Customs approval now covers SGS North America, Inc.’s facility in Carteret, New Jersey, allowing the company to perform specified petroleum gauging and laboratory testing for U.S. Customs and Border Protection purposes.
Table of Contents
Customs Update
CBP published the notice in the Federal Register on October 20, 2026, under document number 2026-21407 and citation 91 FR 66343.
The notice states that the approval and accreditation became effective on September 5, 2025, and will remain in place for the next three years, subject to CBP oversight and inspection requirements for customs services.
What CBP approved
CBP approved SGS North America’s Carteret facility to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products and accredited the location to conduct designated laboratory analyses for customs purposes.
The facility is located at 900 Milik Street, Carteret, New Jersey 07008.
The action does not create a general authorization for every type of petroleum measurement or laboratory service.
Instead, the approval applies only to the gauging procedures and analytical methods listed in the CBP notice.
Importers, customs brokers and other parties using the facility must confirm that the requested service falls within SGS North America’s approved customs scope.
Approved petroleum gauging procedures
Gauging generally involves measuring or determining characteristics of petroleum cargo so that quantities and related transaction information can be established for customs work.
For SGS North America’s Carteret facility, CBP listed five American Petroleum Institute chapters covering approved customs gauging procedures.
| API chapter | Approved procedure |
|---|---|
| 3 | Tank gauging |
| 7 | Temperature determination |
| 8 | Sampling |
| 12 | Calculation of petroleum quantities |
| 17 | Marine measurement |
These procedures can be relevant when petroleum cargo is measured, sampled or quantified during customs import-related operations.
The notice does not state that every shipment handled by SGS will require all five procedures.
The appropriate service depends on the product, the transaction and the specific customs or commercial documentation needs.
Laboratory methods covered by the accreditation
CBP also listed specific laboratory methods that SGS North America may use for petroleum and certain petroleum products.
The methods address characteristics including water content, distillation behavior, viscosity, sulfur concentration, density, flash point, vapor pressure and hydrocarbon composition.
| CBPL or ASTM method | Testing subject |
|---|---|
| CBPL 27-04 / ASTM D95 | Water in petroleum products and bituminous materials by distillation |
| CBPL 27-08 / ASTM D86 | Distillation of petroleum products at atmospheric pressure |
| CBPL 27-11 / ASTM D445 | Kinematic and dynamic viscosity |
| CBPL 27-13 / ASTM D4294 | Sulfur by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence |
| CBPL 27-14 / ASTM D2622 | Sulfur by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence |
| CBPL 27-48 / ASTM D4052 | Density, relative density and API gravity by digital density meter |
| CBPL 27-50 / ASTM D93 | Flash point by Pensky-Martens closed-cup tester |
| CBPL 27-57 / ASTM D7039 | Sulfur in gasoline and diesel fuel |
| CBPL 27-58 / ASTM D5191 | Vapor pressure of petroleum products and liquid fuels |
| ASTM D1160 | Distillation of petroleum products at reduced pressure |
| ASTM D1319 | Hydrocarbon types in liquid petroleum products |
The listed methods are the operative limit of the customs accreditation described in the notice.
A company seeking a different analysis should not assume that the Carteret facility’s CBP accreditation extends to that method or customs requirement.
Why the notice matters to petroleum importers
Petroleum shipments often require reliable measurements and analytical results to support customs declarations, cargo documentation and commercial transactions.
CBP’s accreditation gives importers and other trade participants a designated facility whose listed procedures have been reviewed under the agency’s commercial gauger and laboratory customs program.
The action may provide an additional option for companies arranging petroleum measurements or laboratory analyses in the New Jersey and broader Northeast trading region.
It does not, by itself, change tariff classifications, duty rates, petroleum standards or other customs import requirements.
It also does not replace an importer’s responsibility to submit accurate entry information and maintain records supporting the entry.
What users should do before ordering services
CBP specifically advises anyone wishing to employ SGS North America for gauger services or laboratory analyses to obtain written confirmation that the company is approved or accredited for the particular service requested.
That step is important because accreditation is method-specific rather than unlimited.
A written assurance should identify the service or test and confirm that it falls within the CBP-approved customs scope.
Users may also contact CBP’s Laboratories and Scientific Services office to verify whether a particular test or gauger service is covered.
The contact telephone number listed in the notice is 202-344-1060.
CBP also provided the email address [email protected] for inquiries about specific services.
Importers should retain relevant service documentation with their customs records and coordinate with their customs broker or compliance team when test results will support a customs entry.
Approval remains subject to future inspection
The Federal Register notice says the next triennial inspection date will be scheduled for September 2028.
The inspection schedule does not mean the approval automatically covers every future change in equipment, personnel, product type or analytical method.
Users should verify the facility’s current customs approval status and approved scope when arranging services, particularly for shipments with tight customs deadlines.
CBP’s published list of approved commercial gaugers and accredited laboratories is the agency’s reference point for confirming available providers and services.
Key dates and contacts
- Effective approval date: September 5, 2025.
- Federal Register publication: October 20, 2026.
- Federal Register citation: 91 FR 66343.
- Document number: 2026-21407.
- Next triennial inspection: Scheduled for September 2028.
- CBP telephone contact: 202-344-1060.
- CBP email contact: [email protected].
For companies importing petroleum or certain petroleum products, the practical takeaway is to match the requested service to the exact CBP-approved procedure before relying on SGS North America’s results for customs purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did CBP approve SGS North America to do?
CBP approved SGS North America’s Carteret, New Jersey, facility to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products and accredited it to perform specified laboratory tests for customs purposes.
When did the SGS North America approval become effective?
The Federal Register notice states that the approval and accreditation became effective on September 5, 2025.
How long does the approval last?
The notice covers the next three-year period, with the next triennial inspection scheduled for September 2028.
How can an importer verify whether a requested test is covered?
An importer should request written confirmation from SGS North America or contact CBP Laboratories and Scientific Services at 202-344-1060 or [email protected].
Fact-Checked: This report was checked against Federal Register document 2026-21407 and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection commercial gauger and laboratory program information.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and does not replace advice from CBP, a customs broker or qualified trade counsel.
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