All shipments arriving in the U.S. require clearance from U.S. Customs prior to release from the port, airport, or terminal. To alleviate potential transport and customs clearance problems and to ensure your exhibit is delivered on time, SFA has partnered with Phoenix International Business Logistics, Inc. (PIBL) as the Official International Freight Forwarder / U.S. Customs Broker and with The Radius Group, Inc. (TRGI) as the Official Foreign Supply Verification Program (FSVP) Importer. 

In order for PIBL to affect customs clearance on your behalf, you must identify the importer of record under which PIBL can prepare the customs entry. This importer of record can either be a U.S. resident company or an overseas non-resident company. 

Importer and Customs deadlines are as follows:

March 14:

• Take Advantage of a 40% discount on Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) services by contacting The Radius Group Inc. (TRGI) to begin the FSVP process. 

April 10:

• Provide proforma commercial invoice of all Meat, Cheese, Poultry Eggs, Produce, and Alcohol to Phoenix International Business Logistics (PIBL) for review and approval to export. 
• Notify PIBL of temperature controlled/perishable shipments by emailing proforma commercial invoice for review and approval. 
• Notify PIBL or PIBL overseas agent of any Intended Sea Freight (ISF) shipment and ETA. Email documents for review and approval. ISF Form must be completed and provided to PIBL 72 hours prior to export of sea freight shipments.

April 15:

• Take advantage of a 20% discount on FSVP services by contacting The Radius Group, Inc. (TRGI) to begin the FSVP process.  
• Deadline for exhibitors to email commercial invoices to PIBL

April 24:

• Deadline for emailing PIBL commercial invoice for Exhibitors intending to ship and exhibitor Alcohol.

May 1:

• Deadline for requesting FSVP services. Exhibitors looking to appoint TRGI as their FSVP Importer after May 1st may find that there is not sufficient time for the evaluation and verification efforts required to verify that the imported food meets U.S. food safety standards. 
• Notify PIBL or PIBL agent of any intended airfreight shipment and ETA. Email documents for review and approval. 
• Deadline for exhibitors to apply to TRGI for FDA Facility Registration services.

Questions about Freight Forwarding and U.S. Customs should be directed to Phil Hobson ([email protected] or +1 (908) 355-8900) 

Questions about the Foreign Supply Verification Program should be directed to The Radius Group Inc. ([email protected] or call +1 (201) 400-6616)