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Let the Tea Association be your Agent.
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MESSAGE TO THE INDUSTRY
FROM: Peter F. Goggi, President
RE: Important News about Importing Tea into the United States
Dear Tea Industry Executives:
Effective December 12, 2003, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) will require all foreign companies that are involved with the exportation of tea to the United States to designate a U.S. Agent to represent them. The purpose of this designation is to ensure timely communications in the event of an emergency.
Any company seeking to import tea into the country after December 12, 2003, without having first designated a U.S. Agent, will be denied entry. Also, additional costs will be incurred to move the tea to a secure location for storage as well as the possibility of other penalties being assessed on the importer by the FDA.
To help you comply with the law, the Tea Association of the USA is willing to act as your Agent. We invite you to review the accompanying documents and to register your company as soon as possible. Complete details for doing so are included in the document posted below entitled: "Ensuring the Safety of the Nation's Food Supply".
We recommend electronic registration at the FDA's website, http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~furls/ovffreg.html. You will have to fill in all the FDA's questions, including the designation of the Tea Association of the USA as your Agent. You would then provide the Tea Association with sponsorship information as well as the name(s) and contact information whereby your company's designated contact(s) may be reached at any time 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please keep in mind that it is necessary to send the required fee. Upon completion, both you and the Tea Association will receive an automatic reply from the FDA with your registration number.
Ensuring the Safety and Security of the Nation’s Food Supply - Bioterrorism Act