Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a notice announcing the availability of grant funding under the fiscal year (FY) 2006 Border Enforcement Grant (BEG) program. According to the FMCSA, this is a discretionary grant program that provides funding for carrying out border commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety programs and related enforcement activities and projects. Entities and states that share a land border with another country are eligible to receive grant funding. Applications must be sent no later than March 15, 2006. (FR Pub 01/31/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-1155.pdf)
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. FMCSA Announces Availability of Grant Funds for Border CMV Security
2. APHIS Final Rule Revises Irradiation Treatment for Fruits and Vegetables
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective February 27, 2006, which revises the approved doses for irradiation treatment of imported fruits and vegetables. The final rule will establish a new minimum generic dose of irradiation for most plant pests of the class Insecta, establish a new minimum generic dose for the fruit fly family, reduce the minimum dose of irradiation for some specific fruit fly species, add 10 pests to the list of pests for which irradiation is approved, and provide for the use of irradiation as a treatment for cut flowers and foliage. (D/N 03-077-2, FR Pub 01/27/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-746.pdf )
3. State Dept Cancels Previously Announced ITAC Meetings
The State Department has issued a notice that cancels certain previously announced meetings of the International Telecommunication Advisory Committee (ITAC) scheduled to prepare for the International Telecommunication Union World Telecommunication Development Conference (ITU-WTDC-06). The ITAC meetings were originally scheduled for February 2, 9, 16 and 23, 2006. (State Dept Public Notice 5265, FR Pub 01/20/06, available at
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-633.pdf.)
4. FDA Posts Various Food Safety Notices to its Web site
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted the following food-safety related notices to its Web site:
FDA seeks injunction against Pacific Shellfish, Inc. The FDA has issued a press release announcing that it is seeking a permanent injunction against Pacific Shellfish, Inc., a seafood processor located in San Diego and its president, Judd J. Brown, for violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by permitting ready-to-eat fish held and processed in Pacific Shellfish's facility to become contaminated. (P06-12, dated 01/26/06, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2006/NEW01303.html)
FDA issues updated guidance on toxicity principles for the safety assessment of food ingredients. The FDA has issued an updated version of its publication entitled, Redbook 2000: Toxicological Principles for the Safety Assessment of Food Ingredients. An additional study entitled "Carcinogenicity Studies with Rodents," is now included in the updated version of FDA's publication. (FDA publication, dated 01/30/06, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/redbook/red-toca.html, and the Carcinogenicity Studies report is available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/redbook/red-ivc6.html)
5. Various Agencies Seek Comments on Information Collections
Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):
| Agency | Information Collection | Comments Due |
|---|---|---|
| APHIS | Requirements for Recognizing the Animal Health Status of Foreign Regions | 03/07/06 |
| OFAC | Reporting, Procedures and Penalties Regulations | 03/27/06 |
| FSIS | Application for Return of Exported Products | 02/14/06 |
| TSA | Security Programs for Indirect Air Carriers | 02/14/06 |
| TSA | Security Programs for Foreign Air Carriers | 02/22/06 |
| DOC | Export Assistance Center Internet Web Site Form | 01/27/06 |
| USTR | Collection of Applications for Dispute Settlement Rosters | 02/15/06 |
| ITC | Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2005 Special Review on Watches - Questionnaires for U.S. Producers/Assemblers; U.S. Virgin Islands Producers/Assemblers; Watch Band, Strap, and/or Bracelet Producers; Importers, and Foreign Producers | 11/14/05 |
| ITC | United States International Trade Commission Import Injury Investigation User Survey | 12/14/05 |
| FTC | Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, 15 U.S.C. 1451-1461 (\"FPLA\") | 01/11/06 |
(APHIS Information Collection, FR Pub 01/06/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-89.pdf)
(OFAC Information Collection, FR Pub 01/26/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-978.pdf)
(FSIS Information Collection, FR Pub 12/16/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-7443.pdf)
(TSA Information Collection on Indirect Air Carriers, FR Pub 12/16/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-7406.pdf)
(TSA Information Collection on Foreign Air Carriers, FR Pub 01/23/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-665.pdf)
(DOC Information Collection, FR Pub 12/28/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-7970.pdf)
(USTR Information Collection, FR Pub 12/12/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-7237.pdf)
(ITC Information Collection on GSP Modification, FR Pub 11/15/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-22560.pdf)
(ITC Information Collection on Import Injury Survey, FR Pub 11/15/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-22653.pdf)
(FTC Information Collection, FR Pub 12/12/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-7179.pdf)