The Food and Drug Administration updated its Progress Report on Implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) for January -- March 2012. The report highlights, among other things: (1) the FDA’s announcement of types of foods that will be part of the pilot projects on product tracing; (2) a FAQ and fact sheet describing how FDA identifies a high-risk facility; and (3) the FDA’s release of its interim final rule and guidance on its access to records.
Robert Groves, director of the Census Bureau, is resigning in August to become the provost of Georgetown University. Groves led the Census Bureau for almost three years.
Mexico's Diario Oficial of April 11, 2012, lists notices from the Secretary of the Economy as follows:
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released a study showing that despite claims to be free of one or more of the “toxic-trio” ingredients - toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) - some nail care products sold in Northern California contain high levels of toluene and DBP. Chronic or extended exposure to these chemicals has been associated with birth defects, asthma and other chronic health conditions. DTSC said it sampled 25 nail care products from six Bay Area locations. Twelve products claimed to be free of at least one “toxic-trio” chemical. However, 10 of the 12 products contained toluene, and four of the 12 contained DBP. Some of the “toxic-free” products actually contained higher levels of DBP or toluene than products which made no toxic-free claims.
The International Trade Administration announced an executive-led Oil and Gas Trade Mission to Israel on October 27-31. According to the ITA, The purpose of the mission, organized by the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, is to introduce U.S. firms to Israel’s rapidly expanding oil and gas market and to assist U.S. companies pursuing export opportunities in this sector. The mission to Israel is intended to include representatives from leading U.S. companies that provide services to oil and gas facilities, from design and construction through to project implementation, maintenance of facilities, and environmental protection.
The International Trade Commission is seeking comments by May 10, 2012, for a newly initiated investigation on trade facilitation in the East African Community (EAC). The investigation, Trade Facilitation in the East African Community: Recent Developments and Potential Benefits, was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative. In requesting the study, the USTR noted that the U.S. and the EAC recently began preliminary discussions on a potential new trade and investment partnership, and said one of the initial steps under this initiative that could have the most impact would be engagement with the EAC on customs clearance and other practices at the border. As requested, ITC will provide a summary of recent developments relating to trade facilitation in the EAC. The ITC report will include a description of the potential benefits of trade facilitation to the EAC countries. The ITC expects to submit its report to the USTR by July 2, 2012.
The International Trade Administration is publishing notices in the April 11, 2012, Federal Register on the following AD/CV proceedings (any notices that announce changes to AD/CV duty rates, the scope, affected firms, or effective dates will be detailed in another ITT article):
The International Trade Administration issued notice of its final rescission of the antidumping new shipper review of wooden bedroom furniture from China (A-570-890) for Marvin Furniture (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. As a result, Marvin Furniture's temporary AD duty bonding option at the China-wide entity rate of 216.01% is being discontinued and instead must again be made as a cash deposit, effective April 10, 2012. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is expected to implement this change for this company soon.
The International Trade Administration issued the preliminary results of its administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain orange juice from Brazil (A-351-840) for four companies1. These preliminary results are not in effect. The ITA may modify them in the final results of this review and change the estimated AD cash deposit rate for these companies.
The International Trade Administration has issued the preliminary results of its administrative review of the antidumping duty order on glycine from China (A-570-836) for one company, and also rescinded this AD administrative review for 29 other companies1. These preliminary results are not in effect. The ITA may modify them in the final results of this review and change the estimated AD cash deposit rate for this company.