CBP has accredited SGS North America Inc.’s facility in Reserve, Louisiana, to perform specified petroleum and petroleum-product testing for customs purposes.
The accreditation took effect May 28, 2025, and the notice was published by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Federal Register on October 20, 2026.
The authorization covers three specific analytical procedures involving sediment, sulfur and density or API gravity.
For importers, customs brokers and other businesses handling petroleum shipments, the notice identifies SGS North America as an available laboratory for the approved tests, subject to the limits of its accreditation.
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What CBP approved
The Federal Register notice identifies SGS North America at 3735 W Airline Highway in Reserve, Louisiana, as a commercial laboratory accredited under 19 CFR 151.12.
CBP’s accreditation applies to testing petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes.
The authorization does not mean that the facility may perform every possible petroleum analysis for CBP.
Instead, the accreditation is limited to the methods and procedures listed in the notice.
| CBPL method | ASTM method | Approved analysis |
|---|---|---|
| 27-06 | D473 | Sediment in crude oils and fuel oils using the extraction method |
| 27-13 | D4294 | Sulfur in petroleum and petroleum products using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence |
| 27-48 | D4052 | Density, relative density and API gravity using a digital density meter |
These methods can help establish characteristics that may be relevant to the classification, admissibility, quantity or composition of imported merchandise.
Why the accreditation matters for petroleum imports
CBP uses laboratory analysis as one tool in administering customs laws and evaluating imported merchandise.
A customs-accredited commercial laboratory can provide testing services when an importer needs an analysis of a representative sample for an entry.
Under the governing regulation, an importer of record may request that a port director release a representative sample for testing by an accredited laboratory at the importer’s expense.
The sample is handled under customs supervision and divided into portions, with one portion available for laboratory testing and another retained for possible CBP use.
Testing results from an accredited laboratory may be submitted by an importer when CBP has not conducted its own laboratory testing, provided the report meets the regulatory requirements.
The importer must certify that the sample tested came from the merchandise identified in the entry.
The report must also establish information relevant to the merchandise, such as its composition or characteristics, as required by law.
CBP retains authority to sample and test merchandise independently.
When both CBP and a commercial laboratory analyze the same shipment, the regulation generally provides that customs action will be based on the CBP laboratory’s analysis unless the Executive Director advises otherwise.
Accreditation is limited to named procedures
The SGS North America notice is important because it identifies exactly which tests the Reserve facility is authorized to perform for customs purposes.
Businesses should not treat the accreditation as a blanket approval for all petroleum testing.
A company seeking a test should confirm that the requested analysis matches one of the three listed procedures and that the specific facility remains accredited for that work.
CBP specifically advises anyone wishing to employ the laboratory to request written assurance that the entity is accredited to conduct the particular test requested.
That step can help prevent a company from relying on a report for a procedure outside the laboratory’s approved scope.
Questions about the specific tests covered by the accreditation may be directed to CBP Laboratories and Scientific Services at 202-344-1060.
CBP also lists the email address [email protected] for inquiries about approved gaugers and accredited laboratories.
How the three petroleum tests are used
Sediment testing
ASTM D473 addresses sediment in crude oils and fuel oils through an extraction-based procedure.
Sediment results can provide information about the non-liquid material present in a petroleum sample.
The Federal Register notice does not assign a particular tariff outcome to a test result.
Any classification, valuation or admissibility decision remains dependent on the merchandise, the entry circumstances and applicable customs law.
Sulfur testing
ASTM D4294 measures sulfur in petroleum and petroleum products through energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.
Sulfur content may be one of the product characteristics relevant to customs analysis or other regulatory determinations.
The accreditation authorizes SGS North America’s Reserve facility to perform this method for customs purposes, but only within the conditions applicable to CBP-accredited laboratories.
Density and API gravity testing
ASTM D4052 covers density, relative density and API gravity measurements using a digital density meter.
Those measurements can help describe petroleum products and support analysis of the characteristics reported for an imported shipment.
As with the other procedures, the accreditation does not by itself determine how CBP will classify a product.
What importers should do before ordering a test
- Confirm the exact petroleum product and the customs issue requiring laboratory analysis.
- Match the requested analysis to CBPL method 27-06, 27-13 or 27-48, or to the corresponding ASTM method listed in the notice.
- Request written confirmation from SGS North America that the Reserve facility is accredited for the specific test.
- Coordinate with the relevant CBP port director before arranging the release and division of a representative sample.
- Keep the laboratory report, sample information and entry records together in the customs file.
- Review the final report to ensure it identifies the sample, method, date, results and authorized signatory required by the regulation.
Importers should also consult their customs broker or trade counsel when the laboratory result could affect tariff classification, admissibility, duty treatment or an entry dispute.
The Federal Register notice does not change tariff schedules, impose a new fee on importers or establish a new testing requirement for every petroleum shipment.
It records CBP’s accreditation decision for one commercial laboratory and three approved analytical methods.
Accreditation period and next inspection
CBP states that SGS North America was accredited as of May 28, 2025.
The next triennial inspection date is scheduled for May 2028.
The three-year review cycle reflects the regulatory structure for commercial laboratory accreditation and reaccreditation.
Under 19 CFR 151.12, CBP evaluates a laboratory’s facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures and ability to produce reliable work for the approved commodity group and methods.
Accredited laboratories must maintain the equipment, qualified staff and facilities needed to perform the approved services.
They must also follow approved procedures, preserve relevant records and permit CBP to evaluate their continued capability through inspections, record reviews and proficiency testing.
Accreditation can be suspended or revoked if the laboratory no longer meets applicable technical, operational or regulatory requirements.
What the notice does not change
The notice does not grant SGS North America authority to make final customs decisions.
CBP remains responsible for customs enforcement and for determining how laboratory information is used in connection with an import entry.
The notice also does not authorize unrelated environmental, health, safety or commercial testing beyond the listed customs-accredited procedures.
Businesses must separately confirm whether another agency, contract or industry standard requires additional testing.
For current status and a complete listing of CBP-approved gaugers and accredited laboratories, importers should consult CBP’s Laboratories and Scientific Services resources before sending a sample.
The accreditation gives petroleum importers another identified testing option, but the practical value depends on using the correct method, documenting the sample chain and confirming the laboratory’s scope before testing begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did CBP accredit SGS North America to do?
CBP accredited SGS North America’s Reserve, Louisiana, facility to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes using three specified methods.
Which petroleum tests are covered by the accreditation?
The approved methods cover sediment under ASTM D473, sulfur under ASTM D4294, and density, relative density and API gravity under ASTM D4052.
When did the SGS North America accreditation take effect?
CBP states that the accreditation took effect on May 28, 2025.
When is the next inspection scheduled?
The next triennial inspection date is scheduled for May 2028.
How can an importer verify the laboratory’s approved scope?
An importer should request written assurance that SGS North America is accredited for the specific test needed or contact CBP Laboratories and Scientific Services at 202-344-1060 or [email protected].
Fact-Checked: The accreditation date, facility location, approved methods and May 2028 inspection schedule were checked against the Federal Register notice and the current eCFR provisions governing CBP-accredited laboratories.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and is not legal, customs-classification or trade-compliance advice.
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