The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice requesting comments by 10 a.m. on February 13, 2006 regarding whether any foreign countries should be identified under Section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974 (Trade Act) (19 USC 2242), which is commonly referred to as the "Special 301" provision of the Trade Act.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a proposed rule to amend its regulations at 7 CFR Parts 319, 330, and 340 regarding the importation of nursery stock. Comments on the proposed rule are due by February 13, 2006.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective December 8, 2005, to amend its regulations at 7 CFR Part 305 and 319 in order to relieve certain restrictions on various fruits and vegetables, among other things.
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The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective December 28, 2005, that amends 7 CFR Part 319 regarding the importation of wheat and related articles by removing the prohibitions related to foreign strains of flag smut (flag smut) for a specific country or locality (country), if a risk evaluation indicates that such wheat and related articles from that country would not introduce other plant pests.
In January 2005, APHIS issued final rule which established a category of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) minimal risk regions and added Canada to this category. The final rule provided conditions for the importation of certain live ruminants and ruminant products and by products from such regions.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently issued notices announcing the availability of a revised compliance policy guide on prior notice (PN) of imported food as well as the second edition of a questions-and-answers (Q&A) document regarding the final rule on establishment and maintenance of records under the Bioterrorism Act.
ValueClick reported an 87% increase in revenue year- over-year, to $81.4 million, in the 3rd quarter ended Sept. 30. The results included a full quarter of operations from PriceRunner, acquired in Aug. 2004, and E- Babylon and Webclients, acquired in June 2005; Fastclick, acquired in late Sept., wasn’t included, ValueClick said. Net income was $11 million (13 cents per share), up from $7.6 million (9 cents). EBITDA rose 99% to $22.6 million year-over-year. ValueClick updated its fiscal 2005 guidance, raising predicted revenue to $299-$304 million from $291-$301 million. The firm expects 43-45 cents per share, up from 41-43 cents, and EBITDA of $78-$80 million from $72.4-$74.6 million. 2006 guidance calls for $480- 500 million revenue, 53-59 cents per share, and $120-$125 million EBITDA.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, which adopts, with changes, an April 2004 interim rule that established a certification program for foreign production sites in countries where Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 (potato brown rot) is known to occur that wish to export articles of Pelargonium spp. (e.g. geraniums) and/or Solanum spp. (e.g. eggplant, huckleberry) to the U.S.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) in order to consider whether there may be unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with some all terrain vehicles (ATVs). The CPSC is also considering what actions, both regulatory and non-regulatory, it could take to reduce ATV-related deaths and injuries.