CSMS # 67645994 - USDA Agricultural Marketing Service – National Organic Program – New HTS Code Flagging and Filing Reminders

U.S. Customs and Border Protection sent this bulletin at 02/06/2026 04:01 PM EST

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CSMS # 67645994 - USDA Agricultural Marketing Service – National Organic Program – New HTS Code Flagging and Filing Reminders

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) is providing a reminder about import filing requirements in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) for organic entries and new organic HTS codes.

Flagging Update:
On Friday, February 13, 2026, the AMS tariff flag code for the following HTS codes will change from AM7 (may File) to AM8 (must file) – with reject severity:

HTS Codes and Descriptions HTS Codes and Descriptions cont.

Filing Reminders:
The NOP is also encountering two common errors with trade submitted import filing data in ACE for organic shipments.

Filers are submitting organic shipments using non-conforming data in place of NOP Import Certificate (NOP-IC) numbers. For example, filers are entering 10-digit NOP ID numbers for certified operations in supply chains. These 10-digit numbers are not valid NOP-IC numbers and are not shipment-specific.
Filers are submitting organic shipments under the wrong message set in ACE. Use the OR2 message set to enter all 21-character NOP-IC numbers.

Organic shipments that arrive in the United States without a valid NOP-IC number are subject to reexport, donation (with restrictions), or destruction. Organic shipments with non-conforming NOP-IC data may be subject to increased scrutiny or rejected. NOP-IC numbers which contain or are followed by “draft” are not valid for entry.

When filing electronic NOP-IC numbers in ACE, filers must use the OR2 message set. Special codes for American Certified Organic Goods Returned, Non-Retail Samples/Donations, and Personal Goods/e-commerce must also be filed under the OR2 message set.

The OR1 message set is for specific uses. Filers may receive a manually generated non-electronic NOP-IC with a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) code. These NOP-ICs are issued by certifiers during system outages. The COOP code is nine (9) characters including hyphens (e.g., 010-000-C). Filers must use OR1 to file manually generated NOP-ICs and have a copy of the non-electronic NOP-IC with the COOP code available to complete the entry.

For more information about these NOP filing updates and reminders, please contact the NOP at: nop.guidance@usda.gov.

For more information on import requirements for organic products, see: https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/strengthening-organic-enforcement.

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