The Department of Energy has issued three notices that it is reopening the comment periods on its framework documents on proposed energy conservation standards for furnace fans and commercial refrigeration equipment; and a preliminary technical support document on walk-in coolers and freezers. Comments are now due by July 27, 2010 for furnace fans; and by July 30, 2010 for refrigeration equipment and coolers and freezers.
The Office of Textiles and Apparel has posted to its website monthly reports containing official May 2010 trade data from the Census Department for U.S. imports and exports of textiles and apparel.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued updated versions of its list of Argentina (July 13), Canadian (July 12, 2010) and New Zealand (July 13, 2010) firms eligible to export meat and poultry to the U.S.
On July 13, 2010, APHIS updated its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment Manual. This Manual serves as an operational guide for selecting and conducting quarantine treatments. The procedures and treatment schedules in this manual are administratively authorized for use by APHIS to prevent the movement of agricultural pests into or within the United States. Listed treatments include chemical treatments such as fumigation with methyl bromide, and nonchemical treatments with heat, cold, or irradiation.
APHIS has updated the AQIM as of July 12, 2010. The handbook provides an information source for implementing AQIM at designated work locations, training employees about the basics of risk analysis and risk management, and analyzing information so managers can make better risk-based decisions
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a statement by U.S. Ambassador to the WTO Michael Punke which congratulates Dennis Francis for his election as Chair of the WTO Negotiating Group on Rules, states that the U.S. is committed to achieving a balanced and ambitious agreement within this group, and outlines U.S. viewpoints on antidumping, fisheries subsidies, horizontal subsidies, and regional trade agreements.
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice that lists those applying for ocean transportation intermediary licenses as a non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC), ocean freight forwarder (FF) or NVOCC/FF OTI, as follows:
On July 13, 2010, APHIS updated its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Nursery Stock Restrictions Manual. This Manual summarizes the entry status of regulated plant materials capable of and intended for propagation.