The Consumer Product Safety Commission delayed its vote on a proposal to amend Part 1110 compliance certification requirements in order to conduct Paperwork Reduction Act cost analyses on General Certificates of Conformity for certain products, said a commission official. CPSC Commissioner Nancy Nord has said the rule would require electronic filing of CPSC compliance certificates along with other entry documents, and add new required data elements. It would also require the manufacturer or labeler to file the compliance certificate if the product is directly received by a consumer. The vote was originally scheduled for Jan. 16, but was pushed back indefinitely in a Jan. 15 Federal Register notice. “I expect it to come back up in a few weeks,” the official said.
The World Trade Organization established panels to settle two disputes between the U.S. and Argentina, at a Jan. 28 meeting. A panel was formed to decide the complaint by the U.S., Japan, and European Union on Argentine import restrictions, even though Argentina said it had already scrapped the measures on Jan. 25. Argentina urged the panel not to rule on the import restrictions, given that they were not in force at the time the panel was established.
The International Trade Commission is publishing notices in the Jan.30 Federal Register on the following AD/CV injury, Section 337 patent, and other trade proceedings (any notices that warrant a more detailed summary will appear in another ITT article):
The International Trade Commission is asking for comments by Feb. 28 on public interest factors it should take into consideration in its review of an administrative law judge’s determination in the Section 337 patent investigation of certain kinesiotherapy devices and components thereof (337-TA-823). The ITC is considering issuing an exclusion order against devices that infringe Standard Innovation Corporation’s patents.
Neptun Light, Inc. and its owner Andrzej Bobel are requesting an International Trade Commission investigation of Section 337 violations by several companies importing compact fluorescent reflector lamps that infringe their patents. Reflector lamps are used for in-store display lighting, downlights, outdoor lighting, and indoor track lighting, among other things. Neptun’s patent allows reflector lamps to use a more-efficient fluorescent light source by putting the fluorescent light’s electronic ballast system in the reflector housing, the complaint said. The lamp is able to connect to a normal power line. According to the complaint, proposed respondents Maxlite, Technical Consumer Products, Salco Products, and Litetronics International are importing reflector lamps from China that infringe Neptun’s patents, and selling them in the U.S. Neptun is requesting cease and desist and limited exclusion orders against all proposed respondents.
The International Trade Administration published notices in the Jan. 30 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):
On Jan. 29 the Food and Drug Administration posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alert on the detention without physical examination of:
The Food and Drug Administration will hold a public meeting Feb. 28 in Washington, D.C. to discuss its proposed produce safety and hazard analysis and risk-based preventative controls rules. At the meetings, FDA will hear oral stakeholder and public comments on the proposed rules, and inform the public about the rulemaking process (including how to submit comments, data, and other information to the rulemaking dockets), and to respond to questions about the proposed rules. On-site registration will be available, but FDA is encouraging attendees to pre-register by Feb. 20. Commenters will each have three minutes to speak. Requests to speak at the public meeting are due by Feb. 8. Requests to present, as well as advance registration, are available here.
On Jan. 29 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes Jan. 29 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.