Public Comment Invited on Duty-Free Entry Applications for Scientific Instruments
Estimated reading time: 5–10 minutes
The Department of Commerce is inviting public comments on a key process. It concerns the collection of information for duty-free entries of scientific instruments or apparatus.
This process is done according to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This law helps us understand the impact of information collection and reduces the burden on the public.
Comments about this process must be received on or before June 9, 2026.
Interested individuals can send comments by mail to Eva Kim. She is an Import Analyst at the International Trade Administration. You can also contact her by phone at (202) 482-8283. Her email is [email protected] Remember to refer to OMB Control Number 0625-0037. Do not send any confidential business information.
For more details, questions can also be directed to Eva Kim at the same phone number or email address.
The Departments of Commerce and Homeland Security ensure nonprofit institutions have duty-free entries for scientific instruments. This process is under the Florence Agreement.
Form ITA-338P is important here. This form lets Homeland Security check if eligibility requirements are met. The Commerce Department compares instruments to see if similar ones are made in the U.S.
You can download Form ITA-338P from the website http://enforcement.trade.gov/sips/sipsform/ita-338p.pdf. Or you can request a copy from the Department.
Once the form is filled, it goes to Homeland Security. If accepted, Homeland Security sends it to the Commerce Department for further review.
The control number for this task is 0625-0037. The form number is ITA-338P. This review is a regular submission and an extension of a current information collection. This affects state or local governments, federal agencies, and not-for-profit institutions.
There are about 90 respondents expected. Each response takes about 2 hours. So, the total annual burden is 180 hours. The cost to the public is around $2,974.50. Participation is voluntary. The legal authority for this is 19 U.S.C. 1202; 15 CFR 301.
The public can help improve this process. Comments can reassess if the collection is necessary and useful. Comments also check the accuracy of time and cost estimates. They can suggest ways to improve clarity and reduce burden with better technology.
Comments respondents provide will be public records. Each comment will be included or summarized in a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Comments should not include personal information if privacy is a concern.
Sheleen Dumas, from the Commerce Department, is the Departmental PRA Compliance Officer.
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