Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. PHMSA Enhanced Safety Measures for Rail Transport of PIH Materials

2. APHIS Proposed Rule on Official Animal Identification Numbering Systems, Etc.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule to amend the domestic livestock regulations to require that when animal identification numbers (AINs) are used, only those numbers beginning with the 840 prefix will be recognized as official for use on all AIN tags applied to animals one year or more after the date on which this proposed rule is finalized, etc. Comments are due by March 16, 2009. (FR Pub 01/13/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-353.pdf)

3. U.S.-China Economic & Security Review Commission Hearing

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has issued a notice announcing that it will hold an open public hearing on February 17, 2009 in Washington, DC to address "China's Role in the Origins of and Response to the Global Recession." (FR Pub 01/13/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-473.pdf)

4. AMS Revises Certain Meat/Poultry Voluntary Product Classification Standards

The Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a news release announcing a major revision of voluntary product classification standards for electronically describing meat and poultry products in international commerce. (AMS press release, dated 01/13/09, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5074866&dID=106454&wf=false&description=InternationalMeat%2CPoultryProductClassificationCodesUndergoMajorRevision&)

5. President Assigns JADE Act Reporting Function to State Dept

President Bush has issued a memorandum assigning the reporting function under the Tom Lantos Block Burmese Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts (JADE) Act of 2008 to the State Department. (Posted 12/23/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-595.pdf)

6. FTZB Notices

The Foreign Trade Zone Board issued the following:

FTZ 123 - Denver, Colorado - Application for Expansion

7. NMFS Lists Black Abalone as Endangered Under ESA

The National Marine Fisheries Service has issued a final rule, effective February 13, 2009, listing black abalone as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. (FR Pub 01/14/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-635.pdf)

8. OFAC Designates 19 Entities, 123 Related Vessels under WMD EO

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing the names of 19 newly-designated entities and 123 related vessels whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13382 of June 28, 2005, Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters. (FR Pub 01/13/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-396.pdf)

9. ITA Announces Trade Mission to Jordan and Egypt

ITA has issued a notice announcing the organization of a trade mission to Amman, Jordan and Cairo, Egypt on February 14-19, 2009.(FR Pub 01/14/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-630.pdf)

10. BIS' ISTAC to Hold Partially Open Meeting

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice announcing that the Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee (ISTAC) will hold a partially open meeting on January 28 and 29, 2009 in Moffett Field, CA. (FR Pub 01/14/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-681.pdf)

11. BIS' SITAC to Hold Partially Open Meeting

BIS has issued a notice announcing that the Sensors and Instrumentation Technical Advisory Committee (SITAC) will hold a partially open meeting on January 27, 2009 in Washington, DC (FR Pub 01/13/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-366.pdf)

12. Rite Aid, Subsidiaries to Pay Civil Penalties for Ephedrine Violations

The Justice Department has issued a news release announcing that Rite Aid Corporation and nine of its subsidiaries in eight states have agreed to pay $5 million in civil penalties to settle allegations of violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) for pseudoephedrine and ephedrine. The compliance plan also requires Rite Aid to implement a tracking system in each of its 4,915 stores designed to prevent the abuse of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine products, which are used to make methamphetamine. (Justice Department press release, dated 01/12/09, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2009/January/09-opa-028.html)

13. Two Women Sentenced for Smuggling Wildlife

The Fish and Wildlife Service has posted a news release announcing that two women from the eastern Twin Cities metropolitan area were recently sentenced in federal court to smuggling protected wildlife into the U.S. for financial gain. (FWS news release, dated 01/13/09, available at http://www.fws.gov/home/feature/2008/pdf/011309LorandYangsentenced.pdf)

14. Trade Deficit Decreases in November 2008

According to the Census Bureau, the U.S.' international deficit in goods and services decreased to $40.4 billion in November from $56.7 billion (revised) in October, as imports decreased more than exports. (Census press release, dated 01/13/09, available at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/current_press_release/press.html)

15. FSIS Posts Updated Meat/Poultry/Egg Inspection Directory

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has posted an updated "Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory," a listing of establishments that produce meat, poultry, and/or egg products regulated by FSIS. (Posting available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Meat_Poultry_Egg_Inspection_Directory/index.asp)

16. FMCSA Progress Report on Motor Carrier Safety

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has posted the motor carrier safety progress report as of September 30, 2008. (Posting available at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/facts-research/art-safety-progress-report.htm)

17. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recalls:

(CPSC recalls available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prereljan09.html)