Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Journal of Commerce quotes an industry leader as stating that the recently enacted 9/11 legislation's 100% scanning requirement for ocean containers prior to loading at foreign ports assumes that the necessary technology will be available, however, such a magic bullet cannot be legislated. (JoC, dated 07/30/07, www.joc.com )
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1. Magic Bullet of 100% Scanning Technology Can't be Legislated
2. State Logistics Report Says U.S. Logistics Costs Reach 9.9% of GDP
According to American Shipper, the author of the State of Logistics Report stated that the 2006 U.S. logistics costs represented 9.9% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), up from the 9.4% in 2005, due to high interest rates driving up inventory costs and fuel surcharges passed on by freight carriers. (American Shipper, dated July 2007, www.americanshipper.com)
3. USDA Restricts/Prohibits UK Swine Products Due to Breakout of FMD
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a statement announcing that foot-and-mouth-disease (FMD) has been detected on a farm in England and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is immediately placing restrictions or prohibitions, depending on the type of product and level of processing, on all United Kingdom products derived from any FMD susceptible species, including any products already en route to the U.S. Live ruminants and ruminant products are already prohibited, and now swine meat and by-products are prohibited/restricted. (APHIS statement, dated 08/03/07, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2007/08/fmdstatement.shtml)
4. APHIS Proposes to Allow Certain Temporary Import of Entertainment Horses from CEM-Affected Countries
APHIS has issued a proposed rule to allow noncompetitive entertainment horses from countries affected with contagious equine metritis (CEM) to be temporarily imported into the U.S. under certain conditions. (The regulations currently provide for the temporary importation of horses from CEM-affected countries to compete in specified events.) Comments are due by October 1, 2007. (D/N APHIS-2006-0164, FR Pub 08/02/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-14994.pdf)
5. FSIS' Meat and Poultry Inspection Committee to Hold Public Meeting
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a notice that its National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection will hold a public meeting on August 8-9, 2007 to review and discuss the following issues: (1) data collection and analysis at FSIS: standard operating procedures, (2) linking FSIS activities to its public health goals, and (3) pilot project to explore mechanisms for sharing industry data with FSIS. Members of the public will be required to register before entering the meeting. (D/N FSIS-2007-0027, FR Pub 08/02/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-3783.pdf)
6. Presidents Blocks Property of Persons Undermining Lebanon Sovereignty
The President has issued Executive Order 13441, which blocks all property and interests in property in the U.S., that hereafter come within the U.S. or within the possession or control of any U.S. person, including any overseas branch, of certain persons who undermine the sovereignty of Lebanon or its democratic processes or institutions. The EO also prohibits any transaction by a U.S. person or within the U.S. that evades or avoids the prohibitions set forth in EO 13441. (EO 13441, FR Pub 08/03/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-3835.pdf)
7. Various Agencies Seek Comments on Information Collections
Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):
| Agency | Information Collection | Comments Due |
|---|---|---|
| FDA 1 | FDA Survey of Current Manufacturing Practices in the Food Industry | 09/17/07 |
| FDA 2 | Experimental Study of Trans Fat Claims on Foods | Approved |
| FDA 3 | Experimental Study of Possible Footnotes and Cueing Schemes to Help Consumers Interpret Quantitative Trans Fat Disclosures on the Nutrition Facts Panel | Approved |
| FDA 4 | Voluntary Registration of Cosmetic Product Establishments | 09/17/07 |
| FDA 5 | Threshold of Regulation for Substances Used in Food-Contract Articles | Approved |
| FWS | Injurious Wildlife; Importation Certification for Live Fish and Fish Eggs | 09/21/07 |
| FDA 6 | Mental Models Study of Food Terrorism Risk Awareness | 08/23/07 |
FDA 1 Information Collection (FR Pub 07/19/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-13951.pdf
FDA 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 07/19/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-14010.pdf
FDA 3 Information Collection (FR Pub 07/19/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-14011.pdf
FDA 4 Information Collection (FR Pub 07/19/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-14013.pdf
FDA 5 Information Collection (FR Pub 07/19/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-14014.pdf
FWS Information Collection (FR Pub 07/23/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-14168.pdf
FDA 6 Information Collection (FR Pub 07/24/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-14200.pdf