On June 16 the Foreign Agricultural Service posted the following GAIN reports:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes June 16 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.
Judge Randall Rader of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit announced that he is retiring from the court effective June 30. Rader had resigned as chief judge in May after sending a letter of praise to a California lawyer, which in Rader’s own words constituted “a breach of the ethical obligation not to lend the prestige of the judicial office to advance the private interests of others” (see 14052718).
A San Diego woman is suing women’s apparel maker Citizens of Humanity and retailer Macy’s for labeling their products as “Made in the U.S.A.” despite being assembled from foreign components, in violation of California consumer protection laws. Louise Clark filed the class action lawsuit June 9 in Southern California U.S. District Court. She alleges Citizens of Humanity misleads consumers when it labels its “Boyfriend” jeans as “Made in the U.S.A.” even though the fabric, thread, buttons, and rivets are all imported from abroad.
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the Commerce Department posted to CBP's website June 16, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for the listed CBP message number at http://adcvd.cbp.dhs.gov/adcvdweb.
The International Trade Commission published notices in the June 16 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 June 16 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 is postponing until Aug. 29 the due date for its preliminary determination in the antidumping duty investigation on carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod from China (A-570-014). The group of U.S. companies that had originally requested the investigation asked for the extension, and Commerce says it has no reason to deny the request. Once Commerce makes its preliminary determination, it can suspend liquidation and require cash deposits of estimated AD duties. The preliminary determination was originally due July 10.
On June 13 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 is classifying nonabsorbable expandable hemostatic sponges for temporary internal use as Class II devices that do not require premarket approval, in an order that codifies a classification that took effect April 3. The devices had been classified in Class III, and required the filing of a premarket approval application before distribution. FDA is reclassifying them in response to a request from RevMedx related to its XSTAT device. Although they will no longer need FDA approval, the devices will still be subject to certain extra "special controls" related to testing, biocompatibility and labeling. They will not be exempt from premarket notification requirements.