U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted new guidance on how it will enforce the Lacey Act Plant Product Declaration1 requirement for covered products beginning May 1, 2009.
On April 28, 2009 China and Peru signed a free trade agreement in Beijing. The agreement is the first FTA package China has signed with a Latin American country. (Notice, dated 04/28/09, available at http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6647262.html)
The World Trade Organization has issued a compliance panel report examining the implementation measures by the U.S. in the dispute "U.S.-Measures Relating to Zeroing and Sunset Reviews" (DS322) brought by Japan. (See future issue of ITT for details.)(Report, dated 04/24/09, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news09_e/322rw_e.htm)
The Embassy of China reports that in a video greeting in recognition of China Intellectual Property Protection Week, the Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) said China has made remarkable progress in intellectual property rights protection in a short time. According to the Director of China's State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO), these remarks reflect the fact that China has established a trademark law system, joined six international treaties or conventions concerning trademarks, registered more than 530,000 foreign trademarks from more than 130 countries or regions, etc. (Notice, dated 04/22/09, available at http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/xw/t558606.htm)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a final rule, effective May 22, 2009, which modifies its requirements concerning the importation of eggs (other than hatching eggs) from regions where exotic Newcastle disease (END) exists. This action is necessary to provide another testing option for determining the END status of flocks producing eggs (other than hatching eggs) for export to the U.S. (D/N APHIS-2007-0014, FR Pub 04/22/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-9102.pdf)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule to allow, under certain conditions, the importation of commercial shipments of fresh papaya from Colombia and Ecuador into the continental U.S. The conditions for the importation of papayas from Colombia and Ecuador include requirements for approved production locations, procedures for packing and shipping, etc. Written comments are due by June 22, 2009. APHIS' press release on the proposed rule is available here. (D/N APHIS-2008-0050, FR Pub 04/21/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-9100.pdf)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued an "Importer/Broker" letter on upcoming changes to its import permit process for food products containing meat and/or poultry ingredients from an animal disease country1, that are exempt from Food Safety and Inspection Service regulation as they contain only small amounts (less than 2%) of such ingredients.
CBP issued a notice stating that on March 31, 2009, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued an "Importer/Broker" letter to clarify the import permit process for FSIS-exempted food products containing small amounts (less than two percent) of meat and/or poultry ingredients. Further, APHIS has informed CBP that a U.S. Department of Agriculture import permit will now be required for all FSIS-exempted food products containing small amounts of meat and/or poultry ingredients. CBP enforcement of this USDA administrative change is scheduled to start on June 22, 2009. (See future issue of ITT for details.) (CBP notice, dated 04/14/09, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/agriculture/meat_poultry_regs.xml)
According to a White House press briefing, on April 13, 2009, the President directed the Secretaries of State, Treasury and Commerce to carry out the actions necessary to lift all restrictions on the ability of individuals to visit family members in Cuba, and to send them remittances.
The U.S. Trade Representative is requesting that those interested in serving as panelists for four separate rosters for Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement dispute settlement panels apply by May 13, 2009. A general roster is required to be established under Chapter Twenty (Dispute Settlement), Chapter Twelve (Financial Services), Chapter Sixteen (Labor), and Chapter Seventeen (Environment). (FR Pub 04/13/09, Notice available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-8321.pdf)