The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an updated (August 26, 2004) Industry Guidance which lists, and provides a written description for, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) numbers that are flagged in U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) entry system with imported food Prior Notice FD3 or FD4 indicators.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced that it will be conducting a public meeting on September 14, 2004 in order to receive comments concerning a petition (CP 02-1) it received in November 2001 requesting that the CPSC adopt American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F-400 as a mandatory standard for cigarette lighters.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted to its Web site a fourth version of its Questions & Answers (Q&A) document regarding the registration of food facilities, which is effective immediately.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site information from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding: (1) FDA policies on the importation of prescription drugs, and (2) FDA's discretionary enforcement policy regarding the personal importation of certain unapproved new drugs.

Audiovox is forecasting U.S. sales exceeding $30 million from the stable of former Recoton brands it acquired a year ago including Jensen, Acoustic Research and Advent, Audiovox Electronics CEO Patrick Lavelle told analysts. The brands generated $13.9 million revenue the 6 months through May 31 -- led by Jensen, which has gained distribution for its Sirius satellite radio products at Wal-Mart and revived sales of car audio gear at AutoZone, Pep Boys and Target, he said.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have issued a press release announcing three rulemakings to further strengthen existing safeguards that protect consumers against the agent that causes Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice requesting written comments on its Special 301 out-of-cycle review of Israel regarding intellectual property rights (IPR).

The House late Thurs. passed an the Commerce-State- Justice (CJS) appropriations bill (HR-4754) by a 397-18 margin. The bill’s $39.8-billion funding for FY 2005 exceeds the Bush administration’s request of $39.6 billion and last year’s funding of $37.6 billion. The FCC would see a $6- million increase to $280 million for FY 2005, while the FTC would receive an $18-million increase to $203 million. The House Appropriations Committee said that amount includes “full funding for the Do-Not-Call program.” The Commerce Dept. would get $186 million less than last year in the CJS bill with a mark of $5.8 billion, $301 million less than the Administration’s request. But the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, which is part of Commerce, would see a $300 million increase from last year to $1.523 billion. The House Appropriations CJS Subcommittee described that boost as building “on the subcommittee’s long record of providing generous funding levels to the PTO.” The House has passed a bill that would end the diversion of PTO fees to the U.S. Treasury and allow the agency to use the proceeds for its budget; that bill is pending in the Senate. The FBI would receive $5.22 billion, up $625 million from last year and $100 million above the administration’s request. The Subcommittee said the additional funding “provides enhanced training, information technology, and staff (1,233 new positions) to improve intelligence and counterterrorism capabilities, while continuing to fight white-collar and violent crime.” The Business Software Alliance (BSA) praised a $10-million earmark to target intellectual property theft, and said it would urge the Senate to include similar funding in the bill there.

The House at our deadline Thurs. was in a position to debate blockage of videogame sales to minors -- if the amendment’s sponsor chose to introduce it. Rep. Baca (D-Cal.) has written an amendment to the House Commerce, State, Justice appropriations bill (HR-4754) based on his own videogame bill, HR-669. That bill would prohibit the rental or sale of a videogame to a minor that depicts nudity, sexual conduct, or other content harmful to minors.