AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
First find out who is holding the goods and why. An FDA detention usually gives you a respond-by date, often 20 calendar days, to show the food complies, request relabelling or accept refusal, after which refused food must be exported or destroyed within 90 days. A CBP seizure comes with a notice of seizure, and a petition for relief must normally be filed within 30 days of the date that notice was mailed.
Held, detained, refused or seized: read the notice
Importers often say "customs seized my food" for very different events. The paper you received decides your options and your deadlines.
| Notice | Who issues it | What it means | Main deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice of FDA Action, "Detained" | FDA | The food appears to violate FDA law; you may present evidence | The respond-by date on the notice |
| Notice of Refusal of Admission | FDA (CBP notified) | Final decision that the food cannot enter | Export or destroy within 90 days |
| Notice of seizure | CBP | The goods have been seized for forfeiture | Petition within 30 days of the notice being mailed |
| Prior notice hold | FDA/CBP | Notice missing or inadequate; goods held at the port or a secure facility | Follow the hold notice; costs of holding are yours |
If the FDA has detained the food
The Notice of FDA Action lists the charges, such as adulteration, misbranding or an unregistered facility. The FDA's guidance says its procedures manual allows 10 business days from detention and notices generally allow 20 calendar days to respond. Extensions must be asked for within the original period, with a reason. Your options are:
- Submit testimony. Any evidence that overcomes the appearance of a violation, uploaded to ITACS (the FDA's preferred route) or sent to the local import office. For products on detention without physical examination, results from a private laboratory can be used.
- Ask to recondition. A request on Form FDA 766 to relabel or otherwise bring the food into compliance, for example adding an English allergen statement. The FDA must agree before you start.
- Accept refusal. If you do nothing by the respond-by date, the compliance officer can refuse admission.
Once refused, the FDA says the food must be destroyed or exported within 90 days of the Notice of FDA Action, and that it has no authority to extend that period. CBP supervises export or destruction. If you do neither, CBP can demand the goods be returned to a CBP-approved location and assess liquidated damages against your bond.
If CBP has seized the goods
A seizure is more serious. It happens, for example, when goods are prohibited (CDC says bushmeat is illegal to bring into the US and is destroyed in any amount), misdeclared, or undeclared agricultural products. The rules in 19 CFR Part 171 set out how to ask for the goods back or for a penalty to be reduced:
- File a petition within 30 days of the date the notice of seizure was mailed, addressed to the Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures Officer named in the notice, at the address on the notice.
- The petition describes the property, gives the date and place of the seizure, sets out the facts supporting remission or mitigation, and proves your interest in the goods.
- A false statement can be prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. 1001.
- If you disagree with the decision, a supplemental petition is generally due within 60 days of the decision notice.
- You may make an offer in compromise under 19 U.S.C. 1617, with the amount deposited.
- A conditional decision, such as release on payment of a mitigated amount, is effective for no more than 60 days unless it says otherwise.
- Once a case has been referred to the Department of Justice, CBP takes no further action on a petition.
The notice of seizure itself lists the choices open to you, which can include asking for the case to go to court. Read every option before you choose, because choosing one can close others.
Re-export or destruction: the costs
Both cost money, and you pay. Storage at the port or bonded warehouse runs while the decision is pending; the prior notice rules state that the FDA and CBP do not pay the costs of holding food that arrived without adequate notice. Re-export means new freight back to Lagos or to another country that will accept the goods, and Nigerian import rules apply on return. Destruction is usually arranged through a CBP-approved facility at your expense.
What to gather now
- The notice itself, with entry number and dates.
- Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill.
- The producer's FDA facility registration number and the prior notice confirmation number.
- Lab results, if any, and the label as printed.
- Proof of payment to the supplier, which can matter if you later claim against them. See trade disputes with a Nigerian supplier.
A licensed customs broker or a customs lawyer can file on your behalf. For the FDA side, see what FDA import alerts mean.
Where Pryme fits
A seizure often turns into a claim against the supplier. A Pryme Business Account keeps USD and NGN payments in one place, and a verifiable statement from VerifyDoc.ai lets a third party confirm the payment record is genuine and unaltered. See business multicurrency accounts.
Questions people ask
How long do I have to respond to an FDA detention?
The notice gives a respond-by date. FDA guidance says notices generally allow 20 calendar days from detention; ask for any extension before that date.
How long do I have to petition a CBP seizure?
Generally 30 days from the date the notice of seizure was mailed. The officer can set a shorter period in some cases, but not under 7 working days.
Can I get my seized Nigerian food back?
Possibly, if a petition succeeds or the FDA accepts reconditioning. Prohibited items such as bushmeat are destroyed.
Who pays to destroy or re-export refused food?
The importer. Storage, freight and destruction costs are yours, and missing the deadline can trigger liquidated damages against your bond.
Sources
- FDA: Detention and hearing (content current as of 17 Oct 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- FDA: Import refusals (content current as of 9 Oct 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- eCFR: 19 CFR Part 171, Fines, penalties and forfeitures (current text) · accessed Oct 2026
- eCFR: 21 CFR Part 1, Subpart I, Prior notice of imported food (current text) · accessed Oct 2026
- CDC: Bringing animal products into the United States (28 Apr 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.