The Food and Drug Administration is seeking comments and information about preventive controls and other practices used by facilities to identify and address hazards associated with specific types of food and specific processes. The information FDA receives will inform its development of guidance required by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) on preventive controls for facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold human food or animal food/feed.
During a recent webinar, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Revenue Division officials provided an update on the process and problems with bonds. An official announced that CBP is expected to soon publish a final version of a new CBP Form 301 (customs bond).
A spokesman for China's Ministry of Commerce has issued comments regarding the U.S. Trade Representative's 2011 Special 301 Report, which continued to place China on Priority Watch List and to monitor China under Section 306. MOFCOM spokesman Yao Jian expressed regret for this, hoping the U.S. side makes more comprehensive, objective and fair evaluation on China's efforts in IPR protection. He stated that the China attaches great importance to IPR protection, and significant achievements have been made.
The Food and Drug Administration has issued an interim final rule, effective July 3, 2011, that will amend its regulations to lower the threshold for ordering administrative detention of food for human or animal consumption, as required by the Food Safety Modernization Act1. FDA states that with the new criteria, the number of administrative detentions2 for food is likely to increase.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has released its 2011 “Special 301” annual report on the adequacy and effectiveness of U.S. trading partners’ protection of intellectual property rights (IPR). This year, for the first time, USTR has issued an open invitation to all trading partners listed in the report to cooperatively develop action plans to resolve IPR issues of concern.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a final rule establishing a mandatory consumer product safety standard for toddler beds that adopts the voluntary ASTM F 1821-09 standard, but with certain modifications to strengthen the standard.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a proposed rule to establish a mandatory consumer product safety standard for children’s portable bed rails. The proposed standard is substantially the same as the voluntary standard ASTM F 2085-10a, “Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Portable Bed Rails,” with certain modifications to strengthen the standard.
On March 31, 2011, Senator Brown (D) and two co-sponsors1 introduced S. 708, the Trade Enforcement Priorities Act of 2011, a bill to give the federal government more authority to address trade barriers that undermine U.S. workers and domestic manufacturing by reinstating “Super 301” authority.
The Federal Trade Commission is giving advance notice that it will propose amendments to its Fur Rules (16 CFR 301) to reflect the March 18 elimination of the fur-content labeling and disclosure exemption for "apparel with fur" that contains relatively small quantities or values of fur. The FTC is also requesting comments on its Fur Act regulations (Fur Rules) and Fur Products Name Guide by May 16, 2011.
The Food and Drug Administration will be holding a public meeting on March 29, 2011 on the implementation of the import safety provisions of the recently enacted FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), called "a New Paradigm for Importers." Topics to be covered will include importer verification, the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program, import certifications for food, and third-party accreditation.