Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced on March 19, 2012 that he sent three separate petitions to the Food and Drug Administration requesting the agency permanently remove regulatory approval for the use of bisphenol-A (BPA) in (i) infant formula and baby and toddler food packaging, (ii) small reusable household food and beverage containers, and (iii) canned food packaging, on the grounds that manufacturers have stopped using BPA in these products.
Officials at the U.S.-Panama Business Council state that the Panamanian Minister for Commerce and Industry, Ricardo Quijano, has set a goal of October 1, 2012 for the implementation of the U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement. Quijano attended the recent “Panama Week” conference held March 15-16 in Washington, DC.
The Census Bureau has issued AES Broadcast #2012023 announcing that the Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) will host an Automated Export System (AES) Compliance Seminar and AESPcLink Workshops in Houston, Texas on April 3-4, 2012. Census experts will cover the filing requirements of the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR), how to classify commodities by providing an understanding of the Schedule B classification requirements, and provide a thorough overview of the AES. The second day will offer a hands-on AESPcLink training Workshop. Email documents@brokerpower.com for a copy of the March 16, 2012 broadcast. Full details available here.
The Census Bureau has issued AES Broadcast #2012021 as part of a new series of monthly educational broadcast messages on the Automated Export System. This month Census is highlighting AES error codes 256 (USPPI Postal Code Not Valid for State) and 628 (1st Unit of Measure Code / Schedule B/HTS Mismatch). The broadcast covers the reasons for these error messages and how to resolve them. Email documents@brokerpower.com for a copy of the March 18, 2012 broadcast.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that on March 12, 2012 it began distributing the portion of the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000 (CDSOA, commonly referred to as the Byrd Amendment) funds1 that it did not disburse in April 2011 due to pending litigation. According to CBP, the distribution process will continue until each fiscal year from 2006 through 2010 has been completed. CBP states that, in the event that it does not ultimately prevail in the ongoing litigation, affected domestic producers may be required to return some or all of the funds they have received.
The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a proposed rule, that would amend 40 CFR Parts 260 and 261 to revise certain provisions on cathode ray tubes (CRTs) that are exported for reuse and recycling. The proposed changes include, among other things: (1) a definition for CRT exporter; (2) more detailed notification instructions for both broken (for recycling) and intact (for reuse) used CRTs; and (3) an annual reporting requirement for exporters of broken used CRTs for recycling. Comments on the proposed rule are due by May 14, 2012.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has revised and expanded its 2005 “Guidance for Certificates of Reimbursement” for antidumping (AD) duties in order to provide updated information on protests, the option for paperless filing using ACE, and provide additional information regarding blanket certificates, related parties, deemed liquidations, and certificates for companion countervailing (CV) duties.
The Bureau of Industry and Security’s Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee (RPTAC) held a partially open meeting on March 6, 2012 to discuss, among other things, the importance of voluntary self-disclosure as a mitigating factor in enforcement decisions, and steps taken to expedite procedures when no enforcement action is taken.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Food will be meeting on April 23, 2012 from 1-3 p.m. in Washington, DC. For those who wish to participate, the call-in number is 1-888-858-2144 and the participant code is 6208658.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service reports that the U.S. Codex Office conducted its fifth colloquium with Codex Coordinating Committee for Africa (CCAFRICA) member countries in Dakar, Senegal on March 5-7, 2012. The colloquium provided an opportunity for an exchange of views between the U.S. Delegates and 41 delegates from the region in preparation for the upcoming meetings of the committees on General Principles (CCGP), Food Additives (CCFA), and Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF).