The Federal Maritime Commission this week announced three new initiatives it hopes will aid shippers and address supply chain issues, including one that will establish a new International Ocean Shipping Supply Chain Program and another that will reestablish the commission’s Export Rapid Response Team. The FMC will also “take the steps necessary” for carriers and marine terminal operators to employ a designated FMC compliance officer.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is listing methoxetamine (MXE), a member of the arylcyclohexylamine class of drugs with dissociative anesthetic and hallucinogenic properties, similar to phencyclidine (PCP) and ketamine, under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice published June 6. “This action imposes the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis with, or possess), or propose to handle, methoxetamine.” The listing takes effect July 6.
The Federal Maritime Commission’s FMC-18 form is “currently experiencing issues,” the commission said in a June 6 notice. The FMC said it’s “working on a solution” for the glitch in the application to become an ocean transportation intermediary.
The Drug Enforcement Administration permanently placed six synthetic cathinones -- N-Ethylhexedrone, alpha-Pyrrolidinohexanophenone, 4-Methyl-alpha-ethylaminopentiophenone, 4'-Methyl-alpha-pyrrolidinohexiophenone, alpha-Pyrrolidinoheptaphenone and 4'-Chloro-alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone -- into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, in a final rule released May 31. The substance had been temporarily listed in Schedule I since 2019 (see 2107150020). The final rule takes effect June 1.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is placing the newly approved drug ganaxolone in Schedule V of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in an interim final rule. Effective June 1, ganaxolone, which was granted approval by the FDA in March, is subject to new registration, labeling, record-keeping, and import and export requirements. DEA is accepting comments on the rule until July 1.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is modifying it restrictions on imported dogs from countries at a high-risk of rabies "to allow for more dog imports from a wider range of importers," the agency said in a notice released May 27. The CDC suspended imports of such dogs last year (see 2106140047). "Based on improvements in CDC’s ability to track and monitor dog imports from high-risk countries, and the significant decrease in the dog importation issues that existed prior to the suspension," the agency will allow for more dog imports, it said. CDC will allow for dogs returning to the U.S. "from high-risk countries with a valid U.S.-issued rabies vaccination certificate" to enter "without a CDC Dog Import Permit," it said. Also, "all importers are now eligible to import dogs; therefore, there are no longer eligibility criteria as to who may import dogs," it said. The agency also created a new entry process for commercial shipments of dogs. "All commercial dog importers from high-risk countries may now import dogs provided that the dogs, upon entering the United States, are examined, revaccinated, and have proof of an adequate [rabies serologic titer test] from a CDC-approved laboratory upon arrival or are held in quarantine at a CDC-approved animal facility until they meet CDC entry requirements," it said.
The Federal Trade Commission is proposing changes to comparability range information on EnergyGuide labels, it said. The “routine updates” affect labeling for televisions, refrigerators and freezers, dishwashers, water heaters, room air conditioners (ranges only), clothes washers, furnaces, and pool heaters, the FTC said. “The proposed amendments also contain a minor, clarifying change to requirements for determining room air conditioner capacity.” Comments are due July 11.
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is proposing changes to authorized fill standards for wine and distilled spirits containers, it said May 25. The agency is considering two alternatives, one being the addition of 10 additional fill standards for wine. The other would be the elimination of “all but a minimum standard of fill for wine containers and all but a minimum and maximum for distilled spirits containers, thus potentially eliminating unnecessary regulatory requirements, reducing barriers to competition, and providing consumers broader purchasing options,” TTB said. Comments are due July 25.
Data analysis nonprofit C4ADS highlighted nine products that are "produced in disproportionately high volumes in Xinjiang that are part of global supply chains," in a new report released May 19. The report examines China's Xinjiang region's role in manufacturing those products: cotton, tomato products, pepper products, walnuts, rayon, calcium carbide, polysilicon, wind turbines, and beryllium. "These goods should be a focal point of international stakeholders’ response to the crisis in the region: if these goods are found to be produced by forced labor, or otherwise support oppression in Xinjiang, removing them from global supply chains can help end international support for these crimes," the report said.
The International Trade Commission will produce a report by March 15 next year on the economic impact of Section 301 and Section 232 tariffs on U.S. prices, trade and production in the industries most affected by the tariffs. The commission announced that it will hold a public hearing on July 21, and that requests to appear at that hearing should be filed by July 6. It also will accept written submissions on the topic through Aug. 24.