On April 28, 2010, APHIS updated the Manual for Agricultural Clearance. The manual provides CBP personnel working at airport and maritime locations with the guidelines, directions, and policy for clearing carriers and passengers/crew and controlling garbage and cargo. (Manual, updated 04/28/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/mac.shtml)
On April 28, 2010, APHIS updated its PPQ Export Program Manual. This is an operational manual for Authorized Certification Officials to enable them to inspect and issue Federal Export Certificates for plants and plant products. The Manual also provides information that helps exporters meet the plant quarantine import requirements of foreign countries. (Manual, updated 04/28/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/domestic/xpm.shtml)
The State Department has announced that the U.S., Canada and Mexico submitted a joint North American proposal on April 30, 2010 to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. (State release, dated 04/30/10, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/04/141074.htm)
The Food and Drug Administration has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to request data and information on the food1 transportation industry and its practices. FDA is also requesting data and information on the contamination of transported foods and any associated outbreaks.
The Department of Homeland Security has announced that Secretary Napolitano and Mexican Interior Secretary Gómez-Mont will participate in a moderated discussion about U.S.-Mexico cooperation to strengthen security, coordinate law enforcement activities, and streamline lawful commerce and travel on May 4, 2010. The discussion and the entire event will be streamed live on www.dhs.gov/live.
The International Trade Administration has issued a fact sheet announcing its affirmative preliminary determinations in the antidumping duty investigations of certain coated paper suitable for high-quality print graphics using sheet-fed presses from China and Indonesia (A-570-958 and A-560-823).
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued updated (April 28, 2010) version of its list of Canada establishments eligible to export meat and poultry to the U.S. (List, updated 04/28/10, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Canada_establishments.pdf)
The International Trade Administration is requesting comments on any subsidies, including stumpage subsidies, provided by certain countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the U.S. during the period July 1 -- December 31, 2009.
The Federal Maritime Commission has announced that it will hold confidential hearings on May 11-13, 2010 pursuant to its investigation into current conditions and practices in the U.S. liner trades, including container vessel capacity and equipment availability, as well as potential impediments to the flow of ocean-borne import and export trades.