(a) Drugs, seeds, plants, nursery stock, and other articles required to be inspected by the Department of Agriculture. Drugs, seeds, plants, nursery stock, and other articles required to be inspected by the Department of Agriculture must be inspected by a representative of the Department of Agriculture to ascertain whether they comply with the requirements of the law and regulations of that Department. If found not to comply with such requirements, they shall be immediately destroyed.

(b) Pesticides and devices. Pesticides and devices intended for trapping, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest or any other form of plant or animal life (other than man or other than bacteria, virus, or other microorganism on or in living man or other living animals) shall be inspected by a representative of the Environmental Protection Agency to ascertain whether they comply with the requirements of the law and regulations of that agency. If found not to comply with such requirements, they shall be immediately destroyed.

(c) Explosives, dangerous articles, fruit, and perishables. Unclaimed explosives and other dangerous articles, and fruit and other perishable articles shall be sold after 3-days' public notice. When it is probable that entry will be made at an early date for unclaimed perishable merchandise, the port director may hold the merchandise for a reasonable time in a bonded cold-storage warehouse if one is available.

(d) Articles liable to depreciation. Other unclaimed merchandise shall be sold at public auction upon public notice of not less than 6 or more than 10 days, as the port director may determine, if in his opinion such merchandise will depreciate and sell for an amount insufficient to pay the duties, storage, and other charges if allowed to remain in general order for 6 months.

(e) Tobacco and tobacco products. Tobacco articles and tobacco materials as defined in 26 U.S.C. 5702(j) and (k), may be sold for domestic consumption only if they will bring an amount sufficient to pay the expenses of sale as well as the internal revenue tax. If these articles cannot be sold for domestic consumption in accordance with the foregoing conditions, they shall be destroyed unless they can be advantageously sold for export from continuous Customs custody or unless the Commissioner of Customs has authorized other disposition to be made under the law. These articles may be sold for domestic consumption even though the proceeds of sale will not cover the duties due.

(f) Distilled spirits, wines, and malt beverages. All unclaimed and abandoned distilled spirits, wines, and malt beverages may be sold for domestic consumption if they will bring an amount sufficient to pay the internal revenue tax. If they cannot be sold for domestic consumption in accordance with the foregoing condition, they shall be destroyed unless they can be advantageously sold for export from continuous Customs custody or unless the Commissioner of Customs has authorized other disposition to be made under the law. The sale must be conducted in accordance with the alcoholic beverage laws of the state in which the sale is held.

(g) Other merchandise subject to internal revenue taxes. All other unclaimed and abandoned merchandise subject to internal revenue taxes may be sold for domestic consumption if it will bring an amount sufficient to pay the internal revenue tax. If, in the opinion of the port director, it is insufficient in value to justify its sale, the merchandise shall be destroyed, unless it can be advantageously sold for export from continuous Customs custody or unless the Commissioner of Customs has authorized other disposition to be made under the law. These articles may be sold for domestic consumption even though the proceeds of sale will not cover the duties due.

(h) Unclaimed merchandise remaining on dock. Unclaimed merchandise remaining on the dock which, in the opinion of the port director, will not sell for enough to pay the cost of cartage and storage shall be sold at public auction upon public notice of not less than 6 or more than 10 days.

(i) Good subject to TSCA Requirements. A good subject to TSCA requirements, i.e., a covered commodity as defined in section 12.120 of this chapter, will be inspected by a representative of the Environmental Protection Agency to ascertain whether it complies with the Toxic Substances Control Act and the regulations and orders issued thereunder. If found not to comply with these requirements that good must be exported or otherwise disposed of immediately in accordance with the provisions of §§12.125 through 12.127 of this chapter.

[T.D. 74-114, 39 FR 12092, Apr. 3, 1974, as amended by T.D. 83-158, 48 FR 34740, Aug. 1, 1983; T.D. 98-74, 63 FR 51290, Sept. 25, 1998; T.D. 02-65, 67 FR 68034, Nov. 8, 2002; CBP Dec. 16-28, 81 FR 94986, Dec. 27, 2016]