Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

China Economic Net reports that China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (GAQSIQ) has issued a draft counterplan in response to emergencies caused by poor-quality products, including foods, and to solicit advice from the public. (CEN, dated 10/04/07, available at http://en.ce.cn/National/Politics/200710/04/t20071004_13128588.shtml)

4. U.S. Requests Greater Market Access at U.S.-Korea Beef Trade Talks

CNN reports that the U.S. and South Korea have begun two days of beef trade talks, with the U.S. requesting greater access to the Korean market in light of a ruling earlier this year by the World Organization for Animal Health that the U.S. is a "controlled risk nation" for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, aka mad cow disease). The talks are aimed at revising South Korea's import conditions, including the policy imposed last year to import only boneless U.S. meat from cattle less than 30 months old, a policy that partially lifted an almost three-year ban imposed on American beef. (CNN, dated 10/11/07, available at http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/11/skorea.us.beef.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest)

5. Europe Reconsiders Plan to Relax Consumer Product Safety Rules

The New York Times reports that not long ago, the European Union was planning to relax its monitoring of product safety, taking it away from consumer protection authorities and assigning it to a weaker surveillance system aimed at work equipment; however, with the recalls of toys, along with other evidence of health and safety risks from Chinese products, officials at the European Commission are taking a second look at whether its safety regulations are adequate for both companies and the bodies that regulate them. (NY Times, dated 09/17/07, available at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/business/worldbusiness/18regulate.html)

6. U.S., Colombia Agree to Expand Flights

The State Department has issued a press release announcing that the U.S. and Colombia have concluded an agreement to expand and liberalize their civil aviation relationship. Beginning on October 1, the agreement will expand opportunities for trade and people-to-people contacts between the two nations - airlines may provide unlimited scheduled passenger service to the Colombian cities of Cartagena and Barranquilla and the agreement will boost the number of scheduled weekly frequencies (round-trip flights) to other destinations, from 70 to 91, over the next year and expand charter opportunities between the two nations. (2007/841, dated 10/03/07, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/oct/93214.htm)

7. FSIS Posts Updated Export Requirements for Poultry for Russia

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has posted updated poultry export requirements for Russia. According to FSIS, the export requirements have been updated to note that fresh/frozen poultry meat derived from birds raised or processed in the State of Virginia and slaughtered on or after July 7, 2007, but prior to October 12, 2007, is ineligible; and meat derived from birds slaughtered prior to July 7, 2007 or slaughtered on or after October 12, 2007, is eligible for export.

8. Board for International Food and Agricultural Development to Meet

The Agency for International Development has issued a notice announcing that the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD) will hold an open meeting on October 17, 2007 in Des Moines, Iowa. (FR Pub 10/02/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19396.pdf)

9. ITA Revokes Export Trade Certificate of Review for JV Export Trading Co

The International Trade Administration has issued a notice announcing that the Secretary of Commerce has determined to revoke the Export Trade Certificate of Review for JV Export Trading Company, Inc. because the company failed to file an annual report as required by law. According to the ITA, the revocation is effective October 31, 2007. (FR Pub 10/11/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-20040.pdf)

10.BIS Materials Advisory Committees Hold Meetings October 11, 2007

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued notices announcing that both its Materials Processing Equipment Technical Advisory Committee and its Materials Technical Advisory committee were to hold partially open meetings on October 11, 2007 in Washington, DC. Both committees advise the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration with respect to technical questions that affect the level of export controls applicable to materials (or materials processing equipment) and related technology. (BIS notices, FR Pub 09/28/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-4776.pdf)

11. EPA Expands List of Acceptable Substitutes for Ozone Depleting Substances

The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a notice of determination of acceptability, effective October 4, 2007, that expands the list of acceptable substitutes for ozone depleting substances under the EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. The determinations concern new substitutes for use in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector. (EPA notice, EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118; FRL-8477-7, FR Pub 10/04/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19545.pdf)

12. PHMSA Makes Minor Changes/Clarifications to HMR

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has issued a final rule, effective October 1, 2007, that corrects editorial errors, makes minor regulatory changes and, in response to requests for clarification, improves the clarity of certain provisions in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). (PHMSA final rule, D/N PHMSA-2007-29245 (HM-244), FR Pub 10/01/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19138.pdf)

13. APHIS Permits Entry of Hunted Birds from Canada, Details Restrictions

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a stakeholders announcement that it will allow the entry of hunter-harvested birds and wild bird commodities from Canada, including the Saskatchewan Province, into the U.S. APHIS also details certain restrictions on certain poultry products. (APHIS announcement, dated 10/02/07, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/sa_hunter10-2007.pdf)

14. GAO Reports US-VISIT Lacks Strategic Plan, Biometric Exit Schedule

The Government Accountability Office has issued a report stating that under the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) expenditure plan, the Department of Homeland Security did not satisfy the conditions to include a comprehensive US-VISIT strategic plan and a complete schedule for biometric exit implementation. (GAO-07-1065, dated August 2007, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d071065.pdf)

15. BIS Temporarily Denies Certain Export Privileges for Illegal Export to Iran

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued an Order temporarily denying certain export privileges for a period of 180 days from October 10, 2007 to Aviation Services International B.V.; Delta Logistics, B.V.; Robert Kraaipoel; Niels

Kraaipoel; T.P.C B.V.; Mia Van Gemert; Mojir Trading; Reza Amidi; Lavantia, Ltd.; and Mita Zarek for alleged export to Iran of U.S. origin items during the 2006-2007 embargo against Iran without the required authorization, among other things. (BIS Order, FR Pub 10/10/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-4995.pdf)