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.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued two related notices on certain infant cushions/pillows as follows:
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.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted an Excel spreadsheet listing the reject reasons for July 2008 for CBP Form 5106 Importer ID input records, CBP Form 301 Customs bonds, bond riders, bond terminations, etc.
The Food and Drug Administration is holding a public meeting on September 8, 2008 and is requesting public comments by October 24, 2008 on the implementation of recommendations made by the Nanotechnology Task Force Report (the Report) relating to the development of FDA guidances.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a CSMS message regarding the transmission of the grower as the Food and Drug Administration manufacturer.
On July 31, 2008, the Senate passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (H.R. 4040) conference report, clearing it for the President. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/31/08 news, 08073110, for BP summary of the H.R. 4040 conference report.) (Congressional Record, dated 07/31/08 news, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r110:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20080731))
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a notice requesting written comments on its Special 301 out-of-cycle review (OCR) of Taiwan regarding its intellectual property protection and enforcement.