§ 285.203 - Validation requirements.

(a) Imports. The approved Bluefin Tuna Statistical Document accompanying any import of bluefin tuna, whether or not the issuing country is a member of ICCAT, must be validated by a government official from the issuing country, unless the Assistant Administrator waives the government validation requirement for that country following a recommendation to do so by the Executive Secretary of ICCAT. The Assistant Administrator shall furnish a list of countries for which government validation requirements are waived to the appropriate official of the U.S. Customs Service. Said list shall indicate the circumstances of exemption for each issuing country and the non-government institutions, if any, accredited to validate Bluefin Statistical Documents for that country.

(b) Exports. The approved Bluefin Tuna Statistical Document accompanying any export of bluefin tuna from the United States must be validated by a U.S. government official, except under circumstances of waiver, if any, specified on the form and accompanying instructions, or in a letter to permitted dealers from the Regional Director. Such circumstances of waiver of government validation shall be consistent with ICCAT recommendations concerning validation of Bluefin Tuna Statistical Documents. If authorized, such waiver of government validation may include:

(1) Exemptions from government validation for fish with individual tags affixed pursuant to § 280.52 or § 285.30 of this chapter, or;

(2) Validation by non-government officials authorized to do so by the Regional Director under paragraph (c) of this section.

(c) Authorization for non-government validation. Institutions, or associations seeking authorization to validate Bluefin Tuna Statistical Documents accompanying exports from the United States, must apply in writing to the Regional Director. A letter of application must indicate the procedures to be used for verification of information to be validated, must list the names, addresses, and telephone/fax numbers of individuals to perform validation, and must provide an example of the stamp or seal to be applied to the Bluefin Tuna Statistical Document. Upon finding the institution or association capable of verifying the information required on the Bluefin Tuna Statistical Document, the Regional Director will issue, within 30 days, a letter specifying the duration of effectiveness and conditions of authority to validate Bluefin Tuna Statistical Documents accompanying exports from the United States. The effectiveness of such authorization will be delayed as necessary for the Assistant Administrator to notify the ICCAT Secretariat of non-government institutions and associations authorized to validate Bluefin Tuna Statistical Documents.