The Food and Drug Administration is requesting assistance in identifying the types of FDA-regulated products (other than food contact materials) that contain Bisphenol A (BPA), whether as a component of the product or its packaging, and any information relating to the leaching of BPA from the packaging to the product and/or from the product following human administration.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule which would revise and update certain procedures and requirements for the importation, interstate movement, and environmental release of certain genetically engineered (GE) organisms in order to bring the regulations under 7 CFR Part 340 into alignment with the Plant Protection Act. Comments are due by November 24, 2008.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a notice to inform the public of the new Lacey Act provisions enacted by the 2008 Farm Bill, including the declaration required to be submitted at time of importation for certain plants and plant products that takes effect on December 15, 2008, and APHIS' plan for phasing-in and enforcing this requirement.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a proposed rule as mandated by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA, Public Law 110-314), that would require cautionary statements on choking hazards in the advertising of certain toys and games in catalogues and other printed materials and the Internet.
The Food and Drug Administration has announced two public meetings regarding product tracing systems for fresh produce. The first meeting will be held in College Park, MD on October 16, 2008, and the second meeting will be held in Oakland, CA on November 13, 2008.
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a proposed rule that would require owners or consignees to label imported food (including food for animals) that is refused entry into the U.S. which would read "UNITED STATES: REFUSED ENTRY." Comments are due by December 2, 2008.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted to its Unified Business Resumption Messaging Web site messages providing a port status update in the wake of Hurricane Ike. According to CBP, the Port of Freeport is closed. On September 6, 2008, CBP Commissioner Basham approved an evacuation order for CBP employees and dependents from gulf coast areas impacted by Ike. (UBRM Web site available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_outreach/bus_resumption/maritime/; Order, dated 09/06/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/newsroom/alerts/ike_evac.ctt/evac_order_ike.pdf)
The annual “shaming exercise” that is the U.S. Trade Representative’s “Special 301” list of nations not respecting intellectual property would get “real teeth” from a new bill, an aide to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D- Mont., told reporters Wednesday. That day, Baucus and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, introduced the International Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement Act, intending to free the president to punish countries that don’t shape up after a year on the list.
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a notice requesting comments and scientific data and information that may assist in improving its "Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables" (the Guide).
In June 2008, the U.S. Census Bureau issued its final rule to amend the Foreign Trade Statistics Regulations (15 CFR Part 30) to make mandatory the filing of export information through the Automated Export System or AESDirect, for all shipments where a Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) is currently required, etc.