The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to list ethylphenidate, a central nervous system stimulant, under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice published Sept. 22. “If finalized, this action would impose the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis, or possess) or propose to handle ethylphenidate.” Comments are due by Nov. 21.

CBP again extended a deadline to allow users more time to continue submitting certain documents through the Document Imaging System as it tries to convince more operators to participate in its Electronic Export Manifest pilot, the agency said in a Sept. 19 CSMS message. DIS will continue accepting submissions of “Form 1302A ​​Cargo Declaration - Outward with Commercial Forms” through April 1, CBP said. The deadline was previously Oct. 1, and has been extended multiple times (see 2209200080 and 2303130012).

The Census Bureau is seeking public comments on an information collection involving the Automated Export System, the agency said in a notice released this week. Census said it’s requesting “continued clearance” of AES as a result of a new conditional data element, effective Nov. 8, that shippers will need to report when exporting items classified under U.S. Munitions List Category XXI (see 2308090018). The agency requested feedback on a previous version of the information collection last November and said it’s allowing for “an additional 30 days for public comments.”

The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee issued a September update on the status of its Export Modernization Working Group's actions ahead of the Sept. 20 COAC meeting.

The U.S. Census Bureau clarified who the ultimate consignee would be for certain scenarios, in a blog post on Sept. 7. The blog post includes a few scenarios wherein the Foreign Principal Party in Interest (FPPI) or foreign buyer is listed as the ultimate consignee, and two of those wherein "reseller/distributor" is listed as the Ultimate Consignee Type if they are reselling or distributing the goods.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is finalizing changes to its regulations on quotas for controlled substances and the list I chemicals ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine. DEA’s final rule defines "the types of quotas, update the method to abandon quota, clarify the current language to ensure that both manufacturers and distributors are required to obtain certification of a buyer’s quota, reduce overall inventories, formalize the existing practice of use-specific subcategories for individual manufacturing and procurement quotas, and modify existing deadlines to fix/issue quotas," the agency said. It also implements legislative changes to the Controlled Substances Act. The final rule takes effect Nov. 29.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is issuing a final rule listing the South Sierra and South Coast distinct population segments of the foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii), a stream-dwelling amphibian from Oregon and California, as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, and the North Feather and Central Coast distinct population segments of the species as threatened. The listings for the North Feather and Central Coast groups include a 4(d) rule for this species that prohibits importation and exportation without a permit. New import and export restrictions set by the agency’s final rule take effect Sept. 28.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is issuing a final rule listing the sand dune phacelia (Phacelia argentea), a plant species from coastal southern Oregon and northern California, as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The listing includes a 4(d) rule for these species that prohibits importation and exportation without a permit. New import and export restrictions set by the agency’s final rule take effect Sept. 21.

CBP last week released a set of frequently asked questions involving Automated Export System message 97H, a recently introduced code that notifies filers that their shipment has been put on hold (see 2305240038 and 2305100062). One FAQ says CBP won’t use the message to hold all exports it plans to inspect, and instead the message will be used “at the discretion” of the officer based on the “type of merchandise” being shipped. Other FAQs cover how frequently filers should expect to see the message, what exporters should do after receiving the message, who needs to program for the message and more.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will on Sept. 18 launch an updated version of the Registered Aquaculture Export Facility (RAEF) inspection program, the agency said. On that date, the agency will begin using “RAEF 2.0 documents and processes,” and will “apply changes to currently enrolled facilities at their next regularly scheduled annual facility inspection and approval,” it said. APHIS will hold a series of training webinars on the new system in September, and will send an email in “the coming days” with a webinar schedule. APHIS also will launch a new website in September “dedicated to aquatic animal export resources ... including step-by-step guides on the RAEF 2.0 inspection program,” it said.