Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Journal of Commerce reports that the Transportation Security Administration needs to consider how it will manage appeals from applicants for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program who are denied credentials after mandatory criminal background checks. Workers may appeal to one of five Coast Guard administrative judges which may be too few to act on appeals from potentially thousands of workers. (JoC, dated 07/23/07, www.joc.com)
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1. TSA Should Consider How to Handle Appeals from Denied TWIC Applicants
2. Fisher-Price Recalling 1.5 Million Chinese-Made Toys
According to Reuters, Mattel Inc. is recalling 1.5 million Chinese-made toys worldwide that were made for its Fisher-Price unit because their paint may contain too much lead - the latest in a deluge of product safety scares that have tainted the "Made in China" brand. (Reuters, available at http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSWEN003320070802?src=080207_0331_ECARTICLES_editors_choice_-_articles )
3. China Closes 3 Companies Associated with Tainted Medicine, Pet Food
MSNBC reports that China has shut down a chemical plant linked to dozens of deaths in Panama from tainted medicine and closed two companies tied to pet deaths in North America. The closures came months after links between the companies' products and the deaths became known, but only days before European Union and U.S. officials were scheduled to visit China to discuss setting up a collaborative food safety mechanism. (MSNBC, dated 07/20/07, available at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19876545/)
4. Network Matches Chinese and Overseas Forwarders
According to American Shipper, China's emerging freight forwarding industry, which has access to tons of export cargo, still knows relatively little about the business outside the country's borders, and therefore, has turned to the China Global Logistics Network as a way to connect with their counterparts throughout the world. The network essentially operates as a matchmaking service between Chinese and overseas forwarders. (American Shipper, dated July 2007, www.americanshipper.com)
5. AMS Increases Fresh Fruit/Vegetable Terminal Market Fees by 15%
The Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a final rule revising the regulations governing the inspection and certification for fresh fruits, vegetables and other products by increasing certain fees charged for the inspection of these products at destination markets for the next two fiscal years (FY-2007 and FY-2008) by approximately 15 percent each fiscal year. AMS states that these revisions are necessary in order to recover, as nearly as practicable, the costs of performing inspection services at destination markets under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. (AMS final rule, D/N AMS-FV-07-0099, FV-06-308, FR Pub 08/01/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-14826.pdf
6. USDA Announces Capacity Building Programs in AGOA-Eligible Countries
The Foreign Agricultural Service has issued a press release announcing three U.S. Department of Agriculture capacity building programs in African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)-eligible countries. The programs will address organic certification, cocoa, and agricultural science policy and research techniques, respectively. Agriculture Under Secretary Keenum also invited African and U.S. agribusiness firms to participate in a trade and investment mission to Western Africa in 2008. (FAS press release, PR 0077-07, dated 07/19/07, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/PressRelease/pressrel_dout.asp?Entry=valid&PrNum=0077-07)
7. FSIS Affirms 2 Interim Final Rules to Minimize Human Exposure to BSE
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a final rule, effective October 1, 2007, which affirms two interim final rules published in the January 12, 2004 Federal Register, which prohibit the use of (1) specified risk materials for human food and requirements for the disposition of non-ambulatory cattle; and (2) certain stunning devices used to immobilize cattle during slaughter. FSIS is taking this action to minimize human exposure to cattle materials that could potentially contain the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/13/04 news, 04011310, for BP summary of the interim final rules.) (FSIS final rule, D/N 03-025F, FR Pub 07/13/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-3350.pdf)
8. TSA No Longer Enforcing Lighter Prohibition Onboard Aircraft
The Transportation Security Administration has issued a notice announcing that, effective August 4, 2007, it will no longer enforce the prohibition of bringing certain butane and other types of lighters onboard commercial aircraft. (FR Pub 07/24/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-3630.pdf)
9. Commerce, State Depts Seek Comment on Beryllium Metal Disposal Level
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice advising the public that the National Defense Stockpile Market Impact Committee, co-chaired by the Departments of Commerce and State, is seeking public comments on the potential market impact of increasing the National Defense Stockpile's proposed Fiscal Year 2008 Annual Materials Plan disposal level for beryllium metal by August 27, 2007. (D/N 070718363-7368-01, FR Pub 07/27/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-14559.pdf)
10. Texas Company Receives $9,000 Fine for Antiboycott Violations
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a press release announcing that Dresser Incorporated of Texas has agreed to pay a $9,000 civil penalty to settle allegations that it violated the antiboycott provisions of the Export Administration Regulations. BIS alleged that Dresser failed to report in a timely manner its receipt of nine requests to engage in a restrictive trade practice or boycott, which involved the sale of goods to Pakistan. (Dated 07/20/07, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2007/texas07202007.htm)
11. 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 or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):
| Agency | Information Collection | Comments Due |
|---|---|---|
| FMCSA | OMB Control No. 2126-0011 (Commercial Driver Licensing and Test Standards) | 09/10/07 |
| FDA 1 | Procedures for the Safe and Sanitary Processing and Importing of Fish and Fishery Products | Approved |
| FDA 2 | Current Good Manufacturing Practice Quality System Regulations | 09/07/07 |
| ITA | Commercial Service Market Segmentation Study of Moderate U.S. Exporters Survey | 09/07/07 |
| USDA 1 | Listeria Control for Ready-to-Eat Products | 08/10/07 |
| USDA 2 | Health Certificate/Export Certificate-Animal Products | 08/10/07 |
FMCSA Information Collection (FR Pub 07/10/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-13376.pdf
FDA 1 Information Collection (FR Pub 07/09/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-13153.pdf
FDA 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 07/09/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-13152.pdf
ITA Information Collection (FR Pub 07/09/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-13218.pdf
USDA 1 Information Collection (FR Pub 07/10/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-13317.pdf
USDA 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 07/10/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-13319.pdf