Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. TWIC Enrollment to Begin for Juneau, Galveston, Freeport, Sandusky, Etc.

2. General Conference Committee of the Nat'l Poultry Plan to Hold Open Meetings

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a notice announcing that the General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan will hold an open meeting on June 5, 2008 followed by its Biennial Conference (open to the public) on June 6-7, 2008 in South Portland, ME. (APHIS notice, D/N APHIS-2008-0040, FR Pub 04/18/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-8417.pdf)

3. Foreign Trade Zones Board Actions

The Foreign Trade Zones Board has issued the following notice of recent FTZ action:

FTZ 122 - Corpus Christi, TX - Correction of "Application for Subzone, Haliburton Energy Services, Inc., (Barite Grinding and Milling), Corpus Christi, Texas"

(FTZB notice, D/N 20-2008, FR Pub 04/18/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-8436.pdf)

4. CBP Miami FAQs on Reimbursable Billing for Ag Inspection Services

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Miami has issued an Information Bulletin providing additional questions and answers on reimbursable billing for overtime agricultural inspection services requested from CBP-Agriculture, Miami Air Cargo, on a Sunday, holiday, or any time outside the regular tour of duty of the employee providing the services. (Miami Information Bulletin, 08-032, dated 04/17/08, available by emailing BP at documents@brokerpower.com)

5. FSIS Updates Export Requirements/Plant Lists for Japan, Mexico, Russia, Etc.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has posted updated export requirements for the following countries Japan, Chile, and Mexico. FSIS has also updated its lists of U.S. plants approved to export to Russia (Poultry, Pork and Beef) and Japan (Casings). In addition, FSIS has updated its list of eligible foreign establishments in Brazil, Romania, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand that are certified to export meat, poultry and egg products to the U.S. (FSIS export requirements and plant lists, dated 04/15/08 - 04/17/08, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Export_Information/index.asp and FSIS lists of eligible foreign establishments dated 04/17/08 - 04/21/08, http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Eligible_Foreign_Establishments/index.asp)

6. EDPS Opinion on EC's Proposal Amending the ePrivacy Directive

The European Commission has issued a press release announcing that the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) recently adopted an Opinion on the European Commission's proposal amending, among others, the Directive on Privacy and electronic communications, usually referred to as the ePrivacy Directive. (EC press release, EDPS/08/03, dated 04/14/08, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=EDPS/08/03&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)

7. Secretary of State Waives Certain Assistance Programs in Serbia, Etc.

The State Department has issued a notice that Secretary of State Rice has waived the application of certain U.S. bilateral assistance programs and support for International Financial Institution projects in Serbia that directly support the implementation of the Dayton Accords, as Serbia has failed to take steps to implement its international legal obligations to apprehend and transfer all persons in its territory who have been indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. (Public Notice 6194, FR Pub 04/21/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-8592.pdf)

8. Committee on Private Int'l Law Study Group to Hold Open Meeting

The Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on Private International Law's Study Group on the 1996 Hague Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children will be holding a public meeting on April 28, 2008 in Washington, DC. (Public Notice 6193, FR Pub 04/21/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-8592.pdf)

9. FSIS Public Meeting to Prepare for Fruit/Vegetable Codex Session

The Food Safety and Inspection Service announced a public meeting on April 25, 2008 in Washington, DC to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 14th Session of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, to be held in Mexico City, Mexico, from May 12-17, 2008. (D/N FSIS-2008-0012, FR Pub 04/21/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-8473.pdf)

10. FDA Recalls Chaca Chaca Chacatrozo Candy Imported from Mexico

The FDA has issued a press release recalling and warning consumers not to eat Chaca Chaca Chacatrozo candy imported from Mexico, after tests by the California Department of Public Health found levels of lead that could cause health problems. (FDA press release, dated 04/17/08, available at http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/chacachaca04_08.html)

11. DHS Signs Visa Waiver Program Agreement with Korea

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a press release announcing that Secretary Chertoff signed a Visa Waiver Program Memorandum of Understanding with Korea on April 18, 2008. The security enhancements outlined in the agreement puts Korea on the path toward visa-free travel to the U.S., and potential designation as a VWP member as early as later this year. (DHS press release, dated 04/18/08, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1208545066700.shtm)

12. TSA Updates its TWIC Quarterly Deployment Plan for FY 2008

The Transportation Security Administration has again updated its Transportation Worker Identification Credential quarterly deployment plan for fiscal year 2008 as of April 21, 2008. (TWIC quarterly deployment plan available at http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/twicquarterlydeploymentschedule.pdf)

13. Energy and Commerce Leaders Praise Nalgene, Wal-Mart Canada for Discontinuing Use of BPA

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has issued a press release announcing that leaders of the Committee praised the decision by Nalgene Outdoor Products to remove the chemical bisphenol a (BPA) from their plastic bottles and replace them with BPA-free alternatives, and also commended Wal-Mart Canada for immediately ceasing sales of baby products made with BPA in its Canadian stores. (Press release, dated 04/18/08, available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110nr251.shtml)

14. Report Shows Increased Removal of Dangerous Products from EU Market

The European Commission has issued a press release stating that the annual report on the Rapid Alert System (RAPEX) reveals that the number of dangerous products removed from the European Union market rose by 53% in 2007 compared to in 2006. (EC press release, dated 04/17/08, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/597&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)

15. FMC Lists OTI Revocations

The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a notice that revokes certain OTI licenses as follows:

FMC notice (FR Pub 04/16/08) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-8170.pdf