Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a release stating it will begin a pilot program on May 1, 2009, initially open to those entities currently participating in CBP's expedited border release program, Automated Line Release (ALR)/Border Release Advance Screening and Selectivity (BRASS), and whose products require a Lacey Act declaration during the current phase of enforcement. This pilot program will test the feasibility of collecting the information required using a periodic "blanket" declaration, with subsequent reconciliation reports. Entities currently participating in ALR or BRASS will be able to choose whether to remain active in the expedited program and participate in this pilot program or be removed from the expedited program. (See ITT's Online Archives or 05/01/09 news, 09050105, for BP summary.) (Release, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/lacey_act/downloads/PilotProgramAnnoucement.pdf)
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1. APHIS Posts Release on Periodic Lacey Act Procedures for ALR/BRASS
2. Commerce Secretary Discusses TPA with Colombian Minister
U.S. Commerce Secretary Locke hosted a meeting with Colombia's Minister for Trade, Industry and Tourism, Luis Guillermo Plata, at the Commerce Department on May 1, 2009. This was the first meeting between Minister Plata and Secretary Locke. The Secretary and Minister Plata reaffirmed the commitment of both governments to move forward on progress towards the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement. (Release, dated 05/01/09, available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_007938)
3. USDA Says Food Supply Could Top Global Warming as Global Issue
USDA reports that if predictions by the United Nations and others are correct, simply supplying enough food for the world could become the major global issue, even topping such things as global warming. (Notice, available at http://audioarchives.oc.usda.gov/radnewsdetail.asp?ID=20229)
4. USDA Posts Progress Report on First 100 Days of New Administration
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has posted a progress report on the first 100 days of the new administration. (Report, dated 04/09/09, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?navid=USDA_100DAY)
5. Chinese Baby Furniture Company Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Internationally Protected Wood
The Justice Department reports that Style Craft Furniture Co. Ltd. pleaded guilty on May 1, 2009 in U.S. District Court in Camden, NJ, to one count of smuggling cribs containing internationally protected wood known as "ramin." The company, a manufacturer of wooden baby furniture located primarily in China, imported approximately $15 million in declared value of wood furniture between 2004 and 2005. (Justice Dept. press release, dated 05/01/09, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2009/May/09-enrd-424.html)
6. BIS Release on Houston Firm Settlement of Export Allegations
The Bureau of Industry and Security has announced that B.J. Services Company of Houston, Texas, a provider of specialty products and services to the oil and gas industries, has agreed to pay an $800,000 civil penalty to settle allegations involving 72 unlicensed exports to a variety of countries of various service parts controlled under Export Commodity Classification Number 2B350 for reasons of chemical and biological weapons proliferation. The company voluntarily disclosed the violations. BIS noted that an effective compliance program requires continuous oversight and revision to keep pace with changing business practices. (Release, dated 05/01/09, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2009/bis_press05012009.htm)
7. FDA Posts Enforcement Report for April 29th
The Food and Drug Administration has posted its Enforcement Report for the week of April 29, 2009. The report contains information on actions taken in connection with agency regulatory activities. (Report, dated 04/29/09, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ENFORCE/2009/ENF01105.html)
8. FMC Postpones May 13, 2009 Commission Meeting
The Federal Maritime Commission's meeting scheduled for May 13, 2009 has been postponed until 1:30 p.m. on May 20, 2009. (Notice, available at http://www.fmc.gov/home/May132009MeetingPostponement.asp)
9. Revised Export Requirements for China, Japan, Russia, Etc.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has posted updated export requirements for China, Ecuador, Japan, Japan (Egg Products), Philippines, Russia, and Croatia. The requirements for China, Ecuador, Russia, and Croatia were updated to place restrictions on certain pork/pork products from the U.S.
10. WCO Release on 2nd International Conference on Illicit Cash Couriers
The World Customs Organization issued a press release on the Second International Conference on Illicit Cash Couriers, jointly organized by Interpol and the WCO in Brussels from April 27-30, 2009. Approximately one hundred delegates representing some sixty countries and seven international and regional organizations shared best practices and agreed on a series of recommendations for WCO and Interpol Members urging them to participate more actively in the work of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) through national or regional working groups. (Release, dated 04/30/09, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/press/default.aspx?lid=1&id=181)
11. METI Release on Results of Field Trial of Electronic Tags for Maritime Containers
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has issued a release on the results of its field test of electronic tags in the marine transport route between Japan and the Netherlands for three months from December 10, 2008. METI, which hopes to propose international standards, states that the trial involved 39-containers and a variety of tags. (Release, dated 04/27/09, available at http://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/data/20090427_01.html)
12. Canada Finalizes Regulatory Process to Amend its Export Control List
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada reports that on April 30, 2009, the Government of Canada finalized the regulatory process to amend its Export Control List. This amendment serves to control, clarify controls over and to remove from control specific items and to ensure currency of Canada's export controls of strategic items pursuant to its multilateral obligations. (Notice, available at http://www.international.gc.ca/controls-controles/military-militaires/regulation-ecl-reglement-lme.aspx)
13. Canada Regulatory Impact Analysis on Proposed Rule to Amend the Transport in Dangerous Goods Regulations
The Canada Gazette has published the regulatory analysis to accompany a proposed rule to amend (1) the exemption allowing up to 150 kg of dangerous goods to be introduced into the transport chain without any associated documentation or marking, and the (2) Emergency Response Assistance Plan enforcement and other issues for persons with an approved ERAPs and the accumulation of large quantities of dangerous goods in interconnected means of containment. The amendatory text of the proposed rule is also included. (Notice, dated 05/02/09, available at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2009/2009-05-02/html/reg2-eng.html)
14. CBSA Posts New/Revised Documents
The Canada Border Services Agency has posted the following new or revised documents:
CN09-006, Form E29B, Temporary Admission Permit - Form Requirements
CN09-005, Terms and Conditions of Operating an SO (CSA) Type Sufferance Warehouse
D4-3-2 Revised: Duty-Free Shop - Licensing
15. FTZB Notice on Proposed FTZ for Kern County; Hearing
The Foreign Trade Zone Board is announcing that an application for a foreign trade zone has been submitted by Kern County, California for the Meadows Field Airport, which has been designated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as a user fee airport. A public hearing in the application will be held on May 27, 2009. Comments on the application are due July 6, 2009, with rebuttals due 15 days later. (D/N 18-2009, FR Pub 05/04/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-10182.pdf)
16. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports
The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:
Australia Cotton and Products: Annual Report
Turkey: Cotton and Products Annual
17. Export.Gov Announcement on Export Training Sessions
Export.gov has provided information on three Small Business Administration export seminars to be held in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas of Pennsylvania. (Notice, available at http://www.buyusa.gov/philadelphia/bittg.html)