Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. DHS Posts Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Fact Sheet

2. Treasury Final Rule on Internet Gambling Sent to OMB for Review

The Treasury Department has sent its final rule entitled "Prohibition on Funding of Unlawful Internet Gambling" to the Office of Management and Budget for its review. The final rule would designate payment systems that could be used in connection with unlawful Internet gambling transactions, and require participants in those systems to establish policies and procedures reasonably designed to identify and block or otherwise prevent or prohibit transactions in connection with unlawful Internet gambling. (Final rule available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoPackageMain by clicking "Department of the Treasury" from top dropdown box.)

3. Carlton Meyers, Sweeteners Plus to Pay $5 Million to Settle Case Involving the Evasion of Sugar TRQ

The Department of Justice has issued a press release announcing that Carlton Myers and Sweeteners Plus, Incorporated have agreed to pay $5 million to settle a civil monetary penalty for their participation in a scheme to import sugar into the U.S. from Canada while evading the tariff rate quota on imported sugar. (Dated 10/14/08, available at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/mie/press/2008/2008-10-14_carltonmyers.pdf)

4. CPSC Public Safety News on Baby Rashes Associated with "Tag-less" Labels

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a press release announcing that it, along with Carter's, Inc., of Atlanta, Georgia, is advising parents and caregivers that they have received reports that a small percentage of babies and infants have developed rashes on the upper back after wearing Carter's clothing with heat-transferred, or "tag-less," labels. (Release 09-023, dated 10/24/08, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09023.html)

5. APHIS Delays Effective Date of Rule Restricting Interstate Movement, Importation of Certain Live Fish

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a notice delaying the effective date of an interim rule restricting the interstate movement and importation into the U.S. of live fish that are susceptible to viral hemorrhagic septicemia, a highly contagious disease of certain freshwater and saltwater fish. The delay of the effective date to January 9, 2009 (from November 10, 2008) will provide APHIS with the time to consider all comments and make any adjustments to the interim rule that may be necessary in order to successfully implement it. (D/N APHIS-2007-0038, FR Pub 10/28/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-25663.pdf)

6. President Issues Determination on Foreign Governments' Efforts Regarding Trafficking in Persons

President Bush has issued a determination on the lack of certain foreign governments' efforts to stem the illegal trafficking in persons. These determinations affect Burma (Myanmar), North Korea, Syria, Iran, Oman, Cuba, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Moldova, and certain other listed countries. (Determination No. 2009-5, FR Pub 10/28/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-25816.pdf)

7. BIS Order Denies Company Export Privileges for Seven Years

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final decision and order denying NEAZ Trading Corporation of Karachi, Pakistan export privileges for a seven year period due to violations of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), including actions to evade licensing requirements in order to export items to a Pakistani organization listed on the BIS Entity List. (05-BIS-23, FR Pub 10/27/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-25353.pdf)

8. BIS Order Denies Individual Export Privileges for Seven Years

BIS has issued a final decision and order denying Yasmin Ahmed (NEAZ's Chief Operating Officer) of Karachi, Pakistan export privileges for a seven year period due to violations of EAR, including the submission of an end user certificate which falsely stated the end-user for certain radar parts was the Bangladeshi Air Force, when the actual country of ultimate destination was Pakistan. (05-BIS-24, FR Pub 10/27/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-25351.pdf)

9. FSIS Public Meeting to Discuss Codex Committee on Food Import and Export

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a news release announcing a November 6, 2008 public meeting to discuss agenda items coming before the 17th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Committee (CAC) on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS), to be held in Cebu, Philippines on Nov. 24 - 28, 2008. (Dated 10/23/08, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_102308_01/index.asp)

10. FSIS Reissues Notice on Export Certification of Import Natural Casings

FSIS has issued Notice 74-08, entitled "The Export Certification of Imported Natural Casings," which is a reissuance of the content of FSIS Notice 69-06 in its entirety. The reissued notice expires on the November 26, 2008 implementation date of Directive 9000.2, entitled "Inspection and Export Certification of Livestock Intestines or Casings." (Notice, dated 10/27/08, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISNotices/74-08.pdf)

11. Coast Guard Announces CTAC Meetings on Marine Transport of Hazmats in Bulk

The Coast Guard is announcing that the Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee, and certain of its Subcommittees and Work Groups, will meet on November 18 - 19, 2008 in League City, TX to discuss various issues relating to the marine transportation of hazardous materials in bulk. The meetings will be open to the public. (Coast Guard notice, D/N USCG-2008-1061, FR Pub 10/24/08) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-25445.pdf)

12. OFAC Amends List of Entities that are Specially Designated Nationals

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has posted an October 22, 2008 list of certain entities that have been added to, or deleted from, its list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs). (OFAC notice, dated 10/22/08, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20081022.shtml)

13. Revised FDA Import Alerts

The Food and Drug Administration has issued revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

Swordfish for Methyl Mercury (16-08)

Aquacultured Catfish, Basa (Pangasius Sp), Shrimp, Dace, and Eel Products from China Due to the Presence of New Animal Drugs and/or Unsafe Food Additives (16-131)

14. Revised FDA Import Alert on DWPE of Food Products Due to Salmonella

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a revised version of its Import Alert entitled "Detention Without Physical Examination of Food Products Due to the Presence of Salmonella." (IA 99-19, revised 10/24/08, available at http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia9919.html)

15. CBSA Initiates Re-Investigation of Values, Prices of Laminate Flooring

The Canada Border Services Agency has announced that it has initiated a re- investigation of the normal values and export prices respecting laminate flooring in thickness ranging from 5.5mm to 13mm (other than laminate hardwood flooring where the hardwood component exceeds 2mm in thickness) originating in or exported from China and France and that it has initiated a review of subsidizing in respect of such product originating in or exported from China. (CBSA notice, dated 10/23/08, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/sima-lmsi/ri-re/ad1332/ad1332-ri08-ni-eng.html)

16. CBSA Summary of Zimbabwe Economic Measures Regulations

The Canada Border Services Agency has issued a customs notice to inform exporters of the key provisions of the Special Economic Measures (Zimbabwe) Regulations, which came into force on September 4, 2008, that include a ban on the export of arms and related material to Zimbabwe or to any person in Zimbabwe. (CN08-021, dated 10/22/08, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/cn-ad/cn08-021-eng.html)