A customs broker is off the hook for alleged violations of the federal pesticide regulations, after an administrative law judge on March 6 dismissed an Environmental Protection Agency civil penalty proceeding. EPA had accused Mara Shipping of failing to file required notices of arrival on several shipments of pesticides. It originally requested a $172,500 penalty, according to Mara. But Mara argued customs brokers aren’t responsible for filing notices of arrival. The fight paid off, as EPA withdrew its complaint in late February. EPA did not respond for comment on why it dropped the case.
On April 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 the Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List (ICSSL) for April. The ICSSL is published monthly for the information and use by food control officers, the seafood industry and other interested persons. The shippers listed have been certified by regulatory authorities in the U.S., Canada, Chile, South Korea, Mexico and New Zealand under the uniform sanitation requirements of the National Shellfish Program.
The Food and Drug Administration announced on April 8 a new draft guidance document on labeling of honey and honey products. The draft guidance includes a question and answer section that addresses how to label pure honey, blends of honey and a sweetener, and honey with flavoring ingredients. To ensure consideration before FDA finalizes its guidance, comments are due by June 9, according to a concurrent Federal Register notice (here).
On April 4-7 the Foreign Agricultural Service posted the following GAIN reports:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes April 7 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 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has taken a step toward allowing imports of avocados from all of Mexico, finding in a recent draft risk assessment that expansion of the approved export area beyond the state of Michoacan is not likely to increase the risk of pest introduction. The risk assessment is now available for comment until May 7. APHIS will then begin a consultation process with the government of Mexico.
The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for April 8:
As of April 4, importers may request preliquidation refunds of countervailing duty cash deposits paid on entries of frozen warmwater shrimp from China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam, said CBP. Requests must be submitted in writing to the applicable port of entry. If no request for preliquidation refund is submitted, then the CV duty cash deposits will be refunded at the time of liquidation.
The International Trade Commission named James Holbein director of its Office of Tariff Affairs and Trade Agreements. In that capacity, Holbein will be responsible for maintaining the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. He had previously served as Secretary to the Commission since 2011.