The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has announced that the U.S. has asked the World Trade Organization to establish a dispute settlement panel regarding the European Union's restrictions on imports of U.S. poultry. (Press release, dated 10/08/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/october/united-states-requests-wto-panel-challenge-eu-rest)
The Food Safety and Inspection Service is advising importers that the meat, poultry, or processed egg product ingredients used in the formulation of products that can enter the U.S. without the APHIS veterinary permit VS Form 16-6A (because they are not from animal disease countries, etc.,1) must still originate from an approved source in order to qualify for FSIS import eligibility.
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a notice announcing that it has begun the third and final national dialogue for the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review. The third dialogue, which ends on October 4, presents the final study group proposals, including the vision, goals, objectives, and key strategic outcomes from the mission studies as well as the path forward for the Homeland Security National Risk Assessment Study Group. DHS is seeking input on the strategic approaches proposed by the study groups, the implications of these proposed strategic approaches, and the proposed strategic outcomes. (DHS notice, dated 10/02/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/journal/theblog/2009/10/third-dialogue.html.)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is delaying for 30 days the recently announced 10-14% increase in fiscal year 2010 user fees for agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) services provided in connection with certain commercial vessels, commercial trucks, commercial railroad cars, commercial aircraft, and international airline passengers arriving at ports in the customs territory of the U.S.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued an interim final rule, effective October 1, 2009, which raises fiscal year 2010 user fees for agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) services provided in connection with certain commercial vessels, commercial trucks, commercial railroad cars, commercial aircraft, and international airline passengers arriving at ports in the customs territory of the U.S.
The next phase of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's enforcement of the Lacey Act declaration requirement for imported plants and plant products - Phase III - begins on October 1, 2009.
The New York and New Jersey Port Authority Board of Commissioners has authorized two initiatives to continue ongoing efforts to improve air quality in the region by providing incentives to shipping lines and terminal operators in the Port of New York and New Jersey to operate in a more environmentally friendly manner. The Ocean-going Vessels Low Sulfur Fuel Program will encourage the use of low-sulfur fuel by providing financial incentives to operators of ocean vessels for up to 50 percent of the cost differential between high-sulfur fuel and low-sulfur fuel. The Cargo Handling Equipment Fleet Modernization Program will reimburse participating port tenants for 20% of the cost of replacing existing cargo handling equipment with new equipment that meets federal on-road air-emission standards as applicable, or the most recent federal off-road emissions standards. (Press release, dated 09/24/09, available at http://www.panynj.gov/AboutthePortAuthority/PressCenter/PressReleases/PressRelease/index.php?id=1304)
A dozen domestic textile associations and unions have joined to comment on the Department of Homeland Security's August 17, 2009 interim rule that amended DHS acquisition regulations for products containing textiles sourced outside the U.S., as required by the "Buy American" provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The letter argues that DHS did not go far enough to implement the new Buy American provision. (Letter, dated 09/15/09, available at http://www.ncto.org/newsroom/kissellcomments090809.pdf )
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a final rule, effective September 25, 2009, which makes technical corrections to provisions in 19 CFR Part 148 that set forth personal duty exemption amounts, in order to conform the regulations to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). (CBP final rule, CBP Dec. 09-37, FR Pub 09/25/09. available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-23158.pdf.
Customs and Border Protection is advising the public of the quarterly Internal Revenue Service interest rates used to calculate interest on overdue accounts (underpayments) and refunds (overpayments) of customs duties. For the calendar quarter beginning October 1, 2009, the interest rates for overpayments will be 3 percent for corporations and 4 percent for non-corporations, and the interest rate for underpayments will be 4 percent. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/17/09 news, 09081720, for earlier BP summary.)(FR Pub 09/21/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-22614.pdf)