On July 31, 2008, the Senate passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (H.R. 4040) conference report, clearing it for the President. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/31/08 news, 08073110, for BP summary of the H.R. 4040 conference report.) (Congressional Record, dated 07/31/08 news, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r110:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20080731))
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a CSMS message announcing recent changes to the 2008 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HS Update No. 0804), which include the following:
In the July 16, 2008 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 42, No. 30), CBP published a notice revoking a classification ruling and a treatment as follows:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a CSMS message revising an earlier message informing filers that they can use Remote Location Filing (RLF) and Electronic Interface Program (EIP) to make entry of goods subject to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Declaration Form 3520-1 or Engine Declaration Form 3520-21 documentation.
The World Customs Organization, in conjunction with HM Revenue and Customs, will stage the Global Dialogue on Capacity Building conference in London on October 2, 2008. The theme of the conference is sustainable customs reform and development strategies. (Conference information available at http://www.wcoomd.org/cbglobal_dialogue_2008.htm)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a press release announcing plans for construction work and the deployment of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to improve 39 major entry points (354 vehicle lanes) along the U.S borders with Canada and Mexico over the coming months.
There is a discrepancy between the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's 2003 regulations on advance electronic cargo information for exports by vessel and the Bureau of Census' 2008 regulations on mandatory AES (Automated Export System) for this same mode.
The Federal Maritime Commission has issued an Order to Show Cause for Central Agency of Florida, Inc., operating as an ocean transportation intermediary, for failure to designate and maintain a qualifying individual (QI). If Central Agency does not show cause, the FMC will order it to cease and desist from operating as an OTI. (FMC Order, D/N 08-02, dated 06/06/08, available at http://www.fmc.gov/UserFiles/pages/File/Dkt_08-02_Order_to_Show_Cause.pdf)
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued its 2006 Annual Motor Carrier Efficiency Study report to Congress pursuant to the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU, P.L. 109-59).
On May 15, 2008, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee ordered favorably reported with amendments S. 2997, a bill to reauthorize the Maritime Administration (MARAD), and for other purposes. (S. 2997 details available at