Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that the World Bank has urged China and Malaysia to let their currencies appreciate, warning that their fixed exchange-rate systems are attracting the kind of currency speculation that ignited the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s. (WSJ Pub 04/28/05, www.wallstreetjournal.com)
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1. World Bank Warns China & Malaysia of Currency Speculation
2. FSIS to Hold Food Security Awareness, Etc. Workshops in Six Cities
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a notice announcing that it will hold a series of workshops from May through June 2005, to discuss food security awareness, the FSIS Industry Self-Assessment Checklist for Food Security, food security plans, and FSIS Directive 5420.1, Revision 1, Food Security Verification Procedures. The tentative schedule for these workshops is:
Dallas, TX (May 14, 2005)
Oakland, CA (May 21, 2005)
Chicago, IL (June 4, 2005)
Savannah, GA (June 11, 2005)
Newark, NJ (June 25, 2005)
Philadelphia, PA (July 9, 2005)
Additional information on these workshops will be announced on the FSIS Web site, which can be accessed at www.fsis.usda.gov. (D/N 05-015N, FR Pub 04/15/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-7494.pdf)
3. DHS' Science and Technology Advisory Committee to Hold Closed Meeting
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that the Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee (HSSTAC) will hold a closed meeting on May 18-19, 2005. (D/N DHS-2005-0033, FR Pub 05/02/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-8699.pdf)
4. APHIS Public Meeting, Reopening of Comment Period in Connection with ANPR on Nursery Stock
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced that it will hold a public meeting on May 25, 2005 to discuss recently completed draft criteria that could be used in determining which plant taxa might be included in a proposed "excluded pending" category. APHIS is also reopening the comment period until June 3, 2005 for its December 2004 Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on whether and how it should amend its regulations concerning the importation of nursery stock. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/15/05 news, 05031599 6, for BP summary of APHIS' extension of the comment period for the ANPR.) (D/N 03-069-3, FR Pub 05/02/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-8661.pdf)
5. APHIS Proposes to Allow Import of Christmas and Easter Cactus from Netherlands and Denmark Subject to Certain Conditions
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a proposed rule to amend the regulations in 7 CFR Part 319 governing the importation of plants and plant products to add Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera spp., and Easter cactus, Rhipsalidopsis spp., from the Netherlands and Denmark to the list of plants that may be imported in an approved growing medium subject to specified growing, inspection, and certification requirements. Written comments are due by June 27, 2005. (APHIS proposed rule, FR Pub 04/27/05, D/N 04-082-1, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-8372.pdf.)
6. CPSC Announces Provisional Settlement Agreement and $950,000 Civil Penalty in Settlement of Allegations Regarding Nautilus' Bowflex Machines
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a notice announcing a provisionally-accepted settlement agreement with Nautilus, Inc., which includes a civil penalty of $950,000, to settle CPSC allegations regarding the failure to timely report problems with the Bowflex Power Pro and Ultimate Fitness Machine. Requests that the CPSC not accept this agreement and other comments are due by May 3, 2005. (CPSC notice, FR Pub 04/18/05, D/N 05-C0008, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-7682.pdf.)