Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Revised Chinese Textile Care Labeling Effective March 1st

2. EU Prioritizes 7 Substances for Potential Placement on REACH List

OTEXA reports that on June 1, 2009, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) made its first recommendation of seven substances that should no longer be placed on the market or allowed to be used within the EU, except when "authorized" for specific purposes. The seven substances, which were prioritized based on their hazardous nature, are used in consumer goods, including various textile applications. The final decision on whether these seven substances should be subjected to the authorization process will have to be taken up by the European Commission. (See future issue of ITT for details.) (Notice, available at http://web.ita.doc.gov/otexa/hotiss.nsf/7bfa72c94f543da685256e5b00498a4d/e1487c0b07a935f0852575d80055cdc1?OpenDocument)

3. OMB Concludes Review of APHIS Final Rule on User Fees, Export Certification for Plants and Plant Products

The Office of Management and Budget has approved an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service final rule that will amend the user fee regulations by adjusting the fees charged for the export certification of plants and plant products. This action will also 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 our costs associated with that service. (Information available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoPackageMain)

4. OMB Approves DOD Buy American Interim Final Rule for Costa Rica and Peru FTA

OMB has approved a Department of Defense interim final rule that will amend the Defense FAR Supplement to implement the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement with respect to Costa Rica, and the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. The trade agreements waive the applicability of the Buy American Act for some foreign supplies and construction materials and specify procurement procedures designed to ensure fairness. (Information available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoPackageMain)

5. BIS Denies Export Privileges to TAK Components, Inc.

The Bureau of Industry and Security has denied TAK Components, Inc. and its President/agent export privileges for five years from the 2007 date of conviction, for willfully exporting and transferring from the U.S. to Iran, via the United Arab Emirates, replacement and service parts and equipment for agricultural machinery, without first having obtained the required authorization from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. BIS is also revoking all licenses issued pursuant to the Act or regulations in which TAK had an interest at the time of conviction. (FR Pub 06/18/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-14315.pdf)

6. Tainted Pet Food Protein Distributors Plead Guilty

ChemNutra Inc., of Nevada, and its two owners, Sally Qing Miller, 43, a Chinese national, and her husband, Stephen S. Miller, 56, both of Las Vegas, pled guilty in federal court on June 16, 2009 to distributing a tainted ingredient for pet food, which resulted in a nationwide recall after thousands of pets died across the United States in 2007. The plea states that melamine was substituted for the protein in wheat gluten, and that the labeling of the wheat gluten was false and misleading. (News release, dated 06/16/09, available at http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0906/090616kansascity.htm)

7. FTZB Notice on Expansion and Reorganization of FTZ 147

The Foreign Trade Zone Board is announcing that it has approved the expansion and reorganization of FTZ 147. The Foreign Trade Zone Corporation of Southern Pennsylvania is the grantee of FTZ 147. (FR Pub 06/18/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-14245.pdf)

8. President Determines Cambodia and Laos are No Longer Marxist Countries for Ex-Im Bank Purposes

President Obama has determined that, pursuant to the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945, Cambodiaand Laos have ceased to be Marxist-Leninist countries.

9. DHS OIG Report on TSA's Role in Aviation Security

The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General has posted a report entitled "TSA's Role in General Aviation Security." (Report, dated May 2009, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_09-69_May09.pdf)

10. FSIS Updates Export Requirements for Russia

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has posted updated export requirements for Russia. The information regarding ineligible fresh/frozen pork and pork products was revised. (Notice, dated 06/16/09, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Russia_Requirements/index.asp)

11. FSIS Updates Plant Lists, Eligible Foreign Establishments

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has posted updated lists of U.S. plants approved to export meat and poultry to South Africa and Russia (poultry). In addition, FSIS updated its list of eligible foreign establishments in Australia eligible to export meat and poultry to the U.S.

12. Long Beach Announcement on FMC Withdrawing CTP Lawsuit

The Port of Long Beach has issued a news release on the Federal Maritime Commission's recent announcement that it is withdrawing its lawsuit that had sought to block clean trucks initiatives at the Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles. (News Release, available at http://www.polb.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=566&targetid=1)

13. WCO Says New UN/EDIFACT Message Facilitates Single Window Developments

The UN Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) and the World Customs Organization announced that a new message had been created for the lodgment of information related to cross-border trade utilizing a Single Window to deliver data once only to regulatory agencies. This new EDIFACT message was approved, but subject to final audit by UN/CEFACT, at its most recent meeting in Rome. It will be known as the Government Cross-Border Regulatory (GOVCBR) message. (Press Release, dated 06/17/09, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/press/?v=1&lid=1&cid=6&id=184)

14. Canada Updates Quota Holders List for Non-NAFTA, Etc. Users of Milk Protein TRQ

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has updated its April 1, 2009 - March 31, 2010 quota holders list for the portion of the milk protein tariff rate quota (with a milk protein content of 85% or more by weight) for users other than those from NAFTA countries, Chile, Costa Rica, or Israel. (List, available at http://www.international.gc.ca/controls-controles/prod/agri/dairy-laitiers/milk-protein-09-proteiques-lait-09.aspx?lang=eng)

15. CBSA Revises D-Memorandum to Increase TPLs for Certain FTAs

Canada Border Services Agency has revised its D-Memorandum D11-4-22 to reflect increases in Tariff Preference Levels (TPLs) for importations of specific goods under the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) and the Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement (CCRFTA), as these agreements provide for an annual increase in TPLs over several years. (Memorandum, dated 06/10/09, available at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d11/d11-4-22-eng.html)

16. EU, W. African Countries Agree to Conclude Regional Trade Agreement by Oct. 2009

The European Union and West African countries have agreed to conclude a regional agreement on trade in goods and development cooperation by October 2009. The agreement would cover trade in goods, some trade rules and development cooperation, and lay the foundation for a comprehensive agreement between the EU and West Africa. (Notice, dated 06/17/09, available at http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilateral/regions/acp/pr170609_en.htm)

17. EC Releases 3rd Report on Potentially Trade Restrictive Measures

The European Commission has released its third report on new potentially trade restrictive measures planned or implemented by its trading partners in the face of the economic crisis. (Report, dated 06/12/09, available at http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2009/june/tradoc_143501.pdf)

18. India Revises Import Conditions for Hides and Skins

According to the European Commission, on June 10, 2009, the Indian Ministry of Agriculture revised its import conditions for hides and skins, reflecting the concerns of EU Member States and those of other major suppliers of hides and skins. The EC explains that in late 2008, India had announced new import conditions for hides and skins which went beyond the international standards set by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). (Notice, dated 06/15/09, available at http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2009/june/tradoc_143600.pdf)

19. Japan's METI to Impose Ban on All Exports to N. Korea

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has decided to impose a ban on all exports destined for North Korea by revising relevant regulations, including the Export Trade Control Order, in accordance with the "Measures against North Korea pursuant to the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Laws," approved by the Cabinet on June 16, 2009. (Notice, available at http://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/data/20090616_02.html)

20. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:

Venezuela Fresh Deciduous Fruit: Import Permits and Foreign Exchange Restricted

21. 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/prerelmay09.html