Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
American Shipper reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is preparing to release the first draft of security criteria being prepared for customs brokers participating in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). American Shipper notes that CBP officials recognize that brokers don't have the ability to control the operations of shippers and overseas intermediaries; however, CBP expects brokers to play a role in screening companies shipping product to the U.S. (American Shipper Pub November 2006, www.americanshipper.com)
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1. CBP Preparing to Release 1st Draft of C-TPAT Criteria for Customs Brokers
2. CBP to Focus on Replenishing the Ranks of its Import Specialists
The Journal of Commerce (JoC) reports that after five years of focusing on supply-chain security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is short of people for trade functions. JoC states that the number of import specialists is below the strength that Congress ordered CBP to maintain in 2003. There are reports that import specialists are doing some inspection work normally handled by CBP Officers, who themselves are working overtime to manage security and clear cargo through ports. JoC reports that CBP is aware of the problem and Commissioner Basham has pledged to replenish the ranks of import specialists to their statutory level by the end of 2006. (JoC Pub 10/02/06, www.joc.com)
3. WTO Establishes Panel to Examine China's Tariffs on Imported Auto Parts
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that the World Trade Organization (WTO) has established a panel, as a result of a U.S., European Union, and Canadian complaint, to examine whether China's tariffs on imported auto parts break international trade rules. (JoC Online dated 10/26/06, www.joc.com.)
4. USDA Approves Assessment Increase for Fresh Market Mushrooms
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has issued a press release announcing that the USDA has approved an assessment increase under the Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Program. Effective January 1, 2007, the assessment rate will increase from $0.0035 cents per pound to $0.0043 cents per pound of mushrooms marketed or imported for the fresh market in the U.S. According to AMS, producers and importers who produce or import an average of more than 500,000 pounds of mushrooms annually for fresh use will be affected. (AMS press release no. 247-06, dated 10/17/06, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/news/247-06.htm)
5. APHIS Prohibits Importation of Certain Species of Live Fish from Two Canadian Provinces and Interstate Movement in Great Lakes Region
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a press release announcing an emergency order prohibiting the importation of certain species of live fish from two Canadian provinces into the U.S. and the interstate movement of the same species from the eight states bordering the Great Lakes due to outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS). APHIS states that this action is in response to the rapid spread of VHS in the Great Lakes region and the potential impact on a growing number of fish species. (APHIS press release, dated 10/24/06, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2006/10/vhsfish.shtml)
6. FDA Posts Various Notices to its Web Site
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted the following notices to its Web site:
FDA posts various documents regarding furan in foods. FDA has posted three documents to its Web site regarding furan in foods. The first document presents updated exploratory data on furan in food: individual food products, the second document is FDA's updated method of determination of furan in foods, and the final document covers the method ruggedness testing conducted for the determination of furan in foods. (Exploratory data document, updated 10/27/06, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/furandat.html; Determination document, updated 10/27/06, available athttp://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/furan.html; Method ruggedness testing document, dated 10/27/06, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/furan2.html)
Updated survey data on acrylamide in food posted. FDA has posted to its Web site an updated report on survey data on acrylamide in food entitled "Survey Data on Acrylamide in Food: Total Diet Study Results." (FDA report, updated 10/06, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/acrydat2.html)
7. Recent CPSC Press Releases on Recalls
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued separate press releases (dated 09/05/06 - 09/28/06) announcing that the following companies, in cooperation with the CPSC, are voluntarily recalling the products listed below. Due to the large number of recalls, this is Part II of a two-part series of summaries. (Press releases available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml06/
Code Legend according to releases: D - Distributor, I - Importer, M - Manufacturer, N/A - Not Applicable, R - Retailer, W - Wholesaler, A - Agent. |