Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. President Authorizes Defense Article Transfer in Support of Sudan Reform

2. President Continues National Emergency on Certain Exports to Syria, Etc.

The President has issued a notice continuing for 1 year the national emergency authorizing the blocking of certain persons and prohibiting the exportation and reexportation of certain goods to Syria. (FR Pub 05/10/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-2356.pdf)

3. U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Public Hearing

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission will have an open hearing on May 23-25, 2007 in Washington, DC. This hearing is the third in a series of public hearings the Commission will hold during its 2007 report cycle to collect input from leading experts in academic, business, industry, government and the public on the impact of the economic and national security implications of the U.S. bilateral trade and economic relationship with China. (FR Pub 05/10/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-9020.pdf)

4. BIS Notice of Intent to Initiate an Administrative Proceeding for EAR Violations

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice announcing that it has notified Khalid Mahmood of its intention to initiate an administrative proceeding against Mahmood pursuant to Section 766.3 of the Export Administration Regulations and Section 13(c) of the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended, by issuing a proposed charging letter to Mahmood that alleged that Mahmood committed six EAR violations. (See notice for list of violations.) (FR Pub 05/11/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-2322.pdf)

5. FDA Posts Various Notices to its Web Site

The Food and Drug Administration has posted the following notices to its Web site:

Scientists conclude low risk to humans from food containing melamine. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the FDA have issued a joint news release announcing that, according to an assessment conducted by scientists from five federal agencies, there is very low risk to human health from consuming meat from hogs and chickens known to have been fed animal feed supplemented with pet food scraps that contained melamine and melamine-related compounds. FDA adds that swine and poultry whose feed has tested negative for melamine and related compounds no longer need to be quarantined or withheld from processing. (News release P07-82, dated 05/07/07, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01629.html)

Letter to food manufacturers regarding legal responsibilities for the safety of food ingredients. FDA has posted a letter entitled "Letter to Food Manufacturers Regarding Legal Responsibilities for the Safety of Food Ingredients," which reminds food manufacturers of their legal responsibility to ensure that all ingredients used in their products are safe for human consumption. (FDA letter, dated 05/07/07, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/protltr.html)

FDA protein surveillance assignment. In light of the pet food recalls involving the presence of melamine in wheat gluten, rice protein concentrate, and corn gluten, FDA is taking part in a surveillance assignment. The assignment focus will be on 1) imported protein extracts and finished products (added later) in domestic status, and 2) Prior Notice Center directed assignments for ingredients/products of interest in import status (with the exception of vegetable protein concentrates, which are covered under Import Alert 99-29). The inspectional and sampling activities identified in this assignment were scheduled to begin on May 2, 2007 and the anticipated time period is 30 days, but may be shortened or lengthened depending on developing circumstances. (FDA notice memorandum on surveillance assignment, dated 05/01/07, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/protsurv.html)