Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Government Accountability Office issued its report entitled "Electronic Waste: EPA Needs to Better Control Harmful U.S. Exports through Stronger Enforcement and More Comprehensive Regulation." (GAO-08-1044, dated August 2008, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d081044.pdf)
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1. GAO Report on Exported Electronic Waste
2. OTEXA Opens Registration for Webinar on Haiti HOPE II "3 for 1" Program
The Office of Textiles and Apparel will host a free webinar on September 26, 2008 on Haiti HOPE II's "3 for 1" Earned Import Allowance Program for apparel wholly assembled or knit-to-shape in Haiti. The webinar will feature background on the program's structure, a complete "how-to" guide for companies interested in participating, and an overview of the electronic system that will be used to manage each participant's account. Registration is required and closes on September 25, 2008. (Information available at https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=8Q8S )
3. AMS Informational Sessions on COOL Labeling
The Agricultural Marketing Service will hold three informational sessions at the end of September/early October 2008 on country of origin labeling (COOL) for covered commodities sold at retail. (Effective Sept. 30, 2008, the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills require country of origin labeling for all beef, pork, lamb, goat, chicken, fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, peanut, pecan, ginseng and macadamia nut covered commodities sold by designated retailers.) (AMS No. 179-08, dated 09/1708, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5072343&dID=100257&wf=false&description=USDAAnnouncesInformationalSessionsonCountryofOriginLabeling&topNav=Newsroo )
4. State Dept Announces Actions Against Mayrow General Trading, Etc.
The State Department has announced that on September 17, 2008, the U.S. took several actions against the Mayrow General Trading Company and its global network, for its involvement in providing weapons of mass destruction (WMD)-related, military, and dual-use items to Iran. The Justice Department has unsealed a criminal indictment against 16 foreign-based defendants related to the Mayrow network and the Commerce Department placed more than 100 entities world-wide on the Commerce Entity List. In addition, the Treasury Department designated six entities, pursuant to Executive Order 13382, for their role in WMD proliferation. State Dept press release available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/sept/109822.htm ; BIS release available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2008/bis_press09172008.htm; Justice Dept release available http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2008/doj09172008.htm; Treasury release available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp1145.htm)
5. Information on Recent U.S. - China Joint Commission Meeting
The 19th U.S. - China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) convened on September 16, 2008 in Southern California. The Commerce Department has posted the following documents on the meeting:
JCCT: A Quarter Century of Progress
6. U.S. China Economic and Security Review Commission to Meet
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission will meet in Washington, DC on September 24-26, October 6-8, October 20-22, and October 23-24, 2008, if necessary, to draft its 2008 Annual Report to Congress. (FR Pub 09/18/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-21746.pdf )
7. ICE, CBP Seize Over 6,000 Pounds of Marijuana in Miami
Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently seized over 6,000 pounds of marijuana with a street value of approximately $12 million at the Port of Miami. The drugs were found in a 20 foot container from Jamaica. (ICE press release, dated 09/15/08, available at http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0809/080915miami.htm)
8. CARB Report Finds that Reducing Greenhouse Gases Good for Economy
The California Air Resources Board released two reports that highlight how implementing AB 32, California's climate change law, will provide net benefits to both California's economy and public health. (Release 08-80, dated 09/17/08, available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr091708.htm)
9. FSIS/FDA Meeting on Codex Committee on Nutrition/Foods for Special Dietary Uses, Nutrient Labeling
The Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administraiton are sponsoring a public meeting on September 24, 2008 in College Park, MD to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 30th Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which will be held in Capetown, South Africa, on November 3-November 7, 2008.
In addition, a working group will meet on November 1, 2008, to discuss Health Claims and Nutrient Reference Values for food labeling purposes, and any other matters related to the World Health Organization's Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health which are under consideration by the CCNFSDU. (D/N FSIS-2008-0019, FR Pub 09/18/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-21829.pdf)
10. DOE Public Meeting on Energy Conservation Standards for Refrigerators, Freezers
The Department of Energy will hold an informal public meeting on September 29, 2008 in Washington, DC to discuss and receive comments on its rulemaking proceeding on energy conservation standards for residential refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. DOE is also seeking comments on such standards by October 20, 2008. In addition, DOE has prepared a draft framework document on this topic, available at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/refrigerators_freezers.html. (D/N No. EERE-2008-BT-STD-0012, FR Pub 09/18/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-21821.pdf)
11. FDA Revises its Import Alert on Unapproved New Drugs
The Food and Drug Administration issued a revised version of its Import Alert (66-41) entitled "Detention without Physical Examination of Unapproved New Drugs Promoted in the U.S." (IA 66-41, dated 09/16/08, available at http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia6641.html)
12. FDA Revises its Import Alert on Molluscan Shellfish
The FDA issued a revised version of its Import Alert (16-50) entitled "Detention without Physical Examination of Molluscan Shellfish." (IA 16-50, dated 09/15/08, available at http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia1650.html)
13. APHIS Interim Rule on Limiting Use of Animal Identification Numbers
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued an interim rule, effective September 18, 2008, amending the regulations concerning the interstate movement of animals to limit the use of the animal identification number (AIN) with the 840 prefix to animals born in the U.S. In addition, APHIS is extending the restrictions on the removal of official identification devices to include devices applied to imported animals in their countries of origin, etc. Comments must be received on or before November 17, 2008. (D/N APHIS-2008-0077, FR 09/18/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-21787.pdf)
14. APHIS Seeks Comments on Removal of Delay in Applicability of Certain BSE Provisions
Due to a Court order, the APHIS is requesting further comment by November 17, 2008, on the provisions of its January 2005 final rule regarding minimal risk regions and the importation of beef from bovines 30 months of age or older when slaughtered, and a September 2008 final rule which removed the delay of applicability of certain provisions in the January 2005 rule and allowed the import of live bovines and certain bovine products from Canada. (D/N APHIS-2008-0093, FR Pub 09/18/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-21786.pdf )
15. OFAC Adds 5 Entities, 2 Individuals Fueling Iraq Violence to its SDN List
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added five individuals and two entities to its Specially Designated Nationals List. The Treasury Department also issued a press release on these designations. According to the Treasury, four of the individuals designated commit, direct, support, or pose a significant risk of committing acts of violence against Iraqi citizens, Iraqi government officials, and Coalition Forces. (OFAC notice, dated 09/16/08, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20080916.shtml and Treasury press release, dated 09/16/08, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp1141.htm)
16. Foreign Trade Zone Board Notices
The following Foreign Trade Zone Board notices were published:
FTZ 38 - Grant of Authority for Subzone Status - Kravet, Inc.