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Completion of the Notice of Arrival Form for Use in the U.S. Own Use Import (OUI) Program
To import any pesticide product into the United States it is necessary to complete a Notice of Arrival (NOA) (PDF) (2 pp, 877 K, About PDF) form, which includes obtaining the signature of the EPA regional office with jurisdiction over the state in which the Port of Entry is located. Note that these directions are different from those provided in the section on NAFTA labels that concerns importation of NAFTA labeled pesticide products.
Step 1: Determine if the product you wish to purchase is currently available through the program. See section, “Products in the U.S. OUI Program and Where They Are Available for Sale in Canada.” Record the following information:
- EPA Registration Number
- Brand Name of Product
- Major Active Ingredients and Percentage of Each
- Unit Size
Step 2: Determine where the product you wish to purchase is available in Canada. Record the following information:
- EPA Producer Establishment Number
- Name and Street Address of Canadian Retailer
Step 3 : Complete of the Notice of Arrival Form
- In order to import pesticide products into the United States you must complete a NOA (EPA Form 3540-1 (PDF) (2 pp, 877K, About PDF).) This one-page form may be completed online and printed.
- The general directions for completing the form are provided on the back of the form; however, for use in the OUI Program you should follow the detailed instructions below.
- Part I must be completed by the person who will be bringing the product across the border. The responses in Blocks #2, #17 (should say see #2), #19, and #20 will be the same, since the program is for import for the grower’s own use. Block #2 should include the grower’s name and his or her farm’s physical location, NOT a P.O. Box.
- Block #1 should say NA unless the grower plans to use a customs broker to facilitate the import at the border. In no case should an agent be used for the OUI Program.
- Block #3 should be the name and street address of the Canadian retailer where the product will be purchased (information obtained in Step 2).
- Blocks #4, #5, #6, #7, #8 should be filled in with the information obtained in Steps 1 and 2. Note block #7 should be filled in despite the fact that the directions on the form say it can be left blank.
- Block #9 is the number of units you will be purchasing.
- Block #10 is the Total Net Weight of the entire purchase.
- Block #11 should say “Canada.”
- Block #12 should be the port where you will cross the border to return to the United States
- Block #13 should be filled in with the name of the trucking company if you are using the services of a trucking company to transport the product.
- Blocks #14 and #15 should be left blank and filled in at the time of the border crossing.
- Block #16 should say NA.
- Block #18 should say U.S. OUI Program.
- After completion of Part I, the form should be sent to the appropriate EPA regional office (of the region having jurisdiction over the state in which the Port of Entry is located). The regional offices are listed on the back of the form.
- The Region completes Part II; it retains a copy and returns the form to the grower for presentation to U.S. Customs at the time of entry.
- The Region should check under “Action to be taken on shipment by U.S. Customs Service” the “Release Shipment” box. If this has not been checked you should consult the Region concerning why it was not checked.
Step 4: Take three copies of the form with you when you go to Canada. Two will be left with U.S. Customs, and one you will keep.
Step 5: Upon entry into Canada, the stated purpose of the visit would be to "purchase farm chemicals"; no forms or other information are required regarding the purchase.
Step 6: Upon return to the United States, you must present the purchased pesticide products for inspection along with the Notice of Arrival form (two copies) that was returned to you by the EPA regional office. The Customs inspector will compare the information shown on the form with the information on the pesticide products. Assuming that the information matches and the "Release Shipment" box was checked by the Regional office, you should be cleared to bring the product in immediately after paying any necessary duty.
Step 7: You should retain the Notice of Arrival Form in your records until the product is used in the event it is necessary for you to demonstrate that the imported pesticide product you are using was purchased by you for your own use on the farm listed on the NOA. See the section, " Ensuring Own Use."