The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a notice announcing that it has formally requested that the parties to Agreement No. 201199 (the Port Fee Services Agreement) provide additional information. This action prevents the agreement from becoming effective as originally scheduled. Interested parties have 15 days after publication of the notice to file further comments on the agreement. (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/19/08 news, 08121910, for BP summary of FMC's reqeust for additional information on Agreement No. 201199.) (Notice, FR Pub 12/24/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-30633.pdf.)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is joining Target in announcing a new notification system for communicating product recalls in Target stores nationwide. Target's safety and recall notification program involves posting signs throughout its stores that direct guests to gift registry kiosks near the Guest Service desk to learn about recalled products. Through the kiosk system, guests in Target stores will have easy access to notices of new or past recalls for all product categories and can print copies of safety and recall notices to take with them. (CPSC press release, dated 12/18/08, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09070.html)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced a recent update and clarification on APHIS' policy and procedures concerning transit permits for plant materials (plants and plant products).
The Bureau of Industry and Security has posted a statement from Under Secretary of Commerce Mancuso regarding inaccuracies in the Washington Times article, "U.S. to Tighten Export Rules on 5 Firms in China." Mancuso discussed the Validated End User Program and the U.S.-China relationship. (Press release, dated 12/17/08, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2008/bis_press12172008.htm.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a news release and fact sheet regarding the requirements for shipments of firewood of all hardwood (non-coniferous) species1 from Canada imported into the U.S.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has posted to its Lacey Act Web page new PPQ Form 505 (December 2008), entitled "Plant and Plant Product Declaration Form" for imported plants and plant products.
The General Services Administration has posted to its RegInfo.gov Web site the Fall 2008 semi-annual regulatory agendas for Federal government agencies.
The International Trade Data System has posted a presentation providing a global product classification context overview, which was given during the November 11, 2008 Product Information Committee meeting. (Presentation available at http://www.itds.gov/linkhandler/itds/tsn/product_info_comm/gpc_overview.ctt/gpc_overview.pdf.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a document providing statistics on the national total of fiscal year 2007 and 2008 (for October 1 through June 30 only) interception statistics for wood packaging materials.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a federal order, effective immediately, requiring heat treatment for shipments of all firewood made of hardwood species entering the U.S. from Canada.