Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. DHS is Extending the REAL ID "Material Compliance" Deadline

2. FDA Issues Guidance for Industry on the Timeframe for Submission of Tobacco Health Documents

The Food and Drug Administration is announcing the availability of a guidance entitled ''Timeframe for Submission of Tobacco Health Documents.'' This document provides written guidance to tobacco product manufacturers and importers on its enforcement of the requirement to submit certain documents to FDA under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. (D/N FDA-2009-D-0588, FR Pub 12/21/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-30297.pdf)

3. FTC Approves Final Consent Order on Unsubstantiated Biodegradable Claims for Certain Towels

The Federal Trade Commission has approved a final consent order in the matter of Dyna-E International, Inc. and a letter to the public commenter. The FTC's administrative complaint charged Dyna-E with making deceptive and unsubstantiated biodegradability claims for its Lightload brand compressed dry towels. (News release, dated 06/09/09, available at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/06/kmart.shtm)

4. FTC Approves Final Consent Orders on Deceptive Bamboo and "Green Claims" in Textile Labeling

The FTC has also approved final consent orders in the three matters concerning Pure Bamboo, LLC; Sami Designs, LLC, doing business as (d/b/a) Jonano; and CSE, Inc., d/b/a Mad Mod, and also sent letters to the public commenters. In each case, the FTC's complaint charged the defendants with deceptively labeling and advertising textiles and other products as made of bamboo fiber, when they are actually made of rayon. The complaints also charged the companies with making false and unsubstantiated "green" claims that their clothing and other textile products are manufactured using an environmentally friendly process, that they retain the natural antimicrobial properties of the bamboo plant, and, in the case against Pure Bamboo, that they are biodegradable. (News release, dated 08/11/09, available at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/08/bamboo.shtm)

5. Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Exporting Camera Equipment to Iran

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reports that James Larrison of Arizona pleaded guilty on December 17, 2009 to violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for attempting to illegally export materials to Iran. According to court documents, from August 2008 through February 2009, Larrison attempted to export to Iran two Hitachi JU-Z2 Junction Units (camera control box, 8-port multiple television camera control delegation switch) without the required authorization from the Office of Foreign Asset Control. (News release, dated 12/17/09, available at http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0912/091217wilmington.htm)

6. Chicago Man Receives Prison Time for Illegal Firearm Exports to Canada

ICE also reports that a former Illinois suburban gun shop owner was sentenced on December 17, 2009 to 7 years in prison for illegally exporting more than 200 firearms to Canada. According to plea agreement, Ugur Yildiz, aka "Mike Yildiz," obtained a Federal Firearms License to sell guns in 2002 and operated Chicagoland Bells, a gun shop located in Franklin Park, Ill. In 2003, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives revoked his license after discovering more than 500 violations of the Gun Control Act. (News release, dated 12/17/09, available at http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0912/091217chicago.htm)

7. Companies that Illegally Exported Electronic Waste to Hong Kong Agree to Pay Over $21,000 Penalty

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced that two companies that illegally exported computer monitor waste to Hong Kong agreed to pay a fine of over $21,000. Ziliang Zhu, doing business as W and E International Trading, and SM Metals, LLC, -currently doing business as Better PC Recycle in Lakewood, WA - generated the shipment of over 500 discarded computer monitors and attempted to export them to Hong Kong in April. (News release, dated 12/15/09, available at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d96f984dfb3ff7718525735900400c29/5c193e97ca0f91908525768d006642de!OpenDocument)

8. NHTSA & CPSC Announce Recall of Dorel Infant Child Restraints

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission are alerting consumers of a recall involving certain infant child restraints manufactured by Dorel Juvenile Group under Safety 1st, Cosco, Eddie Bauer and Disney branded names. Consumers should immediately stop using the infant seat carrying handle. (News release, dated 12/18/09, available at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.f2217bee37fb302f6d7c121046108a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=1e51531b2220b0f8ea14201046108a0c_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_1e51531b2220b0f8ea14201046108a0c_viewID=detail_view&itemID=3093d38381d95210VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD&pressReleaseYearSelect=2009)

