The Federal Maritime Commission is working on a notice of proposed rulemaking that could put in place a permanent process under which shippers and other companies in the cargo logistics industry can file charge complaints with the FMC. The FMC said it hopes to issue the rule in June 2025.
The National Marine Fisheries Service is seeking information from fish importers and others on nations or entities entering into international fishery management agreements related to illegal, unreported or unregulated (IUU) fishing, according to a Federal Register notice. NMFS is also seeking information on vessels that have engaged in or are engaging in IUU fishing or practices that result in the "bycatch of protected living marine resources" on the high seas or within a nation’s exclusive economic zone, as well as information on any vessels that may have engaged in such activity targeting or incidentally catching sharks.
The Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the Pearl River map turtle (Graptemys pearlensis), a freshwater turtle species from the Pearl River drainage in Mississippi and Louisiana, as a threatened species with 4(d) protective regulations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The agency also listed the Alabama map turtle (Graptemys pulchra), Barbour’s map turtle (Graptemys barbouri), Escambia map turtle (Graptemys ernsti) and Pascagoula map turtle (Graptemys gibbonsi) as threatened species with 4(d) protective regulations under the Act because of their similar appearance to the Pearl River map turtle. These regulations prohibit importation and exportation without a permit. The restrictions will take effect Aug. 12.
The Fish and Wildlife Service is issuing a final rule listing the Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura rainierensis), a bird subspecies in Washington, as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The listing includes a 4(d) rule for this species that prohibits importation and exportation without a permit. New import and export restrictions set by the agency’s final rule take effect Aug. 2.
The Fish and Wildlife Service is issuing a final rule listing the Suwannee alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelids suwanniensis), a large, freshwater turtle species from the Suwannee River basin in Florida and Georgia, as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The listing includes a 4(d) rule for this species that prohibits importation and exportation without a permit. New import and export restrictions set by the agency’s final rule take effect July 29.
The gaps in trade policies between the U.S. and Europe, despite their agreement on the problems, and the difficulty of improving trade relations with major developing countries were grappled with this week by a panel of experts from the U.S. and Europe.
The Federal Maritime Commission this week updated its record of cases and decisions related to shipping violations “that may be significant or establish legal precedent.” The 132-page document covers cases that took place from June through December 2023, including various settlement approvals, orders not to review, a charge complaint and more.
The Federal Maritime Commission recently sent the shipping and freight forwarding industry guidance about the FMC’s February final rule that set new demurrage and detention billing requirements (see 2402230049). The six-page document, provided to us by the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, includes 19 frequently asked questions and answers related to the rule, covering questions including timelines for disputing detention and demurrage invoices issued by ocean carriers and terminal operators, extended dwell fees assessed by U.S. ports and the definition of “billed party.”
FTC on June 11 released final amendments to its trade regulation rule related to power output claims for amplifiers utilized in home entertainment products. The changes take effect Aug. 12. The amendments, which had undergone a public review and comment period, require sellers making power-related claims to calculate power output using uniform testing methods to allow consumers to easily compare amplifier sound quality; prescribe disclosure language that improves differentiation between power output claims that comply with the rule’s testing methods and those that do not; and modernize as well as clarify rule language considering these modifications. The amendments also formalize prior FTC guidance on applying the rule to multichannel amplifiers. FTC first promulgated the Amplifier Rule in 1974 to address sellers’ failure to provide essential pre-purchase information regarding the performance of home entertainment amplifiers.
The Federal Maritime Commission launched an updated website this week that it said is easier to navigate and will better allow members of the public to “identify and request assistance from the agency.” The site now includes a dedicated gateway to share information with the FMC, submit a complaint and more.