The Foreign Trade Zone Board has issued the following notice:
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued updated versions of its lists of Brazil (May 6, 2010) and Mexico (May 5, 2010) establishments eligible to export meat and poultry to the U.S.
On May 6, 2010, APHIS updated its Seeds Not for Planting Manual. The manual is used for regulating importations of unprocessed seeds that are imported for consumption and are not intended for planting. (Manual, updated 05/06/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/seeds_not_for_planting.pdf)
On May 5, 2010, APHIS updated its Miscellaneous and Processed Products PPQ Manual. The manual is used for regulating imported items that are processed and are not intended for propagation. (Manual, updated 05/05/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/miscellaneous.pdf)
On May 5, 2010, APHIS updated its Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Import PPQ Manual. The manual lists by country fruits and vegetables that are admissible into the United States. It includes a description of methods for sampling and inspecting selected fruits and vegetables. It also contains pictorial identification guides, and a glossary for common and scientific names of fruits and vegetables. (Manual, updated 05/05/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/fv.pdf)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recall:
On May 6, 2010, the Office of Foreign Assets Control designated three Colombian money launderers as drug kingpins due to their significant roles in international narcotics trafficking on behalf of drug trafficking organizations, including the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). OFAC also named 17 other individuals and 12 entities as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNTs). (Press release, dated 05/06/10, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/tg691.htm)
The Environmental Protection Agency is challenging U.S. manufacturers through its Energy Star Challenge for Industry to improve their energy efficiency by 10% within five years. Eight facilities have been recognized by EPA for meeting or exceeding the 10% reduction goal. (News release, dated 05/06/10, available at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/7f7b31081d0cd27e8525771b00525bb6!OpenDocument)
The Federal Maritime Commission states that it is monitoring the spill's potential effects on shipping lines, rates, schedules, ports, and terminals. Expedited review for agreements is available to facilitate adjustments that may be required as a result of the spill or response activities. (Notice, posted 05/07/10, available at http://www.fmc.gov/home/DeepwaterHorizonOilSpillResources.asp)
The State Department has issued a press release announcing that on April 30, 2010, it certified 38 nations and Hong Kong as meeting the requirements set by Section 609 of Public Law 101-162 for continued importation of shrimp and products of shrimp (shrimp) into the U.S.