Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Journal of Commerce reports that while growing in use, environmentally friendly packaging such as minimal, shrink-wrapped or recycled packaging may cause certain warehousing difficulties including increased damage and insurance claims, slow handling, problems withstanding humidity, etc. (JoC, dated 06/18/07, www.joc.com)
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1. Environmentally-Friendly Packaging May Cause Warehousing Challenges
2. Argentina, Etc. Request Additional Int'l Standards for Pesticide Residues in Food
The World Trade Organization reports that Argentina, supported by a number of developing countries, urged governments to agree on international standards for pesticide residues in food, and to apply those standards or justify tougher requirements by supplying scientific evidence. The request was made in a June 2007 meeting of the WTO's Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Committee in response to what Argentina and the supporting countries said were new maximum residue levels announced by a number of importing countries that impede trade because they are more restrictive than internationally agreed standards or affect areas where no standards have been set up. (WTO news item, dated 06/27/07, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news07_e/sps_29june07_e.htm)
3. FDA Seeks Comments on CFSAN Program Priorities for FY 2008
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a notice requesting comments concerning the establishment of program priorities in the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) for fiscal year 2008 as part of its annual planning, budgeting, and resource allocation process. Comments are due by September 4, 2007. (D/N 1998N-0359 (formerly 98N-0359), FR Pub 07/03/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-12884.pdf)
4. Results of the 2006 GSP Annual Product and Country Practices Reviews, Etc.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing the availability of the disposition of the product petitions accepted for review in the 2006 Generalized System of Preferences Annual Product Review, the results of the 2006 Country Practices Review, the results of the 2006 De Minimis Waiver and Redesignation Reviews, the 2006 Competitive Need Limitation (CNL) Removals, and certain CNL Waiver Revocations. Disposition of the petitions and other results are available at http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Development/Preference_Programs/GSP/Section_Index.html and are published in Presidential Proclamation 8157. (FR Pub 07/03/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-12887.pdf)
5. APHIS Issues Interim Rule Amending Cold Treatment Regulations
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued an interim rule, effective August 31, 2007, amending the phytosanitary treatment regulations at 7 CFR Part 305 by making several changes to the requirements for cold treatment enclosures and the requirements for conducting cold treatment. Among other things, the changes include adding more specific and stringent requirements for precooling fruit prior to cold treatment. Comments are due by August 31, 2007. (D/N APHIS-2006-0050, FR Pub 07/02/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-12768.pdf)
6. President Waives Certain Applications of Trade Act for Turkmenistan
The President has issued Executive Order 13437 which waives the application of subsections (a) and (b) of section 402 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, with respect to Turkmenistan. (EO 13437, FR Pub 07/03/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-3259.pdf)
7. GAO Reports on Security Concerns in the Caribbean Basin
The Government Accountability Office has issued a letter to congressional committees reporting on, among other things, security concerns in the Caribbean Basin, which include (1) the level of corruption that exists in some Caribbean nations to undermine the rule of law in these countries, (2) organized gang activity occurring in proximity to or within port facilities, and (3) the geographic proximity of many Caribbean countries, which has made them transit countries for cocaine and heroin destined for U.S. markets. (GAO-07-804R, dated 06/29/07, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07804r.pdf)