Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
Reuters reports that major West Coast shipping ports such as Seattle and Long Beach will be the first targets of the Consumer Product Safety Commission's new import surveillance program, which will permanently assign agency personnel to key ports full-time. The new tracking system will give CPSC personnel data about shipments bound for the U.S. even before they leave foreign ports, with a focus on high-risk products. (Reuters, dated 01/07/08, available at http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN0742025720080107)
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Export Compliance Daily combines U.S. export control news, foreign border import regulation and policy developments into a single daily information service that reliably informs its trade professional readers about important current issues affecting their operations.
1. New CPSC Import Surveillance Program, West Coasts Ports to be First
2. Seattle/Tacoma Ports to Join Vancouver to Reduce Truck Emissions
Land Line reports that the Seattle and Tacoma ports have announced plans to join Vancouver's "Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy" which by 2015, calls for trucks to meet particulate matter emission standards equal to or better than 1994, among other things. (Land Line, dated 01/09/08, available at http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2008/Jan08/010708/010908-03.htm)
3. FMCSA Proposes to Require Accredited Education for CDLs
The Department of Transportation has issued a press release announcing a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration proposed rule which would require individuals seeking new commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) to complete both classroom and behind-the-wheel training and provide a valid certificate from an accredited truck driving program or institution beginning three years after the effective date of a final rule. (The rule would not affect current CDL holders.) Public comments will be accepted until March 25, 2008. (DOT press release, FMCSA 13-07, dated 12/26/07, available at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/news/news-releases/2007/122607.htm)
4. TSA Updates its Quarterly TWIC Deployment Plan
The Transportation Security Administration has issued an updated version, as of January 7, 2008, of its quarterly deployment plan for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential. (TSA's TWIC Quarterly Deployment Plan as of 01/07/08, available at http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/twicquarterlydeploymentschedule_1_7_08.pdf)
5. FDA Updates its Import Alert on Honey to Include Blended Syrups
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a revised version of Import Alert (IA) 36-04 regarding the detention without physical examination of honey and blended syrup due to the presence of Ciprofloxacin and Enrofloxacin. FDA states that the revision of this IA changes the name of the IA, updates the product codes, and amends the text to reflect blended syrups as products of concern. (IA 36-04, revised 12/28/07, available at http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia3604.html)
6. GAO Testimony on the Progress of the DTV Transition
The Government Accountability Office has issued testimony entitled: "Digital Television Transition: Preliminary Information on the Progress of the DTV Transition." (GAO-08-191T, dated 10/17/07, available athttp://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08191t.pdf)
7. GAO Issues Report on the Improper Payments Information Act
The Government Accountability Office has issued a report entitled: "Department of Homeland Security: Challenges in Implementing the Improper Payments Information Act and Recovering Improper Payments." Among other things, the GAO made several recommendations to DHS to help improve its efforts to implement IPIA and recover improper payments. (GAO-07-913, dated 09/19/07, available athttp://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07913.pdf)
8. GAO Report on the Need for Clarity and Comprehensive Oversight of DoD Certified Export Exemptions
The Government Accountability Office has issued a report entitled: "Defense Trade: Clarification and More Comprehensive Oversight of Export Exemptions Certified by DoD Are Needed." Among other things, the GAO recommends that the State Department and DoD resolve disagreements on exemption use and guidelines, and strengthen oversight through data collection. (GAO-07-1103, dated 09/19/07, available athttp://www.gao.gov/new.items/d071103.pdf)
9. State Dept Communications Committee to Hold Open Meeting on Jan 24th
The State Department's Advisory Committee on International Communications and Information Policy will hold a meeting open to the public on January 24, 2008 in Washington, DC. The agenda will include discussions pertaining to various upcoming international telecommunications meetings, the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), etc. (Public Notice 6043, FR Pub 12/28/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-25265.pdf)
10. Ex-Im Bank Sub-Saharan African Committee Meeting on Jan 16th
The Export-Import Bank has issued a notice announcing that the Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee (SAAC) is holding an open meeting on January 16, 2008 in Washington, DC. The agenda includes a 2007 SAAC recommendations update, bank operating issue, attracting the interest of new U.S. companies to the African market, etc. (FR Pub 12/28/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-6193.pdf)
11. Recent CPSC Press Releases on Recalls
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued separate press releases (dated 12/01/07 - 12/31/07) 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 V, the final partof a multi-part series of summaries. (Press releases available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prereldec07.html)