A Partner Government Agency (PGA) is a U.S. authority — besides Customs — that regulates particular goods. Your item's HTS code determines whether a PGA is involved. Most of the time the flag attaches to the tariff number rather than your specific article, so you simply confirm it's not subject (a disclaimer). Sometimes the agency needs documentation, and a few categories can't be sent at all.
What happens when an item is flagged?
- Most often: you confirm the item isn't subject to the rule (a disclaimer) and continue.
- Sometimes: the agency needs documentation, and we'll tell you what.
- A few categories (e.g. tobacco, firearms) can't be sent at all.
The agencies you may see
FDAFood & Drug Administration
Covers: Food, supplements, cosmetics, medical devices, drugs, laser & radiation-emitting products
The most common flag. Food needs prior notice; cosmetics and supplements are often mislabelled as gifts.
FCCFederal Communications Commission
Covers: Anything with a radio: phones, earbuds, smartwatches, Bluetooth accessories, wireless chargers, drones
Very common in e-commerce — easy to overlook because the item looks ordinary.
CPSCConsumer Product Safety Commission
Covers: Toys, children's products, apparel with drawstrings or small parts, lighters, batteries
A safety certificate can be a condition of importation.
FWSFish & Wildlife Service
Covers: Exotic leather, snakeskin, feathers, coral, shell, ivory, traditional-medicine ingredients
CITES exposure; common in personal and gift traffic and rarely declared as wildlife.
APHISAnimal & Plant Health Inspection
Covers: Seeds, plants, plant products, wood & bamboo articles, animal products
Includes the Lacey Act plant declaration. Unsolicited seeds are prohibited.
EPAEnvironmental Protection Agency
Covers: Pesticides, disinfectants, antimicrobial-treated articles, some chemicals
The trap is antimicrobial-treated consumer goods — the article looks ordinary, the treatment claim engages the rules.
TTBAlcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade
Covers: Alcohol and tobacco products
Excluded from informal entry and from any gift allowance.
DEADrug Enforcement Administration
Covers: Controlled substances
Registration requirements a postal sender won't meet.
NMFSNational Marine Fisheries Service
Covers: Seafood within regulated species groups
Applies to specific species monitoring programmes.
FSISFood Safety & Inspection Service
Covers: Meat, poultry, and egg products
Generally prohibited from most origins.
NHTSA / DOTTransportation / Highway Safety
Covers: Vehicle parts, tyres, child restraints
Safety standards apply.
AMSAgricultural Marketing Service
Covers: Cotton and certain produce
Marketing-order and quality rules.
ATFAlcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives
Covers: Firearms, ammunition, explosives
Non-mailable — these can't be sent at all.