Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The New York Times reports that China is prepared to require that every shipment of food being exported to the U.S. and other countries be inspected for quality by the government, starting September 1, 2007, according to a senior trade official at China's Washington embassy. The official stated that all types of food would be inspected with at least one box in each shipment being checked and each package or shipment would be affixed with a government seal. The official also noted that the Chinese government opposes any mandate to hire independent safety laboratories (to test toy imports), saying that inspection is a country's sole authority. (NYT, dated 08/16/07, available at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/16/business/16inspect.html?_r=1&oref=slogin)
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1. China Says It's Prepared to Inspect All Food Exports by September 1, 2007
2. DHS Announces Add'l $260 Mil. in Supplemental Grants Funding, $110 Mil. for Ports
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a press release announcing the supplemental fiscal year 2007 grant guidance and application kits for three grant programs, including the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). The supplement grant funding, which totals $260 million, makes $110 million available for the PSGP. Through this supplemental award, the eight port regions that qualified for Tier 1, or highest risk status, will receive a combined total of $66 million, or roughly 60% of the $110 million available through supplemental PSGP funding. (DHS press release, dated 08/16/07, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1187294574562.shtm)
3. Miami TSA to Hold Free Seminars to Review TSA IAC Standard Security Program
According to Transportation Security Administration sources, the Miami TSA is hosting a series of six free Indirect Air Carrier (IAC) outreach seminars between September 5 and September 7, 2007. The main objective of these seminars is to review the TSA IAC Standard Security Program and applicable federal regulations affecting IACs. Participation confirmation must be received by noon on August 27th. (For additional details, registration information email Cecilia.Rivero@dhs.gov)
4. FMC Re-Establishes Presence in Houston, Opens Office
The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a news release announcing that it is re-establishing a FMC presence in Houston, Texas by opening an office. According to the news release, FMC previously had a Houston office from 1987 to 1995 and is re-establishing agency presence there based on an increasing volume of maritime commerce and a growing number of regulated entities in the Houston/Galveston area. (NR 07-03, dated 08/17/07, available at http://www.fmc.gov/speeches/newsrelease.asp?SPEECH_ID=233)
5. APHIS Proposes to Reduce Quarantine for Imported Chrysanthemums to 2 months
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule to amend its regulations on importing nursery stock by providing an option in which the postentry quarantine growing period for articles of Chrysanthemum spp., Leucanthemella serotina, and Nipponanthemum nipponicumthat are imported from certain locations would be reduced from 6 months to 2 months, provided that the grower of those plants has implemented a systems approach to prevent the imported articles from being infected with chrysanthemum white rust. APHIS states that this proposal replaces part of a previous similar proposal. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/13/06 news, 06011320, for BP summary of APHIS' earlier proposed rule.)(D/N 03-002-4, FR Pub 08/08/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-15421.pdf
6. Company Pays $250,000 for Falsely Representing Values on SEDs, Etc.
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a press release announcing that P.R.A. World Wide Trading Co., Inc. (PRA), a freight forwarder, has agreed to pay $250,000 in civil penalties to settle charges that it conspired to make false statements in violation of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and falsely represented the value of the items subject to the EAR on Shipper's Export Declarations (SEDs). BIS will suspend $90,000 of this figure for one year and subsequently waive this amount if PRA does not commit any violations during the suspension period. (BIS press release, dated 08/13/07, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2007/false_statement.html)
7. OFAC Publishes Enforcement Information for August 3, 2007
The OFAC has issued a notice announcing the following enforcement information for August 3, 2007:
| Entity/Individual | Penalty | Action/Violation/Alleged Violation |
|---|---|---|
| Travelocity.com | $182,750 | Provision of travel-related services in which Cuba or Cuban nationals had an interest by arranging air travel and hotel reservations to, from, with or within Cuba without an OFAC license |
| American Express Company (Mexico), a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Express Travel Related Services Co., Inc. | $16,625 | Sales of group travel related packages to Cuba in violation of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations |
| Erfan Enterprises, Inc. | $932 | Facilitation of exportation of Sudanese raw cotton to Bangladesh by acting as a non-exclusive agent to receive a commission payment |
(OFAC notice available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/civpen/penalties/08102007.pdf)
8. FDA Posts Various Notices to its Web Site
The Food and Drug Administration has posted the following notices to its Web site:
FDA posts various food, nutrition, etc. training videos. FDA has posted the following food and nutrition and dietary supplements videos to its Web site: Food Defense, CARVERShock; Produce Safety: A Global Concern; Requirements for Labeling on Food & Dietary Supplements, Nutrition Labeling, & Allergen Labeling; FDA's Role in the U.S. Food Safety System; and Application of Risk Analysis to Food Safety. (FDA training videos, dated August 2007, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/comm/vltfst.html)
FDA announces program to enhance States' food safety programs. FDA has issued a news release announcing that it has launched a national program to bring about the adoption of more uniform, equivalent, and high quality regulatory programs by state agencies responsible for regulating facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food under FDA's jurisdiction. (News release, dated 07/31/07, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01674.html)
9. Various Agencies Seek Comments on Information Collections
Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):
| Agency | Information Collection | Comments Due |
|---|---|---|
| APHIS 1 | Importation of Tomatoes from Spain, Chile, France, Morocco, and Western Sahara | 10/01/07 |
| APHIS 2 | Black Stem Rust; Identification Requirements for Addition of Rust-Resistant Varieties | 10/01/07 |
| CBP 1 | Transportation Entry and Manifest of Goods Subject to CBP Inspection and Permit | 08/27/07 |
| CBP 2 | Application for Exportation of Articles under Special Food | 08/27/07 |
| EPA | National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards for Consumer Products | 10/01/07 |
| ITA | Information on Articles for Physically or Mentally Handicapped Persons Imported Free of Duty | 09/24/07 |
APHIS 1 Information Collection (FR Pub 08/02/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-15008.pdf
APHIS 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 08/02/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-15009.pdf
CBP 1 Information Collection (FR Pub 07/27/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-14493.pdf
CBP 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 07/27/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-14494.pdf
EPA Information Collection (FR Pub 08/02/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-14984.pdf
ITA Information Collection (FR Pub 07/26/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-14458.pdf