The Environmental Protection Agency released a final rule Aug. 13 setting new significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for three chemical substances subject to Premanufacture Notices (PMNs). As a result of the SNURs, persons planning to manufacture, import or process any of the chemical substances for an activity designated as a significant new use by this rule are required to notify EPA at least 90 days in advance. Importers of chemicals subject to these SNURs will need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements, and exporters of these chemical substances will now become subject to export notification requirements. The final rule takes effect Oct. 15. The SNURs cover the following:
The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to list amineptine, a synthetic tricyclic antidepressant with central nervous system (CNS) stimulating properties that, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, has no approved medical use and no known therapeutic application in the U.S., under schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice released July 21. "If finalized, this action would impose the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis with, or possess), or propose to handle, amineptine." Comments are due Sept. 20.
The Census Bureau July 19 emailed tips on how to address the most frequent messages generated this month in the Automated Export System. Response code 531 is a fatal error for when the “Foreign/Domestic Origin Indicator” is not allowed. Census said the Foreign/Domestic Origin Indicator should not be reported when the Export Information Code is HH for household goods. The filer should verify the Export Information Code and Foreign/Domestic Origin Indicator, correct the shipment and resubmit.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is extending for one more year the temporary listing of six synthetic cathinonies -- N-ethylhexedrone, alphapyrrolidinohexanophenone (α-PHP), 4-methyl-alpha-ethylaminopentiophenone (4-MEAP), 4′-methyl-alpha-pyrrolidinohexiophenone (MPHP), alphapyrrolidinoheptaphenone (PV8), and 4′-chloro-alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (4-chloro-α-PVP) -- in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice released July 15. The synthetic cathinones, first temporarily listed in 2019, will now remain listed in schedule I until July 18, 2022. DEA also released a proposed rule to permanently list these synthetic cathinones in schedule I, with comments due Aug. 16. Substances may be temporarily listed under the CSA for three years.
The Census Bureau updated a Port of Export Code in the Automated Export System, the agency said in a July 14 email to industry. The update added air travel -- along with vessel -- as an allowed mode of transportation for the Sault Sainte Marie port in Michigan (Port Code 3803).
Several changes to Schedule B numbers took effect July 1 as part of the International Trade Commission’s mid-year update of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (see 2107060053). According to the Census Bureau’s list of obsolete codes, new Schedule B numbers were created for protein concentrates and protein isolates, including pea protein and textured soy protein concentrates and isolates, as well as soy and wheat protein isolates. New numbers were also created for N95 respirator and other face masks, as well as aluminum plates, sheets and strip made to various specifications. Finally, new Schedule B breakouts were also added for “sound suppressors, silencers, mufflers and similar devices” of shotguns, rifles and other military weapons.
The FDA seeks more comments on its collections of information related to export certificates for FDA-regulated human food and cosmetic products, it said in a notice released July 9. Mostly requested electronically via the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Export Certification Application and Tracking System or Certificate Application Process, the certificates may be required by foreign countries for goods exported from the U.S. to assure foreign regulators that the products meet U.S. requirements. The FDA seeks comments by Aug. 9 on the information collection, including a reduction by the agency in the estimated burden of the process on exporters.
The Drug Enforcement Administration placed para-methoxymethamphetamine (PMMA), a drug similar to methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) that is also sold as “ecstasy,” into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, in a final rule released June 24. “This action imposes the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis, or possess), or propose to handle PMMA,” DEA said. The final rule takes effect July 26.
The Census Bureau June 22 emailed tips on how to address the most frequent messages generated this month in the Automated Export System. Response code 538 is a fatal error for when the shipping weight wasn’t reported but the mode of transportation code “identified” a vessel, rail, truck or air shipment. Census said users should verify both the mode of transport and shipping weight, correct the shipment and resubmit.
CBP’s Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee will receive several export modernization recommendations in a white paper expected to be presented during the COAC’s June 23 meeting (see 2106070033), the group said. The “Export Operations for the 21st Century” white paper, presented by the Secure Trade Lanes Subcommittee’s Export Modernization Work Group, will “lay out a strategy and roadmap for the next phase of the export process.” It will also outline where export data “actually originates,” who owns that data and how it should be used for export enforcement, the subcommittee said.