Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
A Journal of Commerce commentary stated that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can't catch all food-safety problems and that importers also have a responsibility to ensure that the products they are buying are safe, especially considering recent food-safety problems with Chinese exports. An official from the Chinese ministry responsible for inspecting imports and exports was quoted as saying that U.S. food companies "must . . . be very clear about the standards they need and don't just look for a cheap price." (JoC, 06/04/07, available at www.joc.com)
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1. Importers Must Also Help Ensure Safety of Food Imports, Esp. From China
2. WCO to Hold Int'l Harmonized System Conference, September 18-19, 2007
The World Customs Organization will hold an international conference entitled Application of the WCO Harmonized System 2007 in Brussels, Belgium, September 18-19, 2007. The conference is intended for policy makers and specialists in international trade, taxation, and customs issues and will explore the HS with a focus on enhancing the classification of products. (Conference information available at http://demo.molos.be/hs2007/hs2007-1.htmlEN)
3. Giuliani Proposes New Approach for Strengthening Port Security
PortSecurityNews.com reports that at an appearance before the 2007 International Port Security Conference of the Airport and Seaport Police, former New York Mayor and current Republican Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani called for a strengthening of efforts to improve port security. Giuliani proposed two ideas to improve homeland security, "PortStat" and "BorderStat," which would be modeled on the CompStat program, which he used in New York in an effort to track information and monitor the effectiveness of information flow. Portstat and Borderstat would closely monitor the effectiveness of current programs and provide accurate and timely intelligence. (PSN, dated 06/11/07, available at http://portsecuritynews.com/news/templates/registered.asp?articleid=1619&zoneid=1)
4. APHIS Proposes to Increases Fees, Etc. for Export Certification of Plants/Plant Products
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule which would amend the user fee regulations (7 CFR Part 353) by adjusting the fees charged for export certification of plants and plant products. APHIS' proposed rule would increase these user fees for fiscal years 2007 through 2012 to reflect the anticipated costs associated with providing these services during each year. APHIS is also proposing to add a new user fee for Federal export certificates for plants and plant products that an exporter obtains from a State or county cooperator in order to recover APHIS administrative costs associated with that service. APHIS' proposed rule also makes several nonsubstantive changes to the regulations for clarity. Comments must be received on or before August 13, 2007. (D/N APHIS-2006-0137, FR Pub 06/12/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-11278.pdf)
5. OFAC Blocks Properties and Interests in Property of 2 Individuals Under Narcotics Kingpin Act, Etc.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing the names of two additional individuals whose property and interests in property have been blocked pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. OFAC is also changing the listing of one previously designated individual. (FR Pub 06/08/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-11187.pdf)
6. U.S. and Japan Release 2007 Investment Initiative Report
The State Department has issued a press release announcing that it and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan have released the U.S.-Japan 2007 Investment Initiative Report. Among other things, the report documents the Investment Initiative's success in promoting changes to Japan's Corporate Code, which entered into force in May 2007, that open new avenues for mergers and acquisitions by foreign companies investing in Japan. (State Dept. press release 2007/444, dated 06/06/07, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/jun/86096.htm)
7. FDA Information Collection on Food Facility Registration Approved
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a notice announcing that the Office of Management and Budget has approved an information collection entitled "Registration of Food Facilities Under the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002." The OMB approval is set to expire on May 31, 2010. (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/19/06 news, 06121999, BP summary of FDA seeking comments on this information collection.) (FR Pub 06/01/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-10617.pdf)