The Drug Enforcement Administration permanently placed the synthetic opioid beta-hydroxythiofentanyl into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, in a final rule. The substance had already been temporarily listed in Schedule I since 2016 (see 1605110023). The final rule takes effect May 8.
The Drug Enforcement Administration intends to temporarily list the synthetic cathinones N-ethylhexedrone, α-PHP, 4-MEAP, MPHP, PV8, and 4-chloro-α-PVP in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice. If the agency finalizes its determination, the chemical will be subject to import and export restrictions for schedule I substances. DEA must wait at least 30 days before finalizing the listing. The agency can temporarily list controlled substances for up to three years before a permanent listing is required.
The Federal Trade Commission approved the consent orders to settle two "Made in USA" claims involving importers, the FTC said in a news release. Patriot Puck, an importer of hockey pucks, and Sandpiper, which sells recreational and outdoor equipment, agreed to bans on improper labeling, as well as compliance monitoring and record-keeping agreements in their settlements (see 1809130036). The FTC voted 3-2 to approve the final orders in both of these cases, with Commissioners Rohit Chopra and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter voting no. The settlements were seen as too lenient on the companies by the dissenting commissioners. Slaughter previously voted in favor of allowing the settlements to move forward, but she said in a statement that she has since changed her mind. "I am persuaded that, for brazenly deceptive representations that a wholly imported product is 'Made in U.S.A.,' consent orders without disgorgement or admissions fail to exact a meaningful cost from the lawbreaking company and its executives sufficient for effective general deterrence."
The Fish and Wildlife Service is increasing amounts of civil penalties for violations of the laws and regulations it administers, including the Lacey Act and Endangered Species Act, it said in a final rule. The annual increase for inflation raises penalties about 2 percent over penalty amounts set in 2018, FWS said.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is temporarily adding five synthetic cannabinoids -- 5F-EDMB-PINACA, 5F-MDMB-PICA, FUB-AKB48, 5F-CUMYL-PINACA, and FUB-144 -- to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice. The temporary scheduling takes effect April 16, 2019, and will remain in effect until April 16, 2021, at which point it may be extended for one more year before it has to be made permanent to remain in effect.
A recent blog post by Public Citizen, a nonprofit organization that rallied opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, identifies changes to NAFTA that it says make it possible that Democrats will support the revision. The April 12 post says the "major rollback of investor-state dispute settlement," the wage content element of the auto rules of origin as well as the tighter rule, and the new labor chapter are all reasons that traditional free-trade foes have not lined up to defeat the pact in Congress. "That congressional Democrats, unions and others who have outright opposed past pacts seek improvements rather than the deal’s demise reveals there is a path to build broad support for it," Public Citizen said. The blog ostensibly was an analysis of how the International Trade Commission might estimate the economic impact of the NAFTA revision, but concluded that its "report is not likely to reveal much about either the pact’s probable effects or its prospect for congressional passage."
Speaking at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Taro Aso called for increased trade with the U.S. while a Chamber official said signing a trade deal with Japan is a “priority.”
A Federal Communications Commission enforcement advisory warns that TV set-top boxes, including those that stream internet content, must comply with equipment authorization requirements. Such devices must not be marketed in the U.S. without “FCC-required labeling and user manual disclosures,” the April 9 public notice said. Penalties could total more than $147,000 per violation, the PN said. The advisory notes that under Section 302 of the Communications Act and Part 2 and Part 15 rules, set-tops must be properly authorized by the FCC before being imported, advertised, sold or operated. It said devices must display an FCC ID of letters, numbers and symbols “unique to the device,” and user manuals must warn consumers of the device’s potential for causing interference.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is extending for one more year the temporary listing of 5F-ADB, 5F-AMB, 5F-APINACA, ADB-FUBINACA, MDMB-CHMICA and MDMB-FUBINACA in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said. The synthetic cannabinoids, first temporarily listed in 2017, will now remain listed in schedule I until April 10, 2020. DEA also issued a proposed rule to permanently list these synthetic cannabinoids in schedule I, with comments due May 8. Substances may only be temporarily listed under the CSA for three years.
The International Trade Commission is accepting proposals for changes to the World Customs Organization’s Harmonized System tariff schedule for potential adoption in 2027, it said in a notice. The proposals will be reviewed by the ITC, CBP and the Census Bureau, and will be published for further comment, prior to potential submission to the relevant WCO committees by November 2022 for final WCO approval by June 2024. Proposals are due to the ITC by March 1, 2020.