Clarification on Case Processing Times:

With regard to case processing times, recent inquiries indicate the need for us to draw attention to language which has already been on the main Applications page of our web site:

As part of the Department of Commerce's initiative to assist U.S. manufacturers, the FTZ staff has committed to expedited processing for manufacturing applications (within 6 to 8 months from docketing, which is significantly faster than the 12 month regulatory standard). This expedited processing time depends on no case issues arising, as well as responses to the questions in the guidelines being accurate, substantive and complete, thereby eliminating extra time needed for the examiner to request additional information after docketing. For non-manufacturing applications, we will make every effort to act upon public-interest based requests for expedited processing relative to the 10 month regulatory standard.

It is important to note that the time frames cited here are from the date when the FTZ Board officially dockets the application in question. Thus, where applicable, time spent requesting from the applicant (or awaiting) additional information/documentation needed for the application to meet the docketing standard inherently does not fall within the time frames discussed here.

(Note that minor boundary modifications and temporary/interim manufacturing requests have their own shorter processing times. Also, given FTZ Staff resource constraints, applicants need to allow a minimum of two weeks for review of draft applications.)