Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Senators Praise OIE Decision Classifying U.S. as Controlled Risk for BSE in Beef

2. FMC Announces Addendum to 2003 TSA Settlement Agreement

The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a press release announcing that it has voted to accept a proposed Addendum to the 2003 Settlement Agreement reached between the FMC and major ocean carrier agreements and their member lines, including the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA). By mutual agreement of the Parties, the Addendum modifies the original Settlement Agreement to permit TSA member lines to file an amendment to their agreement to include the Indian Subcontinent within TSA's geographic scope. (FMC press release NR 07-02, dated 05/25/07, available at http://www.fmc.gov/speeches/FMCAnnouncesAddendumto2003SettlementAgreementwithTranspacificStabilizationAgreementMemberLines.asp)

3. EPA Launches Chinese-Language Web Site

The Washington File reports that the Environmental Protection Agency has launched a Chinese-language Web site with materials on a variety of issues including energy efficiency, clean water, and the proper management of pesticides. (EPA Chinese language Web site available at http://www.epa.gov/chinese/.) (Washington File, Pub 05/22/07, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=May&x=20070522162602ajesrom0.936947)

4. State Dept's Int'l Telecommunication Advisory Committee to Meet

The State Department has issued a notice announcing that its International Telecommunication Advisory Committee (ITAC) will hold open meetings on June 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2007 in Washington, DC in order to prepare advice on U.S. positions for a meeting of an Organization of American States (OAS) Inter American Telecommunication Commission committee. This OAS committee will then prepare for the International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conference. (Public Notice 5818, FR Pub 05/30/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-10343.pdf

5. BIS Solicits Speakers for June 19th Meeting of Deemed Export Committee

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice to solicit speakers and presentations for the June 19, 2007 meeting of the Deemed Export Advisory Committee, which will be held in Boston, MA, with exact details to be announced in a subsequent Federal Register notice. Commitments to address the committee and brief outlines of topics to be discussed are due no later than 5:00 p.m. EST May 30, 2007. (BIS notice, FR Pub 05/21/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-2509.pdf.)

6. Brazilian Company Receives $27,000 Fine for Antiboycott Violations

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a press release announcing that Cooper Tools Industrial Ltda., a wholly-owned Brazilian subsidiary of Cooper US, Inc., has agreed to pay a $27,000 civil penalty to settle allegations that it furnished fifteen items of prohibited information about business relationships with Israel to persons in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in violation of the antiboycott provisions of the Export Administration Regulations. (BIS press release, dated 05/16/07, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2007/cooperTools.htm)

7. USTR Small & Minority Business Committee to Hold Partially Open Meeting

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a notice announcing that its Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business (ITAC-11) will hold a partially open meeting on June 10, 2007 in Atlanta, GA to provide an overview of the structure/existence of trade advisory organizations, programs, and systems within Latin American governments that assist and/or give voice to the needs of small and medium sized businesses in Latin America. (FR Pub 05/29/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-10245.pdf)

8. FDA Posts Various Notices to its Web Site

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

Interim melamine and analogues safety/risk assessment. FDA has posted an interim melamine and analogues safety/risk assessment which describes the risk to human health associated with eating pork, chicken, fish and eggs from animals that had been inadvertently fed animal feed that may have been adulterated with melamine and its analogues (cyanuric acid, ammelide and ammeline). (Assessment, dated 05/25/07, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/melamra.html)

Small business exemption notification program. FDA has posted a notice announcing that on May 7, 2007, it launched a new Web-based submission process for small businesses to file an annual notice of exemption from the nutrition labeling requirements. The new process will make it easier for businesses to update their information. In addition, firms eligible for the exemption will receive an electronic reminder when it is time to resubmit their nutrition labeling small business exemption notice. (FDA notice, dated 05/23/07, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/cfsup158.html)

Medical foods FAQ. FDA has posted a guidance for industry entitled "Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Foods." (Guidance, dated May 2007, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/medfguid.html)

Perchlorate documents posted. FDA has posted four documents regarding perchlorate to its Web site including a report entitled "Preliminary Estimation of Perchlorate Dietary Exposure Based on FDA 2004/2005 Exploratory Data," a peer review of the report, a perchlorate questions and answers document, and a report entitled " 2004-2005 Exploratory Survey Data on Perchlorate in Food." (Perchlorate documents, all dated/updated May 2007, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/clo4ee.html, http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/clo4ee2.html, http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/clo4qa.html, and http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/clo4data.html)