The U.S. Postal Service has issued a final rule, effective August 2, 2010, which revises its mailing standards to treat all cigarettes (including roll-your-own tobacco) and smokeless tobacco products as nonmailable when sent in outbound or inbound international mail.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment by July 30, 2010 on its draft FY 2011-2015 strategic plan, which helps advance Administrator Jackson’s priorities and the mission to protect human health and the environment. Administrator Jackson’s seven priorities are taking action on climate change, improving air quality, protecting America’s waters, cleaning up communities, assuring the safety of chemicals, expanding the conversation on environmentalism and working for environmental justice, and building strong state and tribal partnerships.
The Transportation Security Administration has issued a notice stating that effective August 1, 2010, 100% of cargo flown on passenger aircraft originating in the U.S. must be screened as mandated by the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology posts drafts and changes to foreign technical regulations for manufactured products which may be considered technical barriers to trade and are therefore required to be reported to the World Trade Organization, which distributes the information to WTO Member countries.
The U.S. Trade Representative has posted readouts from days 2-4 of the second round of negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement that took place in San Francisco, CA. On Day 2, topics raised included services and development elements in the TPP, and how USTR will stay in touch with stakeholders beyond the face-to-face meetings in San Francisco. On Day 3, several working groups from the eight TPP partner countries began negotiations on various issue areas (customs cooperation, labor, etc.), while others continued their talks. Day 4 included discussions on how best to address the needs of small- and medium-sized enterprises and supply chains across the Asia-Pacific.
The State Department, World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recently issued the following travel warnings, travel alerts, country specific information sheets, and disease outbreak-related information:
The Office of Management and Budget has approved a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration final rule that would eliminate the requirement for most for-hire motor carriers of property and freight forwarders to maintain cargo insurance in prescribed minimum amounts and file evidence of this insurance with FMCSA. Household goods motor carriers and household goods freight forwarders would continue to be subject to this cargo insurance requirement.
On March 31, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2009 (PACT Act). The law goes into effect on June 29, 2010. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is currently working to publish an Interpretive Rule, including a request for comments, in the Federal Register. This website will be updated as further developments occur.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has posted the prepared remarks of Chief Safety Officer McMurray to the National Association of Small Trucking Companies. McMurray discussed the importance of small trucks, the trucking industry, and safety. McMurray also talked about new enforcement initiatives being undertaken by the FMCSA.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission requests comments on a proposed collection of information regarding burden estimates for the marking and instructional literature requirements in the safety standard for infant walkers. Comments are due by August 20, 2010.