CBP Seattle issued a notice providing guidance on procedures for diverting cargo previously bound for Vancouver, Canada to the Port of Seattle, following the decision by the DP World terminal in Vancouver to stop accepting U.S.-bound intermodal rail cargo beginning Aug. 8 due to congestion. All cargo diversion requests should be forwarded by email to the CBP Seattle Advanced Targeting Unit for approval at SeattleATU@cbp.dhs.gov, said CBP. In order to avoid duplicate requests, only one request should be made by the vessel operating carrier 48 hours prior to the vessel’s arrival at the Area Port of Seattle/Tacoma, it said.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is proposing new regulations covering reverse logistics for certain hazardous materials. The agency’s proposed rule addresses requirements for goods that are shipped back to the vendor, distributor, manufacturer, or other entity for the purpose of returning, recalling product, or replacement. For shipments of hazardous materials covered by the proposed regulations, PHMSA would relax segregation requirements to allow the mixing of various hazard classes as long as the packages are not leaking, and would create a separate set of packaging standards. The new provisions would only apply to truck shipments under hazard classes 1.4 (ammunition), 2.1 (flammable gas), 2.2 (non-flammable compressed gas), 3 (flammable and combustible liquid), 4.1 (flammable solid), 5.1 (oxidizer), 5.2 (organic peroxide), 6.1 (poisonous materials), 6.2 (infectious substance), 8 (corrosive material) and 9 (miscellaneous). Air, ocean, and rail shipments would still be subject to hazardous materials rules for normal shipments. Comments are due Oct. 10.
The Energy Department is proposing to update energy efficiency test procedures required for refrigerated bottled or canned beverage vending machines. Under the proposed rule, the new test procedures would be required 180 days after publication of a final rule. Comments are due Oct. 26.
The International Trade Commission published notices in the Aug. 8 Federal Register on the following AD/CV injury, Section 337 patent, and other trade proceedings (any notices that warrant a more detailed summary will be in another ITT article):
The Commerce Department published notices in the Aug. 8 Federal Register on the following AD/CV duty proceedings (any notices that announce changes to AD/CV duty rates, scope, affected firms, or effective dates will be detailed in another ITT article):
The Commerce Department issued the final results of its countervailing duty administrative review on cut-to-length carbon-quality steel plate from South Korea (C-580-837). The agency assigned zero percent CV duty rates to six companies, so CV duties will not be assessed on importers of subject merchandise from these companies entered between January 2012 and December 2012. Future entries from these companies will not be subject to an CV cash deposit requirement until further notice.
Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Aug. 7 the following voluntary recalls of imported products:
On Aug. 7 the Food and Drug Administration posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:
The Food and Drug Administration issued its weekly Enforcement Report for Aug. 6 that lists the status of recalls and field corrections for food, drugs, biologics, and devices. The report covers both domestic and foreign firms.
A New York seafood importer faces import alert and possible seizures after the Food and Drug Administration found it to be in violation of seafood hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) regulations, according to an agency warning letter dated July 22. FDA says it refused admission of an entry imported by H.A.R. Maspeth Corp. after routine sampling detected salmonella. A subsequent inspection found that the company isn’t taking action to ensure the dried squid it imports is processed in accordance with seafood HACCP rules, said FDA. The agency warned H.A.R. Maspeth that if the violations aren’t corrected, the company’s seafood imports may be detained without physical examination or seized. FDA also said it may assess fees to cover the costs of any reinspection to verify compliance.