The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced a recent update and clarification on APHIS' policy and procedures concerning transit permits for plant materials (plants and plant products).

The International Trade Administration has issued a proposed rule to amend 15 CFR Part 301 on the duty-free entry of scientific instruments and apparatus into the U.S. by educational and nonprofit institutions.

The Food and Drug Administration has revised its draft guidances on (1) the labeling of dietary supplements and (2) the labeling of non-prescription human drug products marketed without an approved application.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a final rule amending 16 CFR Part 1101 to reflect amendments made by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) to the information disclosure regulations under section 6(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA).

The FCC sought emergency Office of Management and Budget approval related to a DTV order allowing broadcasters to use distributed transmission systems to fill in their coverage areas after the analog cutoff. In a notice published in Monday’s Federal Register, the commission said it wants the OMB to speed up processing of the information collection requirements, seeking approval from the office by Jan. 5. The DTS order was approved by commissioners Nov. 3 (CD Nov 5 p10), the regulator said. FCC Form 301 is being revised to accommodate the filing of DTS applications, it said. “Emergency OMB approval is necessary for this collection to allow full-power DTV stations to use DTS technologies to meet their statutory responsibilities and begin operations on their final, post-transition (digital) channels by their construction deadlines.”

The FCC sought emergency Office of Management and Budget approval of a DTV order allowing broadcasters to use distributed transmission systems (DTS) to fill in their coverage areas after the analog cutoff. In a notice published in Monday’s Federal Register, the commission said it wants the OMB to speed up processing of the information collection requirements, seeking approval from the office by Jan. 5. The DTS order was approved by commissioners Nov. 3 (CED Nov 5 p4), the agency said. FCC Form 301 is being revised to accommodate the filing of DTS applications, it said. “Emergency OMB approval is necessary for this collection to allow full-power DTV stations to use DTS technologies to meet their statutory responsibilities and begin operations on their final, post-transition (digital) channels by their construction deadlines.”

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to begin the consultative process with stakeholders to examine and assess the effectiveness of the voluntary standards for full size and non-full-size cribs as required by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA¹).

The FCC was within its authority to not reinstate the license of KVEZ(FM) Parker, Ariz., the commission told the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia Circuit in a brief last week opposing an appeal by the station’s owner. Section 301 of the Communications Act allows the commission to prevent broadcast towers from interfering with air navigation, it said in Eagle Broadcasting v. FCC. The regulator said it was correct in deciding that the station needed Federal Aviation Administration permission to transmit from a site near an airport.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a final rule, pursuant to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA¹), requiring cautionary statements on choking hazards in the advertising of certain toys and games in catalogues and other printed materials and the Internet, if the advertising provides a direct means to purchase or order the product².

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a final rule, effective April 13, 2009, which makes mandatory the voluntary consumer product safety standard for four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles (ANSI/SVIA 1-2007¹), imposes ATV action plan requirements, etc.