The International Trade Commission voted to begin a Section 337 investigation on whether robotic toy fish, imported from China and sold by CVS Pharmacy, infringe Innovation First’s trade secrets. Innovation First requested the investigation Jan. 9, alleging that a former employee in China developed the technologies covered by the trade secrets, then left the company to work for Zuru, and in violation of the terms of his separation agreement shared the secrets with his new employer. The allegedly infringing robotic toys imported and sold by CVS Pharmacy are made by Zuru. Innovation First is requesting a limited exclusion and cease and desist order, as well as “other remedial actions.” The ITC identified the following respondents:
The International Trade Administration published notices in the Feb. 6 Federal Register on the following AD/CV proceedings (any notices that announce changes to AD/CV duty rates, scope, affected firms, or effective dates will be detailed in another ITT article):
Chengde Group’s antidumping duty rate fell to 162.69 percent (from 172.54 percent) as the International Trade Administration corrected errors in its Dec. 17 final results of the 2010-11 antidumping duty administrative review of oil country tubular goods from China (A-570-943). Chengde Group includes affiliated companies Jiangsu Chengde Steel Tube Share Co., Ltd.; Taizhou Chengde Steel Tube Co., Ltd.; and Yangzhou Chengde Steel Tube Co., Ltd. The new rate is effective Feb. 6.
On Feb. 5 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 sent warning letters to three device manufacturers in Germany, Switzerland, and Korea, detailing violations of current good manufacturing practice regulations by each facility. FSSB Chirurgische Nadeln of Germany (here), and Tecval Medical of Switzerland (here), were each warned by FDA that premarket approval applications and requests for certificate to foreign governments may be denied until their violations are corrected. Given the “serious nature” of violations by Sometech Incorporated of Korea (here), FDA will keep that company’s products on import alert, it said.
The Food and Drug Administration posted a Dec. 12 warning letter it sent to Novo Nordisk, after finding violations of current good manufacturing practice regulations for the company’s drug products at its Bagsvaerd, Denmark, facility. FDA said it may withhold approval of new applications of supplement listings for the company, and could even deny admission to Novo Nordisk’s drugs manufactured at the offending facility. Novo Nordisk had 15 working days to respond to the letter, which have already elapsed.
The Food and Drug Administration scheduled meetings to discuss its recently proposed produce safety and preventative controls rules in Chicago on March 11-12, and in Portland, Ore., March 27-28. FDA will also ask for comments from stakeholders on the proposed rules, inform the public about the rulemaking process (including how to submit comments, data and other information to the rulemaking dockets), and respond to questions about the proposed rules, it said. FDA already announced a similar meeting in Washington, D.C. Feb. 28 -- March 1.
On Feb. 5 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes Feb. 5 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 will allow imports of Litchi (Lychee), Longan, and Rambutan from the Philippines to the continental U.S., after doing a pest risk analysis that found the fruits can be safely imported. Irradiation of the fruits will be required, and they will be subject to inspection on arrival at the U.S. port of entry, APHIS said.