports of Entry (RBS POE) program to include new varieties of lettuce arriving at select U.S. ports of entry starting the week of March 31, 2025.
The goals of RBS POE are to reduce inspections on entities importing commodities that comply with current pest and disease regulations and to provide incentives for producers to improve the quality of their goods.
The updated list of RBS POE-eligible commodities includes head lettuce (also known as iceberg), romaine, butterhead, red and green leaf, and other lettuce varieties transported by truck across the southern border from Mexico.
The inclusion of specific lettuce varieties in RBS POE will enable a more consistent application of the program's inspection protocols.
Although this update does not change the entry process or requirements, PPQ and CBP recommend that trade entities file entry as early in the arrival process as possible and include APHIS Core Message Set data to ensure their shipments are processed according to RBS POE procedures.
For more information:
USDA - APHIS
Tel: +1 844 820 2234
Email: PPQ.RBS@USDA.GOV
www.aphis.usda.gov