Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a news release announcing the conclusion of the Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review for Taiwan. The USTR recognized Taiwan's progress on protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights by removing Taiwan from the Special 301 Watch List. (USTR news release, dated 01/16/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2009/January/asset_upload_file824_15293.pdf)
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1. USTR Announces Conclusion of Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review for Taiwan
2. AMS Establishes Voluntary Standard for Livestock Naturally Raised Marketing Claim
The Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a notice announcing that it is establishing a voluntary standard for a naturally raised marketing claim that livestock producers may request to have verified by the Department of Agriculture. This standard incorporates revisions made as a result of comments received from an earlier proposed standard. (FR Pub 01/21/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-1007.pdf)
3. FAS Seeks Nominations for Child/Forced Labor Consultative Group
The Foreign Agricultural Service has issued a notice requesting nominations of individuals to serve as a nongovernment member of the Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use of Child Labor and Forced Labor in Imported Agricultural Products. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on March 9, 2009. (FR Pub 01/21/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-1005.pdf)
4. ATF Annual List of Explosives, Explosive Materials
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has issued its annual list of explosives determined to be within the coverage of 18 USC 841 et seq. The list covers not only explosives, but also blasting agents and detonators, all of which are defined as explosive materials in 18 USC 841(c). (FR Pub 12/31/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-31179.pdf)
5. FDA Announces Availability of Draft Documents on Fish Consumption
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a notice announcing the availability of two draft documents. The first is entitled "Report of Quantitative Risk and Benefit Assessment of Commercial Fish Consumption, Focusing on Fetal Neurodevelopmental Effects (Measured by Verbal Development in Children) and on Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke in the General Population" (draft risk and benefit assessment report). The second draft document is entitled "Summary of Published Research on the Beneficial Effects of Fish Consumption and Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Certain Neurodevelopmental and Cardiovascular Endpoints" (draft summary of published research). (FR Pub 01/21/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-1081.pdf)
6. Presidential Determination on the JADE Act
The President has issued a determination regarding the limited waiver of certain sanctions imposed by, and delegation of certain authorities pursuant to, the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act of 2008. (FR Pub 01/21/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-1362.pdf )
7. AMS Revises Regulatory Periods for Certain Grapes
AMS has issued an interim final rule, effective January 24, 2009, revising the regulatory period when minimum grade, size, quality, and maturity requirements apply to southeastern California grapes under Marketing Order No. 925, and to imported grapes under the table grape import regulation, from April 20 through August 15 of each year to April 10 through July 10 of each year. Comments are due by March 23, 2009. (FR Pub 01/21/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-1139.pdf)
8. OFAC Designates 3 Individuals under Kingpin Act
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing the names of 3 additional individuals whose property and interests in property have been blocked pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. The list of additional designees is as follows:
ZABALA PADILLA, Omar Arturo (a.k.a. ZABALA PADILLA, Omar Enrique; a.k.a. ''Lucas Gualdron'')
GARCIA ALBERT, Maria Remedios (a.k.a. ''Soraya''; a.k.a. ''Irene'')
RODRIGO VEGA, Vlaudin (a.k.a.''Carlos Vlaudin'')
(FR Pub 01/21/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-1072.pdf)
9. OFAC Updates its SDN List
OFAC has updated its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list. (OFAC list, posted 01/16/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20090116.shtml)
10. Treasury Targets Taiwanese Proliferators
The Treasury Department has issued a news release announcing that it has designated two Taiwanese individuals and two Taiwanese entities pursuant to Executive Order 13382, an authority aimed at freezing the assets of proliferators of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their supporters, and at isolating them from the U.S. financial and commercial systems. The two Taiwanese entities are as follows:
GLOBAL INTERFACE COMPANY INC. Formerly Known As: Trans Scientific Corp.
TRANS MERITS CO. LTD.
(Treasury Department press release, dated 01/16/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp1359.htm)
11. Treasury Targets Al Qaida Operatives in Iran
Treasury has issued a news release announcing that it has designated four al Qaida associates under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism. The associates are as follows:
MUSTAFA HAMID (AKAs: Mustafa Muhammad Atiya Hamid; Mustafa Atiya; Abu Walid al-Misri; Abu al-Walid al-Masri; Abu al-Walid; Hashim al-Makki)
MUHAMMAD RAB'A AL-SA YID AL-BAHTIYTI (AKAs: Muhammad Mahmud Rabi' al-Zayd al-Bahtiti; Muhammad Mahmud al-Bahtiti; Muhammad Rabi' al-Sa'id al-Hatiti; Muhammad Rabi' al-Bahtiti; Abu Dujana al-Masri)
ALI SALEH HUSAIN (AKAs: Abu Dahhak; 'Ali Salih Husayn al-Dhahak al-Tabuki; Ali Saleh Husain al-Tabuki; 'Ali Salih Husayn 'Ula'lah; 'Ali Salih Husayn; 'Ala'lah Dhahhak al-Tabuki; Abu Dhahak al-Yemeni)
SA'AD BIN LADEN (AKAs: Sad Bin Laden; Sa'ad Muhammad Awad Abud; Muhammad Awad; Muhammad 'Awad Adbud; Sa'ad Muhammad Baabood; Abdul Rahman Al-Kahtane; Bin Muhammad Awad Abbud)
(Treasury Department press release, dated 01/16/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp1360.htm)
12. EPA Updates Hazardous Waste Web Page
The Environmental Protection Agency has updated its international requirements for hazardous waste Web page. (Requirements available at http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/index.htm)
13. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recalls:
| Product: Reason | Company | Release |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 model year TCR Advanced SL and SL (ISP) Bicycles and Frames: Fall Hazard | Giant Bicycle (CA) | 09-096 |
| Children's Sunglasses: Lead Paint Standard Violation | Axiom International Inc (MT) | 09-097 |
| Rainforest Portable Play Yards manufactured by Simplicity Inc. and SFCA Inc.: Fall and Entrapment Hazards | Simplicity Inc. and SFCA Inc. (PA) | 09-098 |
| Certain Home Heating Vent Pipes: Gas Leak Hazard | Various Home Heating Furnace, Boiler and HTPV Manufacturers | 09-099 |
| Bosch and Siemens Model Dishwashers: Fire Hazard | BSH Home Appliances Corp. (CA) | 09-100 |
| Infantino Lion and Lamb Grabby Rattles: Choking Hazard | Infantino LLC (CA) | 09-101 |
14. Revised FDA Import Alerts
FDA has posted revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:
Food Products Due to the Presence of Melamine and/or Melamine Analogs
Processed Seafood Products Due to E.Coli
Food Products Due to the Presence of Salmonella
Animal Feeds, Other Than Pet Treats, Due to the Presence of Salmonella
Processed Products for Pesticides
Imported Food Products Due to NLEA Violations
Raw Agricultural Products for Pesticides