The European Chemicals Agency has announced the release of a new guide on how to address specific substance identification issues: evaluation of different crystalline forms. The guide makes clear that inorganic substances with the same chemical composition but different crystalline forms are regarded as different substances under REACH.
The World Trade Organization has posted a notice announcing that the Dispute Settlement Panel on U.S. - Measures Concerning the Importation, Marketing and Sale of Tuna and Tuna Products (WT/DS381) will not complete its work within six months from the date of its composition, and expects that it will issue its final report to the parties in February 2011.
The European Chemicals Agency has announced the release of a new manual on how report the substance identity in IUCLID 5 for registration under REACH. The manual explains how to structure the substance identification information in IUCLID 5 in accordance with REACH-IT. The manual also explains which systematic verifications REACH-IT applies to registration dossiers to ensure coherence of the substance identity related information in the database.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has issued a reminder that 2010-2011 tariff rate quota for frozen pork from the European Union will be accessible on July 5, 2010, at noon Eastern Daylight Time. Any applications submitted prior to 12:00 hrs EDT on July 5, 2010 will be rejected. The TRQ level established for frozen pork, for the twelve month period August 1, 2010 to July 31, 2011 is 2,970,000 kilograms.
In the June 19, 2010 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted:
On June 17, 2010, the European Union adopted a Declaration on Iran underlining its deepening concerns about Iran's nuclear program and welcoming the adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolution 1929 introducing new restrictive measures against Iran.
Canada implemented a “catch-all” control to respond to its Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) commitments in 2002, but a number of concerns expressed by the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations have resulted in a need to revisit this measure. The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade consequently seeks to amend the Export Control List (ECL), specifically item 5505 — Goods and Technology for Certain Uses. This proposed amendment will serve to address the concerns of the Standing Joint Committee and update the Regulations to reflect current foreign policy and security considerations.
The European Commission has posted a summary of the "state of play" through June 2010 of its Economic Partnership Agreements with various countries in the Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP countries). These EPAs replace certain previous preferential trade arrangements between the EU and ACP countries.
The People´s Bank of China has issued a 12 point Q&A on its decision to further reform the RMB (renminbi or yuan) exchange rate regime and increase the RMB exchange rate flexibility. Highlights of these 12 Q&As include the following:
On June 17, 2010, Secretary of State Clinton welcomed a European Council declaration announcing that the European Union will adopt strong measures to implement and accompany UN Security Council Resolution 1929, including in the trade, financial, banking and insurance, transport, and gas and oil sectors, in addition to new visa bans and asset freezes. Clinton also welcomed Australia’s announcement that it is taking additional steps against key targets in Iran consistent with UN Security Council resolutions. These new autonomous sanctions will apply to Bank Mellat; the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL); and General Rostam Qasem of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.