Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that the European Commission has approved a five-year program to streamline and facilitate customs procedures for importers and exporters, while taking steps to reduce fraud. (JoC Online, dated 04/20/07, www.joc.com.)
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1. European Commission Approves 5 Yr Program for Customs Modernization
2. Britain Tried to Convince UN Security Council to Address Global Warming
According to Reuters, Britain has tried to convince the United Nations Security Council members that global warming poses a threat to international peace and security when the body held its first debate on climate change on April 17, 2007. Britain claimed that climate change is expected to exacerbate drivers of conflict and complicate the existing competition for scarce energy resources. Russia, China, Qatar, Indonesia and South Africa, among others, warned that the Security Council was not the place to take concrete action. According to Reuters, no agreement is expected. (Reuters, dated 04/17/07, available at http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN1736824820070418) (Reuters, dated 04/16/07, available at http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1630225620070416)
3. FDA Denies Hearing Requests on Maximum X-Ray Level for Treating Food
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a notice responding to objections and denying requests that it has received for a hearing on its final rule which amended the food additive regulations by establishing a new maximum permitted energy level of x-rays for treating food of 7.5 million electron volts (MeV), with certain provisions. The FDA has concluded that the objections do not raise issues of material fact that justify a hearing or otherwise provide a basis for removing the amendment to the regulation. (FDA notice, D/N 2003F-0088 (formerly 03F-0088), FR Pub 04/09/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-6646.pdf)
4. State Dept Determines Colombian Armed Forces are Meeting Certain Conditions of Foreign Operations Act
The State Department has issued a notice announcing its determination and certification that the Colombian Armed Forces are meeting certain conditions contained in the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, as part of the State Department's periodic consultation with internationally recognized human rights organizations regarding the Colombian Armed Force's progress in meeting these conditions. (Public Notice 5755, FR Pub 04/12/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-6955.pdf)
5. FDA Posts Various Notices to its Web Site
The Food and Drug Administration has posted the following notices to its Web site:
FDA warning about Charlie Brown di Rutigliano & Figli S.r.l olives. FDA is alerting consumers to possible serious health risks from eating olives that may be contaminated with a deadly bacterium, Clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism, a potentially fatal illness. The olives are made by Charlie Brown di Rutigliano & Figli S.r.l, of Bari, Italy and are being recalled by the manufacturer. (FDA warning P07-66, dated 04/13/07, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01608.html)
Worldwide Fish & Seafood, Inc. enters consent decree with FDA. FDA has issued a press release announcing that Worldwide Fish & Seafood, Inc., of Minneapolis, MN, (dba Coastal Seafood) a seafood processor and three of its officers have entered into a consent decree of permanent injunction due to violations of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). The consent decree requires the company to come into compliance with the FDCA by developing and implementing adequate Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans. (FDA press release P07-70, dated 04/19/07, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01613.html)
FDA statement on European Aspartame study. FDA has posted a statement announcing that it has completed its review concerning the long-term carcinogenicity study of aspartame entitled, "Long-Term Carcinogenicity Bioassays to Evaluate the Potential Biological Effects, in Particular Carcinogenic, of Aspartame Administered in Feed to Sprague-Dawley Rats," conducted by the European Ramazzini Foundation (ERF). FDA states that it reviewed the study data made available to them by ERF and finds that it does not support ERF's conclusion that aspartame is a carcinogen and that there was not evidence to alter FDA's conclusion that the use of aspartame is safe. (FDA statement, dated 04/20/07, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/lrd/fpaspar2.html)