PGA (Partner Government Agency)

What is a PGA?

A PGA (Partner Government Agency) is a government agency that works alongside the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that regulate commodities entering the U.S.

Some PGAs include:

• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
• Federal Drug Administration (FDA)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF)

Products that are regulated by PGAs often require permits or other additional documentation, so many PGAs have their own import guides. It is the importer’s responsibility to be aware of what they need to import a product into the U.S.

If a PGA refuses an import shipment, CBP will consequently not allow the goods to enter U.S. commerce.

How do PGAs affect an import shipment?

When a product falls under a PGA's authority, the importer or customs broker typically submits extra data with the entry, such as a product code, a permit number or an affidavit. Many of these filings go through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), CBP's electronic system. A PGA can also hold, inspect or test a shipment before release.

Check the rules for your product before you buy. A missing permit can strand goods at the port and add storage charges.

Back to the full glossary.