The Justice Department has intervened in a whistleblower lawsuit against Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR), Panalpina Inc. and others that alleges that employees of two freight forwarders doing business with the companies provided unlawful kickbacks to KBR transportation department employees. The government will seek damages and penalties under the False Claims Act and common law, as well as penalties under the Anti-Kickback Act. (DOJ press release, dated 05/05/10, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/May/10-civ-529.html)
The signatories to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD's) Anti-Bribery Convention have committed to further steps in their agreement to combat bribery and corruption.
The Census Bureau has issued an Automated Export System broadcast announcing that it has developed AESDirect and AESPcLink Sample Shipment Guides which provide screenshots of the entire filing process in each respective application, along with important information and helpful tips that appear among Census' most frequently asked questions. (Notice, available at http://www.aesdirect.gov/support/userguide.htmlsample_shipments)
On February 11, 2009, Representative Roskam (R), along with co-sponsor Representative Kirk (R), introduced the "Keeping America's Food Safe Act of 2009" (H.R. 999), a bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to improve food safety.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has reorganized its Web site on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) which was enacted as Public Law 110-314 on August 14, 2008.
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), which was enacted on August 14, 2008,1 establishes new whistleblower protections for employees of manufacturers (includes importers), private labelers, distributors, or retailers of consumer products (collectively, employees).
The Consumer Product Safety Administration has posted brief summaries of certain provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which was enacted as Public Law 110-314 on August 14, 2008.
The House passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (H.R. 4040) conference report on July 30, 2008.
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has announced that the House-Senate conference committee for H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, has reached agreement on the Conference Report.
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.)