Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The State Department's Washington File reports that the Bush Administration is seeking from Congress a two-year delay of a requirement that "visa waiver countries" issue machine-readable passports that incorporate biometric identifiers. This delay would allow countries whose passport holders are not required to have a U.S. visa to enter the country to meet technical challenges of issuing passports containing biometric data, such as digital, inkles finger scans and digital photographs. (Washington File Pub, 04/02/04, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/Archive/washfile_feature2.html)
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
1. Bush Administration Seeks Delay of Biometric Passport Requirement
2. Justice Dept Announces Creation of Intellectual Property Task Force
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced the creation of the Intellectual Property Task Force, which will examine all aspects of how the DOJ handles intellectual property issues and develop recommendations for future activity. The DOJ notes that well-organized criminal enterprises have recently begun to increase the scale, scope, and sophistication of international piracy and counterfeiting. (DOJ press release, dated 03/31/04, available at http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/March/04_ag_199.htm)
3. FDA Extends Presentation Deadline for Public Meeting on Prescription Drug Imports
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a notice extending to April 6, 2004 (from March 30, 2004), the deadline for speakers to submit requests for presentations and a summary of the presentation for the April 14, 2004 public meeting on prescription drug importation. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/23/04 news, 04032399 3, for BP summary of this meeting and related docket.) (D/N 2004N-0115, FR Pub 04/05/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-7714.pdf)
4. Chemical Weapons Sanctions Against Anatoliy Kuntsevich Lifted
The State Department has issued a notice announcing that effective April 1, 2004 the U.S. government has determined to terminate sanctions imposed on Anatoliy Kuntsevich, a foreign person who the State Department states had engaged in chemical weapons proliferation activities that required the imposition of sanctions pursuant to the Arms Export Control act and the Export Administration Act of 1979. (State Department Public Notice 4676, FR Pub 04/01/04) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-7340.pdf.)