Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a news release announcing that state officials were asked to begin enforcement of the new hours-of-service rules starting March 4, 2004. Since January 4, 2004, FMCSA and state officials have led an aggressive educational enforcement program designed to teach commercial drivers about the new rules and ensure flagrant violations were rigorously enforced. (FMCSA news release 03-04, dated 03/04/04, available at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/contactus/press/2004/030404.htm)
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1. FMCSA, State Officials Begin Enforcement of New Hours-of-Service Rules
2. New Treasury Office to Lead Efforts to Cut Financial Support to Terrorists
The Treasury Department (Treasury) has issued a press release stating that the Bush Administration has announced the creation of the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI), which will lead Treasury's efforts to cut the lines of financial support to international terrorists, a critical component of the Administration's overall effort to keep America safe from terrorist plots. (Treasury press release JS-1219, dated 03/08/04, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js1219.htm)
3. USCG, FBI Investigate Terrorist Use of Merchant Marine Credentials
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has issued a press release stating that it and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have announced the completion of a 14-month investigation into national security threats and document fraud associated with U.S. merchant mariner credentials. The investigation, known as Operation Drydock, revealed that nine credential-holding individuals have possible associations with terrorist groups. (USCG press release, dated 03/03/04, available at http://www.uscg.mil/news/Headquarters/Op%20Drydock%202.htm)
4. U.S. Animal Identification System Would Initially be Voluntary, Then Mandatory
According to a State Department Washington File article, a senior U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) official told a congressional committee that a national animal identification program being developed by the USDA would initially be voluntary and then mandatory. According to the official, the U.S. Animal Identification Program (USAIP) will track livestock over their life-spans as a way to control the spread of animal diseases and that USAIP would enable the identification within 48 hours of all animals and premises potentially exposed to an animal with a disease "of concern." (Washington File dated 03/04/04, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=March&x=20040304164454AKllennoCcM0.7516901&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html.)
5. FDA Guidance Document Related to Juice Processing
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a notice announcing the availability of a guidance document related to the processing of juice entitled, Guidance for Industry: Juice HACCP Hazards and Controls Guidance: First Edition. According to FDA, this guidance document supports and complements FDA's regulation that requires a processor of juice to evaluate its operations using Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles, etc. Written or electronic comments may be submitted at any time. (D/N 2002D-0333, FR Pub 03/03/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/E4-452.pdf)
6. CPSC Provisionally Accepts Settlement Agreement with Lifetime Products
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a notice stating that it has provisionally accepted a settlement agreement with The Lifetime Products, Inc. containing a civil penalty of $800,000 with regard to certain defective basketball hoops. The CPSC adds that any interested person may ask the CPSC not to accept this agreement, or otherwise comment on it, by March 25, 2004. (CPSC D/N 04-C0003, FR Pub 03/10/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-5403.pdf.)