Customs approval now covers Intertek USA Inc.’s Chelsea, Massachusetts, facility for specified petroleum gauging and laboratory testing services, according to a notice published by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The Federal Register notice, published September 29, 2026, confirms that CBP approved and accredited the facility for customs purposes as of August 28, 2024.
The customs authorization applies for a three-year period, with the next triennial inspection scheduled for August 2027.
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What the customs approval covers
CBP approved Intertek’s facility at 230 Crescent Ave. in Chelsea to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products.
The agency also accredited the facility to perform specified laboratory analyses on petroleum and certain petroleum products.
The authorization is limited to the procedures and test methods identified in the notice.
Companies that need a gauger or laboratory service must confirm that the requested service falls within Intertek’s approved scope before relying on the facility for customs-related work.
Approved petroleum gauging procedures
Intertek is approved to perform gauging procedures based on American Petroleum Institute standards.
The listed procedures cover API Chapter 3 for tank gauging, Chapter 7 for temperature determination, Chapter 8 for sampling, Chapter 12 for calculations and Chapter 17 for marine measurement.
These procedures provide standardized ways to measure, sample and calculate characteristics of petroleum cargoes during commercial and customs-related transactions.
The approval does not represent a blanket authorization for every petroleum measurement or inspection service.
Instead, the company’s authority is tied to the specific API procedures identified by CBP.
Laboratory methods included in the accreditation
CBP accredited Intertek to conduct six listed laboratory methods for petroleum and certain petroleum products.
| CBPL procedure | ASTM method | Testing purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 27-08 | D 86 | Distillation of petroleum products at atmospheric pressure |
| 27-11 | D 445 | Kinematic viscosity and dynamic viscosity calculations |
| 27-48 | D 4052 | Density and relative density by digital density meter |
| 27-53 | D 2709 | Water and sediment in middle-distillate fuels by centrifuge |
| 27-57 | D 7039 | Sulfur in gasoline and diesel fuel by X-ray fluorescence |
| 27-58 | D 5191 | Vapor pressure of petroleum products using the mini method |
The methods address important characteristics used in evaluating petroleum products, including distillation behavior, viscosity, density, water and sediment content, sulfur levels and vapor pressure.
Importers, exporters, brokers and other businesses should match the required analysis to the exact CBP procedure and ASTM method listed in the customs notice.
Why the notice matters to importers and traders
Customs testing and gauging can help establish the identity, quality or characteristics of imported petroleum cargo.
Those measurements may support entry documentation, cargo accounting, compliance reviews or other customs processes.
However, the Federal Register notice does not change tariff rates, establish new duties or create a new petroleum-import requirement.
It confirms that a private company has met CBP requirements to perform particular services within an approved scope.
The notice also gives businesses a current government record to use when evaluating whether the Chelsea facility is authorized for a requested customs service.
Businesses must verify the exact service
CBP advises anyone seeking Intertek’s services to obtain written assurance that the company is approved or accredited for the specific gauger service or laboratory analysis requested for customs work.
This step is important because an entity’s accreditation may cover some methods but not others.
A written confirmation can help a business document that the selected provider was authorized to perform the relevant work at the time of testing.
Businesses may also contact CBP Laboratories and Scientific Services to ask whether a particular service is within Intertek’s approved scope.
CBP lists the telephone number as 202-344-1060 and provides the email address [email protected] for inquiries.
Approval was effective before publication
The notice was published on September 29, 2026, but the approval and accreditation became effective on August 28, 2024.
That timing means the publication serves as an official notice of a customs approval that CBP says was already in effect.
The next triennial inspection is scheduled for August 2027, consistent with the three-year approval period described by the agency.
The notice does not state that the facility’s authorization extends beyond the applicable inspection and renewal process.
Companies using the facility should therefore confirm its current status and approved methods when arranging services near or after the scheduled inspection period.
What importers should do next
- Identify the exact petroleum product and the specific gauging or laboratory service needed.
- Compare the requested work with the API, CBPL and ASTM procedures listed in the CBP notice.
- Request written confirmation from Intertek that the Chelsea facility is authorized for that specific customs service.
- Keep the confirmation and test documentation with the relevant customs and cargo records.
- Contact CBP Laboratories and Scientific Services if the scope of approval is unclear.
These steps can reduce the risk of using a provider for a test or gauging procedure outside the scope of its CBP authorization.
What the approval does not cover
The Federal Register notice does not approve Intertek for every laboratory test, every petroleum product or every customs-related inspection.
It also does not establish that a test result will automatically resolve a customs classification, valuation or admissibility question.
Those issues can depend on the facts of a shipment and on separate customs laws, regulations and agency decisions.
The approval is best understood as a technical authorization covering the listed gauging procedures and laboratory methods.
Official record
CBP issued the notice through the Department of Homeland Security under the agency’s regulations governing commercial gaugers and accredited laboratories.
The notice cites 19 CFR 151.12 and 19 CFR 151.13 as the regulatory authorities for the approval and accreditation.
Intertek’s Chelsea facility is the entity identified in the notice, and the listed customs authorization applies to the location and methods described by CBP.
Businesses should rely on the official CBP and Federal Register records when confirming the facility’s status, approved procedures and contact information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did CBP approve for Intertek USA’s Chelsea facility?
CBP approved the facility as a commercial gauger and accredited it as a laboratory for specified petroleum and petroleum-product procedures used for customs purposes.
When did Intertek’s approval become effective?
The approval and accreditation became effective on August 28, 2024, according to the Federal Register notice published September 29, 2026.
What petroleum tests can the facility perform?
The listed methods cover distillation, viscosity, density, water and sediment, sulfur and vapor pressure testing under specified CBP and ASTM procedures.
How can a company verify that Intertek may perform a requested test?
A company should request written confirmation from Intertek that the Chelsea facility is approved or accredited for the specific service, or contact CBP Laboratories and Scientific Services at 202-344-1060 or [email protected].
When is the next inspection scheduled?
CBP states that the next triennial inspection is scheduled for August 2027.
Fact-Checked: This article was checked against the September 29, 2026, Federal Register notice and current CBP information concerning commercial gaugers and accredited laboratories.
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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