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Partner Government Agencies (PGA)

Many governmental agencies in the United States have regulatory responsibilities over imports and exports. They work with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which enforces regulations at the border. Collectively they are known as Other Government Agencies (OGA) or Partner Government Agencies (PGA).

PGA refers to the agencies that are part of the Border Interagency Executive Council (BIEC), an advisory board charged with coordinating regulatory efforts between the CBP and various PGAs. See list of PGAs below.

Seal of the United States Environmental Protection Agency

OGA is a broader term that includes Department of Justice (DOJ) agencies such as Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), as well as the PGAs referenced above.

Importing and the PGAs

Importers and their Customs Brokers use CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system to submit required documents to CBP and participating PGAs. ACE allows agencies to access entry information more quickly and be able to exchange information within the trade community.

Some commodities are regulated by more than one PGA and many require permits or additional documentation upon import. Many PGAs have import guides to help importers understand their responsibilities. If a PGA refuses an import shipment, CBP will stop the goods from entering U.S. commerce.

Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) Involved With BIEC

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

  • Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) 
  • Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 
  • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) – Animal Care 
  • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) – Veterinary Services 
  • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) – Biotech’s Regulatory Services 
  • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) – Lacey Act 
  • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) – Plant Protection & Quarantine (PPQ)

U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)

  • Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) 
  • United States Census Bureau (USCB) 
  • Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) 
  • National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) – Highly Migratory Species
  • National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) – Antarctic Marine Living Resource

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
  • Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

U.S. Department of Interior (DOI)

  • Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

 U.S. Department of Treasury (DoT)

  • Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) 

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)