WTO Agriculture negotiations chairperson Ambassador Falconer, on August 11, 2008, submitted his report on the July 2008 "package" talks to the Trade Negotiations Committee. Also, non-agricultural market access (NAMA) chairperson Stephenson, on August 12, 2008, submitted his report on the July 2008 "package" talks to the Trade Negotiations Committee. (WTO agriculture negotiations chairperson's report, dated 08/11/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/agric_e/chair_texts_11aug08_e.doc; WTO non-agricultural market access chairperson's report, dated 08/12/08, available at
The Food and Drug Administration is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled "Control of Residual Solvents in Drug Products Marketed in the United States." To ensure that the FDA considers comments before it begins work on the final version of the guidance, comments should be submitted by October 6, 2008. (FDA notice, D/N FDA-2008-M-0208, FR Pub 08/07/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-18127.pdf.)
1. FDA Public Hearing on Labeling of Allergens in Food
1. EC Proposes to Revise Regulation on Ozone Depleting Substances
On July 31, 2008, the Senate passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (H.R. 4040) conference report, clearing it for the President. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/31/08 news, 08073110, for BP summary of the H.R. 4040 conference report.) (Congressional Record, dated 07/31/08 news, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r110:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20080731))
On July 29, 2008, WTO Director-General Lamy announced that ministers have failed in their effort to agree on blueprint Doha agreements in agriculture and industrial products. Out of 20 topics, convergence was reached on18 but the gaps could not narrow on the 19th - the special safeguard mechanism in farm products for developing countries. Nevertheless, the results represent twice or three times more than has been achieved in any previous multilateral negotiation, and this collapse does not mean the end of the Doha Round. (WTO release, dated 07/29/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/meet08_summary_29july_e.htm)
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a notice reminding applicants and registered patent practitioners that the export of subject matter abroad pursuant to a license from the USPTO, such as a foreign filing license, is limited to purposes related to the filing of foreign patent applications.
The World Trade Organization provided an update on the Doha Round and posted information on Day 3. WTO Director-General Lamy said that "two days of talks among 30 representative ministers in the "Green Room" have been constructive but discussions in smaller groups are now needed to intensify the negotiations." (WTO press release, dated 07/23/08, available athttp://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/meet08_summary_23july_e.htm.)
Democratic leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee questioned whether the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) knowingly allowed drugs suspected of being fraudulently approved and manufactured in gross violation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to continue being sold by Ranbaxy, Inc., in the U.S. (News release, dated 07/17/08, available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110nr318.shtml.)
On June 23, 2008, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported S. 3182, the fiscal year 2009 appropriations bill for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, science, and related agencies.