The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to list amineptine, a synthetic tricyclic antidepressant with central nervous system (CNS) stimulating properties that, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, has no approved medical use and no known therapeutic application in the U.S., under schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice released July 21. "If finalized, this action would impose 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, amineptine." Comments are due Sept. 20.

The Federal Maritime Commission will audit ocean carriers’ compliance with the FMC’s rule on detention and demurrage (see 2009140045 and 2011170041) in a bid to stop carriers from imposing unreasonable fees. The newly established Vessel-Operating Common Carrier Audit Program, which includes a dedicated audit team, will conduct the audits, the FMC said July 20. The program will “analyze” the top nine carriers by market share for compliance with the FMC’s rule and “clarify any questions or ambiguities.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration is extending for one more year the temporary listing of six synthetic cathinonies -- N-ethylhexedrone, alphapyrrolidinohexanophenone (α-PHP), 4-methyl-alpha-ethylaminopentiophenone (4-MEAP), 4′-methyl-alpha-pyrrolidinohexiophenone (MPHP), alphapyrrolidinoheptaphenone (PV8), and 4′-chloro-alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (4-chloro-α-PVP) -- in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice released July 15. The synthetic cathinones, first temporarily listed in 2019, will now remain listed in schedule I until July 18, 2022. DEA also released a proposed rule to permanently list these synthetic cathinones in schedule I, with comments due Aug. 16. Substances may be temporarily listed under the CSA for three years.

The Government Accountability Office said the result of its sample of companies that import minerals that could be contributing to conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo finds little change since 2015, both in the reasonable country-of-origin inquiry results and the due diligence results, and the challenges for companies trying to trace tin, gold, tungsten or other minerals back to the mine.

The Federal Trade Commission voted 3-2 July 1 to adopt a rule that would penalize marketers who improperly use Made in USA claims on labels. The FTC will be able to seek civil penalties of up to $43,280 per violation, said an agency news release. The commissioners in the majority issued a statement that said in part, "Importantly, this is a 'restatement rule,' which affirms longstanding guidance and legal precedent with respect to Made in USA labels -- thereby imposing no new obligations on manufacturers and sellers."

Large ocean carriers are continuing to use their influence to cause “record high freight rates” for American shipping companies, the Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association said in a letter to the Federal Maritime Commission this month. The association also said that carriers are “frequently” gathering customer information “through their [ocean transportation intermediary] client and then engage in direct competition,” which violates the Shipping Act. “The negative economic impact is real for both OTIs and shippers alike,” the FCBFA said.

The Drug Enforcement Administration placed para-methoxymethamphetamine (PMMA), a drug similar to methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) that is also sold as “ecstasy,” into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, in a final rule released June 24. “This action imposes the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis, or possess), or propose to handle PMMA,” DEA said. The final rule takes effect July 26.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied Huawei’s challenge to the FCC ban of the Chinese telecom gear vendor's equipment from networks funded by the Universal Service Fund under its national security supply chain rules (see 1911220064). Huawei sought the review in December. “If we were convinced that the FCC is here acting as ‘a sort of junior-varsity’ State Department,” the court “would set the rule aside,” Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan said Friday for the three-judge panel. “But no such skullduggery is afoot. Assessing security risks to telecom networks falls in the FCC’s wheelhouse.” Huawei is “disappointed” by the ruling and is “assessing” its “options to respond,” a spokesperson emailed: The company continues “to believe the FCC acted without authority in changing” its USF rules. The FCC didn’t comment. Wiley’s Tom Johnson, former FCC general counsel, said he’s “proud to have represented” the U.S. “in this important case.” Matthew Berry, who was chief of staff to then-FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, also praised the ruling.

The Office of the Federal Register was closed June 18 due to the new federal holiday Juneteenth, it said. As a result, all the documents posted on its public inspection page that were to be published in the June 18 Federal Register were withdrawn, the OFR said.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is removing the Kanab ambersnail (Oxyloma haydeni kanabensis), a snail found in Utah and Arizona, from the Endangered Species List, it said in a final rule released June 17. “Our review indicates that the Kanab ambersnail is not a valid subspecies and therefore cannot be listed as an endangered entity under the Endangered Species Act,” FWS said. The delisting takes effect July 19.