9. OFAC Lists Four Entities and Three Individuals Under Narcotics Kingpin Act

The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the name of three individuals and four entities (either of Mexico or Colombia) whose property and interests in property have been blocked pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, effective December 15, 2009. (FR Pub 12/21/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-30215.pdf)

10. ITA Issues Preliminary AD Determination on Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand from China

The International Trade Administration has issued a fact sheet announcing its preliminary affirmative determination in the antidumping duty investigation of prestressed concrete steel wire strand from China, with preliminary AD duty rates ranging from 37.72% -193.55%. (Fact sheet, dated 12/18/09, available at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/download/factsheets/factsheet-prc-pcsws-prelim-121809.pdf)

11. ITA Announces Agricultural Trade Mission to Abuja

The International Trade Administration has announced that the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (CS) is organizing an Agricultural Equipment and Technology Trade Mission to Abuja, which will introduce U.S. suppliers to end-users and prospective partners whose needs and capabilities are targeted to each U.S. participant's strengths. (FR Pub 12/21/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-30325.pdf)

12. FAS Issues Report on Agricultural Marketing in India

The Foreign Agricultural Service has issued an Economic Research Report titled: "Growth and Equity Effects of Agricultural Marketing Efficiency Gains in India." This December 2009 report discusses how agriculture is the largest source of employment in India, and that moving agricultural products from the farm to consumers more efficiently could result in large gains to producers, consumers, and India's overall economy. (Report, updated 12/17/09, available at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR89/)

13. New EU VAT Provisions Enter Into Force on January 1, 2010

On January 1, 2010, the European Union's new "VAT Package" enters into force, including new provisions which will see value added taxx for business-to-business services paid in the country of consumption rather than the country where the supplier is located, while for business-to-consumer services, VAT will continue to be paid in the Member State in which the supplier is established. More information is available here.(Press release, dated 12/17/09, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEX/09/1217&format=HTML&aged=0&language=en&guiLanguage=en)

14. WTO's Lamy Notes Discussion of Border Measures at Climate Talks, Pushes Multilateralism

World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy, on December 21, 2009, said that "during the (Copenhagen) conference the issue of border measures was raised. The WTO membership, like the UN Members in Copenhagen, is divided on this matter. But what I can say is that the more we move toward a multilateral framework on climate change, the more unilateral trade measures will be difficult to explain." (News release, dated 12/21/09, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news09_e/climate_21dec09_e.htm)

15. Chinese Institute Projects 15% Increase in China's Imports in 2010, 13% Increase in Exports

China's Ministry of Commerce states that according to a recent report released by the China Institute for WTO Studies, China's imports are expected to increase by 15 percent in 2010 and its exports to increase 13 percent in 2010. (News release, dated 12/21/09, available at http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/newsrelease/commonnews/200912/20091206684211.html)

16. China's AQSIQ Issues Import Alert for Certain Chrysler Vehicles

China's General Administration of Quality, Supervision and Quarantine has issued an Import Risk Alert Notification on certain Chrysler off-road vehicles from the U.S. due to transmission overheating problems that could cause the vehicle to burst into flames. (News release, dated 12/18/09, available at http://english.aqsiq.gov.cn/NewsRelease/NewsUpdates/200912/t20091218_133114.htm)

17. FSIS Updates Lists of Chile Establishments Eligible to Export Meat & Poultry

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued updated (December 18, 2009) versions of its lists of Chile establishments eligible to export meat and poultry to the U.S.

18. FSIS Issues Notice for its Inspection Personnel and Public

FSIS Notice 82-09 (December 17, 2009). Export Library Revisions for November 2009.

19. Revised FDA Import Alert

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

Processed Seafood and Analogue Seafood (Surimi) Products for Listeria Monocytogenes

20. Updated List of Instructions and U.S. Plants for Exporting Meat and Poultry to Foreign Countries

FSIS has provided updated information for the export of U.S. meat and poultry to the following countries:

Kazakhstan (December 16, 2009)

Colombia (December 16, 2009)

Canada (December 16, 2009)

Hong Kong (December 17, 2009)

Mexico Plant List (December 18, 2009)

21. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:

China Grain and Feed Update: Grain and Feed

China Fertilizer: Agricultural Situation

Hong Kong Retail Food Sector

22. 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/prereldec09.html)