Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. China Increases VAT Rebate for Footwear, Other Textile Products

2. China to Initiate Spot Checks of Certain Organic Products

China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine announced that in order to implement requirements of the Quality and Safety Year and improve the efficiency of organic product accreditation, China will institute spot tests on organic products. The key organic products to be tested this time are processed food products and edible fungus in Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaojing, and vegetables, fruits and tea in Jiangsu and Fujian. (Notice, dated 06/09/09, available at http://english.aqsiq.gov.cn/NewsRelease/NewsUpdates/200906/t20090609_117838.htm)

3. U.S.-ASEAN Dialogue to Take Place June 11-12 in Washington, DC

The 22nd meeting of the U.S.-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Dialogue will take place June 11-12, 2009 in Washington, DC. (Notice, available at http://www.aseansec.org/)

4. Richard Lidinsky Nominated for FMC Commissioner

On June 9, 2009, the Administration has announced the nomination of Richard A. Lidinsky, Jr. as a Commissioner on the Federal Maritime Commission. According to the press release, Lidinsky has worked in the international maritime trade industry for 35 years. (White House press release available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-Announces-More-Key-Administration-Posts-6-9-09/.)

5. FY 2010 HHS Budget in Brief Document Available

The Department of Health and Human Services has posted to its web site its fiscal year 2010 "budget-in-brief" document which provides details on its FY 2010 budget request. (The Food and Drug Administration is one of HHS' agencies.) (HHS Budget in Brief, available at http://www.hhs.gov/asrt/ob/docbudget/2010budgetinbrief.pdf.)

6. USTR Speaks on U.S. Agricultural Trade Policies after Cairns Group Meeting

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has posted USTR Kirk's statement following the 33rd Cairns Group Ministerial Meeting. While attending the Bali ministerial, Ambassador Kirk met with a number of Cairns Group ministers and other attendees to discuss U.S. agricultural trade policies. (Statement, dated 06/09/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/june/statement-united-states-trade-representative-ron-kirk)

7. AMS Livestock and Seed Program Recognized as Organic Accreditor

The Department of Agriculture announced today that the Audit, Review, and Compliance Branch of the Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock and Seed Program has been formally recognized as a competent accreditor of certification bodies involved in organic production and processing. The ARC Branch was evaluated based on internationally accepted criteria for accreditors, ISO/IEC 17011. (New Release, dated 06/09/09, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5077218&dID=113217&wf=false&description=USDAAuditProgramReceivesInternationalAccreditation&topNav=Newsroom&leftNav=&r)

8. APHIS Issues Proposed Rule to Update Noxious Weed Regulations

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule to update its regulations governing the importation and interstate movement of noxious weeds. APHIS would add definitions, add details regarding the process of applying for the permits used to import or move noxious weeds, add a requirement for the treatment of niger seed, add provisions for taxon petitions, and add seven taxa to the list of terrestrial noxious weeds and to the list of seeds with no tolerances applicable to their introduction. Written comments are due by August 10, 2009. (D/N APHIS-2007-0146, FR Pub 06/10/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-13507.pdf)

9. 2010 Food Safety Education Conference

The Food Safety and Inspection Service is announcing that a food safety conference will be held in Atlanta, Georgia on March 23-26, 2010 on preventing foodborne illness. (Notice, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/2010_FSE_Conference/index.asp)

10. Census Has Revised Goods Export Data for Aircraft Industry

The U.S. Census Bureau has revised goods export data from January 2004 through December 2008 as a result of analysis of the aircraft industry. In addition, the Census Bureau began suppressing export data for certain 10-digit Schedule B commodity classifications related to the aircraft industry with the release of the January 2009 merchandise trade report on March 13, 2009. (Census notification, dated 06/10/09, available at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/.)

11. DDTC Posts Schedule of In-House Seminars

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has posted its schedule of In-House Industry and Embassy Seminars that begin in September 2009. (Schedule, available at http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/outreach/documents/inhouse_seminars_schedule2.doc)

12. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recalls:

(CPSC recalls available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prereljun09.html)

13. FSIS Updates Plant Lists for Various Countries

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has posted updated lists of U.S. plants approved to exportmeat, poultry, and egg products to Japan, Russia (pork), Australia,Japan (casings), and Mexico.

14. FSIS Updates Export Requirements for Various Countries

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has posted updated export requirements for certain products from the following countries.

Uzbekistan - The information regarding ineligible and eligible pork from certain states was updated.

Russia - The information regarding ineligible and eligible pork and pork products from certain states was updated.

Kyrgyzstan - The information regarding ineligible meat and poultry and meat and poultry products from certain states was updated.

China - The information regarding ineligible pork and pork products from certain states and certification requirements was updated.

15. Revised FDA Import Alerts

The Food and Drug Administration has posted revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

Nuts and Nut Containing Products for Aflatoxin

Honey Containing Foreign Objects

Cantaloupes from Mexico

Candy Due to Lead

Seafood Products Due to the Presence of Salmonella

Food Products Due to the Presence of Melamine and/or Melamine Analogs

Imported Soft Cheese (Includes Soft and Soft Ripened Cheese) from France

Cheese Due to Microbiological Contamination

Aquacultured Catfish, Basa (Pangasius sp), Dace, and Eel Products from China Due to the Presence of New Animal Drugs and/or Unsafe Food Additives

Processed Seafood and Analogue Seafood (Surimi) Products for L. Monocytogenes

and Surveillance of Fruit Juices and Fruit Juice Concentrates Due to Heavy Metal Contamination

Veterinary Drugs from Firms that Have Not Met Drug GMPs

Processed Products for Pesticides

and Intensified Coverage of Pig Ears and Other Pet Treats Due to the Presence of Salmonella

and Guidance of Foods Containing Illegal and/or Undeclared Colors

Animal Feeds, Other than Pet Treats, Due to the Presence of Salmonella

Raw Fresh Fruits and Vegetables from Listed Manufacturers, Shippers, and/or Growers Due to the Presence of Pathogenic Contamination

Food Products Due to the Presence of Salmonella

Surgical Instruments from Pakistan

Raw Agricultural Products for Pesticides

and Surveillance of Surgeon's and/or Patient Examination Gloves

Raw Agricultural Products for Pesticides

Class II Devices without Approved PMAs or IDEs and Other Devices Not Equivalent or No 510K