Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing that the U.S., Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein have signed mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) covering the sectors of telecommunications equipment, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), recreational craft, and marine equipment. According to the press release, these new agreements parallel the existing U.S. MRAs with the European Community. (USTR press release, dated 10/17/05, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2005/October/United_States_Signs_Agreement_with_Norway,_Icel_Liechtenstein_to_Facilitate_Trade.html.)
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1. U.S. Signs MRAs with Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein
2. FDA Requests Comments on Frozen Dessert and Cheese Petitions
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it has received petitions requesting the: (a) revocation of the standards of identity for goat's milk ice cream and mellorine, and amendment of the standards of identity for ice cream and frozen custard, sherbet, and water ices in numerous aspects; and (b) amendment of the standard of identity for parmesan and reggiano cheese to decrease the minimum curing time. The FDA has issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to request comments by December 27, 2005 to determine whether the actions proposed in the petitions would promote honesty and fair dealing in the interest of consumers. (FDA notice, FR Pub 09/27/05, D/Ns 2003P-0132 and 2000P-1491, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-19194.pdf.)
3. Exporters' Textile Advisory Committee to Meet on November 30, 2005
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has announced that the Exporters' Textile Advisory Committee will be holding an open meeting on November 30, 2005 in Cary, NC. According to the ITA, the agenda includes conditions in the export market place, CAFTA-DR discussion, etc. (ITA notice, FR Pub 10/18/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-5736.pdf.)
4. Listing of Recently Issued FDA Guidance Documents, Etc.
The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) has recently posted the following guidance documents, questions and answers (Q&A) documents, enforcement letters, etc. to its Web site:
Guidance for Industry: a Notice for the Food and Drug Administration to Growers, Food Manufacturers, Food Warehouse Managers, and Transporters of Food Products on Decontamination of Transport Vehicles (dated 10/07/05)
Q&A document: Qualified Health Claims in Food Labeling. Report on Effects of Strength of Science Disclaimers on the Communication Impacts of Health Claims (dated 09/28/05)
FDA's Evaluation of the Seafood Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Program for Fiscal Years (FYs) 2002/2003 (dated 05/13/05)
Qualified Health Claims: Letter of Denial - Calcium and Kidney Stones; Urinary Stones; and Kidney Stones and Urinary Stones (Docket No. 2004Q-0102) (dated 10/12/05)
Qualified Health Claims: Withdrawal Letter - Soy Protein and a Reduced Risk of Certain Cancers (D/N 2004Q-0151) (dated 10/07/05)
Qualified Health Claims: Letter of Enforcement Discretion - Calcium and Hypertension; Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension; and Preeclampsia (D/N 2004Q-0098) (10/12/05)
Qualified Health Claims: Letter Regarding Calcium and Colon/Rectal, Breast, and Prostate Cancers and Recurrent Colon Polyps (D/N 2004Q-0097) (dated 10/12/05)
(CFSAN documents available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/)
5. CBP Issues Federal Register Notice on Quarterly Interest Rates
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice in the Federal Register announcing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) quarterly interest rates that will be used to calculate interest on underpayments and overpayments of customs duties for the period beginning October 1, 2005 and ending December 31, 2005. (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/06/05 news, 05090610, for BP summary of these rates based on an IRS press release.) (FR Pub 10/17/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-20649.pdf)