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Source-reviewed study unitAbout 10 minutes

Route prohibited and restricted merchandise to the exact law

Ability objective

Distinguish an absolute prohibition from a conditional restriction and identify the commodity-specific agency, document, exception, and consequence.

Answer first

Core rule

Answer first: Part 12 is a collection of commodity-specific regimes, not one universal release rule. A prohibited article cannot be cured by supplying a generic permit; a restricted article may enter only if the exact statute and implementing rule allow it and every stated condition is met. Identify the commodity, controlling agency and provision, required evidence, exception, and disposition separately. For the October 2026 CBLE, use Part 12 of the 2025 Annual CFR; check current agency law separately for live entries. CBLE Ace currently has no dedicated verified PGA question pool for this topic; route practice to the general practice page and keep verification status pool-insufficient.

Authority and lookup route

Locate the rule before returning to the facts. Links point to government or official publications.

19 CFR Part 12

Part 12 → commodity-specific subpart → prohibition, condition, evidence, exception, and disposition

October 28, 2026 CBLE: Title 19 CFR, 2025 Annual Edition. Check the current eCFR separately for live-law work.

Read on CBLE Ace →
Government original ↗
19 U.S.C. 1308

§1308(a) definitions → (b) prohibition and exception → (c) penalties and forfeiture

Official U.S. Code source reviewed August 18, 2026. The CBLE answer remains controlled by its designated reference editions where applicable.

19 U.S.C. 1595a(c)

§1595a(c) → seizure and forfeiture of merchandise introduced contrary to law

Official U.S. Code source reviewed August 18, 2026. The CBLE answer remains controlled by its designated reference editions where applicable.

CBP October 28, 2026 CBLE Reference Materials Notice

Preparing for the CBLE → Reference Materials → designated HTS, CFR, and CBP policy documents

Official CBP exam notice verified August 18, 2026.

Reference lookup task

Use the Part 12 table of contents to select one commodity regime, then write five lines: agency, controlling section, required evidence, exception, and consequence.

Route: Do not stop at a general 'restricted' label; open the commodity section and any incorporated agency regulation or statute.

Worked example

Laboratory evidence confirms that commercial coat trim contains cat fur, although the invoice labels it as rabbit fur. The shipment is not a noncommercial deceased personal pet.

  1. 1Apply the statutory definition, which covers merchandise composed in whole or in part of cat fur.
  2. 2Read the import prohibition in §1308(b)(1)(A) and test the narrow deceased-personal-pet exception.
  3. 3Reject the exception because this is commercial apparel, not the described personal pet.
  4. 4Treat inaccurate labeling as incapable of curing the prohibition and proceed to the statutory forfeiture consequences.

Conclusion: The coat trim falls within the dog-and-cat-fur prohibition; calling it rabbit fur does not make the commercial shipment admissible.

Common traps

  • Assuming one generic permit cures every prohibited or restricted article.
  • Applying one Part 12 commodity regime to unrelated goods or agencies.
  • Treating invoice wording as conclusive when material evidence shows a prohibited product.
  • Inventing mastery evidence where the product has no dedicated verified question pool.