The International Trade Commission has launched the first of two investigations requested by the Senate Finance Committee into the effect on the U.S. economy of intellectual property rights infringement and indigenous innovation policies in China.
The Department of Energy has issued a notice requesting comments on existing energy efficiency enforcement regulations for certain consumer products and commercial and industrial equipment covered under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975. These regulations provide for manufacturer submission of compliance statements and certification reports to DOE, maintenance of compliance records by manufacturers, and the availability of enforcement actions for improper certification or upon a determination of noncompliance.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted various reports on the toxicity of phthalates and phthalates alternatives which it provided to the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) appointed to study the effects of phthalates and phthalate alternatives in children’s toys and child care articles, during the panel’s first meeting on April 14-15, 2010.
The Justice Department has issued a press release announcing it has intervened in a whistleblower lawsuit1 against Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR), Panalpina Inc. and others which alleges that employees of two freight forwarders doing business with the companies provided unlawful kickbacks to KBR transportation department employees.
FSIS has provided updated information for the export of U.S. meat and poultry to the following countries:
The Food and Drug Administration has posted revised versions of the following Import Alert on the detention without physical examination of:
The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN report:
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recalls:
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announces a closed meeting on May 12, 2010, in which the staff will brief the Commission on various compliance matters. (CPSC notice, FR Pub 05/06/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-10833.pdf)
On May 3, 2010, APHIS updated its Postentry Quarantine PPQ Manual for State Inspectors. This manual covers procedures for conducting PEQ tasks beginning with the request to approve a growing site and ending with the release or refusal of the plant material. (Manual, updated 05/03/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/domestic/downloads/postentry.pdf)