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Posted 02/28/2007 Great news for the ATL PPIS! Ladies & Gentlemen: Local USDA officials have advised that, due to our collective efforts to obtain funding for our PPIS, we have been moved from 6th to 2nd priority for facility improvement within all USDA PPIS's. USDA is already meeting with prospective landlords to get estimates for an appropriate facility. Further, their facility management division is getting involved. Their intention is to insure that efficient operations can continue in their provisional facility here in Atlanta while they are converting to a permanent station. This will entail a gradual implementation over the next several years. FYI, in January we reached the 9 MILLION unit mark, and 125,000 chargeable kilos were cleared! I understand we cannot sustain that over the next few months as the season passes, but within a year or even less, we can. I am also told that a MAJOR plant importer in Miami is planning a test during May or Jun to clear 6 million units here. Further, Fedex has expressed a KEEN interest in routing many of their propagated plants thru ATL to avoid the congestion and delays at MIA. Adding to that, we will attract even more shipments when the inspectors here complete their CITES training in March. CLEARLY, we are WELL on our way to becoming USDA's SECOND most active port! Note - This artcle provided by Lee Hardeman Customs Broker, Inc. |