Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. TSA Says Program for Industry to Meet 100% Screening Requirement for Passenger Plane Cargo to Begin in 2008

2. Miami CBP Solicits Stakeholders for Perishables Working Group

U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Port of Miami has issued a January 3, 2008 Information Bulletin to solicit participation by stakeholders in a working group whose objective is to streamline and improve process flow for agricultural inspections and CBP response times. Requests to participate are due to Michael.Greenberg@dhs.gov ((305) 869-4193) by January 11, 2008. The first strategy meeting is scheduled for January 24, 2008. (Miami Information Bulletin 08-016, dated 01/03/08, available by contacting documents@brokerpower.com ).

3. 8th Security Seals Symposium to be Held Jan 29-31 in Charleston, SC

The 8th Security Seals Symposium, Vulnerabilities of Intermodal Cargo, will be held on January 29 - 31, 2008 in Charleston, South Carolina. It is presented by the Department of Defense Lock Program, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Transportation Security Administration. (Information available at http://0190b11.netsolhost.com/)

4. FDA Updates its Import Alert on Honey to Include Blended Syrups

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a revised version of Import Alert (IA) 36-04 regarding the detention without physical examination of honey and blended syrup due to the presence of Ciprofloxacin and Enrofloxacin. FDA states that the revision of this IA changes the name of the IA, updates the product codes, and amends the text to reflect blended syrups as products of concern. (IA 36-04, revised 12/28/07, available at http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia3604.html)

5. EPA Authorizes 2008 Methyl Bromide Critical Use Exemptions

The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule, effective December 28, 2007, which authorizes uses that qualify for the 2008 critical use exemption and the amount of methyl bromide that may be produced, imported, or supplied from existing pre-phaseout inventory for those uses in 2008 under the Clean Air Act, to reflect recent consensus decisions taken by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer at the 18th Meeting of the Parties. (EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-1016; FRL-8510-8, FR Pub 12/28/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-25065.pdf)

6. USDA Secretary Appoints Members to National Potato Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a press release announcing that on January 7, 2008, the Agriculture Secretary appointed 35 producer members and one public member to serve on the National Potato Promotion Board, which is composed of producers, importers and a public member, for three-year terms beginning March 1, 2008 and ending February 28, 2011, and another member has been appointed to fill a vacancy for a term beginning immediately and ending February 28, 2009. (USDA Release No. 0004.08, dated 01/07/08, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.retrievecontent/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/.d/0/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=2008%2F01%2F0004.xml)

7. TSA Announces Initial TWIC Enrollment Dates for Several Ports

The Transportation Security Administration has issued a notice announcing that the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) enrollment in Hilo, HI was to have begun on January 3, 2008. Enrollments for the Ports of International Falls, MN; Ontonagon, MI; Morehead City; NC and Huntington, WV is on January 16, 2008; and Port Canaveral, FL will be on January 17, 2008.(TSA, D/N TSA-2006-24191; Coast Guard-2006-24196, FR Pub 12/26/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-24913.pdf)

8. DHS Homeland Security Council Held Partially Open Meeting on Jan 10th

The Department of Homeland Security issued a notice that the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) was scheduled to hold a partially open meeting on January 10, 2008 in Washington, DC for purposes of reviewing recommendations from the Administration Transition Task Force and HSAC subgroups. (D/N DHS-2007-0086, FR Pub 12/26/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-24902.pdf )

9. MARAD Marine Transport Council Held Open Meeting on Jan 10th

The Maritime Administration has issued a notice announcing that the Marine Transportation Systems National Advisory Council would be holding a public meeting on January 10, 2008 in Seattle, WA to discuss an expanded Marine Transportation System outreach and education program that addresses future workforce needs, environmental issues, and freight mobility; among other issues. (FR Pub 12/27/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-25009.pdf )

10. FMCSA Open Meeting on Unified Carrier Registration Plan on Jan 14th

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will hold a meeting open to the public on January 14, 2008 in Clearwater, FL, to consider matters of the Unified Carrier Registration Plan Board of Directors continuation of work in the development and implementation of the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement. (FR Pub 01/07/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/08-19.pdf)

11. Unz & Co. Announces 2008 International Trade Seminars

Unz & Co. has posted to its Web site a list of international trade seminars scheduled for 2008. Export seminars include Export Controls & Licensing Under the EAR and NAFTA and Other Free Trade Agreements Training; import seminars include U.S. Customs Audit & Compliance Assessment Training and UCP 600 Training; and dangerous goods transportation seminars include a Shipping Dangerous Goods by Air Training Workshop. (Complete list of 2008 international trade seminars, including dates and locations, available at http://www.unzco.com/services/intltradeseminars.htm)

12. DHS Deputy Inspector General Statement on Protecting U.S. Agriculture

The Department of Homeland Security's Deputy Inspector General has issued a statement on the joint performance of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection in protecting U.S. agriculture from foreign pests and disease, which, among other things, identifies concerns in the areas of agricultural quarantine inspection monitoring, CBP's Work Accomplishment Data System, staffing, and performance measures. (Statement, dated 10/03/07, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/testimony/OIGtm_JT_100307.pdf)

13. GAO Testimony on the FDA's Foreign Drug Inspection Program

The Government Accountability Office has issued testimony entitled: "Drug Safety: Preliminary Findings Suggest Weaknesses in FDA's Program for Inspecting Foreign Drug Manufacturers." Due to the preliminary nature of this report, the GAO is not making recommendations at this time. (GAO-08-224T, dated 11/01/07, available athttp://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08224t.pdf)

14. 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):