The International Trade Commission published notices in the May 20 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 International Trade Commission voted on May 19 to begin a Section 337 investigation into whether imports of set-top boxes, gateways, bridges, and adapters are infringing patents held by ViXS Systems. ViXS requested the investigation in April, alleging Entropic Communications and DirecTV in the U.S., as well as Taiwanese companies Wistron NeWeb Corporation, and CyberTAN, are infringing ViXS’ patented technologies that allow multiple devices in a household to get cable or satellite TV and access recorded content through a single set-top box (see 14041824). ViXS is asking the ITC to issue limited exclusion orders and cease and desist orders banning import and sale of infringing set-top boxes by the following respondents:
The Commerce Department published notices in the May 20 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):
On May 19 the Food and Drug Administration posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:
During the week of May 12-18, the Food and Drug Administration modified the following existing Import Alerts (not otherwise listed on the FDA's new and revised import alerts page) on the detention without physical examination and/or surveillance of:
The Food and Drug Administration will allow use of the high-intensity sweetener advantame as a food additive, except in meat and poultry, it said in a final rule that takes effect May 21. The free-flowing, water soluble, white crystalline powder can now be used as a general-purpose sweetener and flavor enhancer in baked goods, non-alcoholic beverages (including soft drinks), chewing gum, confections and frostings, frozen desserts, gelatins and puddings, jams and jellies, processed fruits and fruit juices, toppings and syrups, it said. FDA says it evaluated a variety of animal and human studies, and found the additive to be safe. Advantame is the sixth high-intensity sweetener approved by FDA, it said in a concurrent constituent update (here). Objections and requests for a hearing on the final rule are due June 20.
On May 19 the Foreign Agricultural Service posted the following GAIN reports:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes May 19 to Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
The Federal Communications Commission cited a California company for importing and marketing counterfeit smartphones marked with unauthorized or invalid labels falsely indicating that the phones were certified by the FCC. The FCC ordered Panasystem Corp., an online electronics retailer, to immediately stop importing and marketing the uncertified devise or else face monetary penalties.
The Supreme Court declined to hear another case on gender discrimination by duty rates in the tariff schedule, denying certiorari in a challenge filed by Rack Room, Forever 21 and Skiz Imports. A 2013 ruling by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit dismissing the case will now stand. The case is the second tariff gender discrimination lawsuit that the Supreme Court has rejected. The high court in 2010 had denied certiorari to a challenge from Totes-Isotoner to duty rates on gloves. Totes-Isotoner’s appeal also failed because it didn’t convince the court that Congress intended to discriminate.