Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The European Commission (EC) has issued a press release announcing that the World Trade Organization (WTO) has recently rejected certain U.S. claims that the European Union (EU's) system of customs administrations is inconsistent with the EU's WTO obligations to ensure uniform administration and prompt review of administrative decisions. The EC notes that the WTO found that the EU's customs administration violated WTO obligations only in one specific case, out of 19 cases brought by the U.S. (IP/06/1557, dated 11/14/06, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/1557&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)
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1. WTO Finds Most Aspects of EC's Customs Regime Are WTO Consistent
2. FDA Issues Guidance for Industry: Lead in Candy Likely to Be Consumed Frequently by Small Children
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted to its Web site and issued a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the final guidance for industry entitled "Guidance for Industry: Lead in Candy Likely to Be Consumed Frequently by Small Children: Recommended Maximum Level and Enforcement Policy."(D/N 2005D-0481, FR Pub 11/24/06 available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-19809.pdf; FDA guidance, dated 11/06, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/pbguid3.html)
3. TSA Announces Establishment of Certain Fees for RTIP
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a notice, effective November 24, 2006, announcing the establishment of the Service Provider Key Personnel Fee and the Registered Traveler Interoperability Pilot Participant Fee for the Registered Traveler Interoperability Pilot (RTIP). TSA states that these fees will be collected to fund selected activities of the RTIP, a trusted traveler program that may provide expedited security screening for passengers who voluntarily provide biometric and biographic information to TSA, or a TSA agent, and successfully complete a security threat assessment. (FR Pub 11/24/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-19898.pdf)
4. State Dept Announces Statutory Debarment of Twenty Persons under ITAR
The State Department has issued a notice announcing that it has imposed statutory debarment, pursuant to Section 38(g)(4) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and Section 127.7(c) of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), on twenty persons convicted of violating or conspiring to violate Section 38 of the AECA (See notice for list of debarred persons). According to the State Department, at the end of the three-year period, these persons/entities will remain debarred unless export privileges are reinstated. The State Department adds that debarred persons are generally ineligible to participate in activity regulated under ITAR. (Public Notice 5617, FR Pub 11/20/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-19609.pdf)
5. BIS Denies Certain Export Privileges for Activities Related to Terrorist Contribution, Export Without Authorization
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued an Order denying certain export privileges for period of ten years from the date of his conviction to Naji Antoine Abi Khalil, a federal inmate, and related person Tomer Grinberg aka Tommy, a federal inmate, for activities related to the contribution of funds, goods and services to, and for the benefit of, Hizballah, a specially designated terrorist, through activities related to the export of certain defense items without the required U.S. government authorization. The Order shall remain in effect until February 2, 2016. (FR Pub 11/27/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-9389.pdf)
9. ITA Issues Correction to Sunset Review Regulations
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice announcing a correction to the CFR with respect to sunset review regulations. The ITA states that it is correcting 19 CFR 351.218 (Sunset reviews under section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930) by removing and reserving paragraph (d)(2)(iii) (No response from a respondent interested party). (FR Pub 11/27/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-55530.pdf)