The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a final rule, effective October 9, 2008, amending its regulations to reference the most recent version of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Handbook 133, which contains standards for determining the reasonable variations allowed for the declared net weight on labels of immediate containers of meat and poultry products; the procedures to be used to determine the net weight and net weight compliance of meat and poultry products; and related definitions. FSIS is also consolidating the separate net weight regulations for meat and poultry products in a new CFR part, applicable to both meat and poultry products. (D/N FSIS-2008-0015, FR Pub 09/09/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-20559.pdf)
1. LB/LA Ports Notice on Intermodal Container Facility Board Meeting
On August 22, 2008, the Clean Trucks Center on Terminal Island was officially dedicated, The Center, at New Dock Street and Pier S Avenue, was created to be a "one-stop-shop" to assist truck owners who need to comply with the ports' new emission reduction requirements. (Press release available at http://www.polb.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=435&targetid=1.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted to its Unified Business Resumption Messaging Web site messages providing a port status update in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. The most recent message (dated September 2, 2008 at 9:00 a,m. EST) provides details on the situation for the affected ports/terminals. CBP also posted an alert stating that Gustav may affect CBP operations and employees along the Gulf of Mexico. (UBRM update, dated 09/02/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_outreach/bus_resumption/maritime/marine_gustav_3_4.xml; CBP alert, dated 08/29/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/highlights/hurricane_gustav.xml.)
The Federal Aviation Administration initiated an administrative proceeding, known as a notice of investigation, to determine whether the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will violate federal regulations if it follows through with its proposal to bar airlines from using takeoff and landing slots at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International Airports if the slots are acquired by auction. (DOT press release 122-08, dated 08/26/08, available at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot12208.htm.)
The International Plant Protection Convention has posted a draft International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures, Categorization of Commodities According to Their Phytosanitary Risk, for comment by September 30, 2008.
U.S. Trade Representative Schwab and Commerce Secretary Gutierrez announced that the 19th session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) will be held the week of Sept. 15, 2008, in Yorba Linda, California. The JCCT, a high-level government-to-government dialogue, identifies and works to resolve bilateral trade issues to expand trade opportunities. (USTR, dated 08/15/08, available at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2008/August/asset_upload_file860_15069.pdf)
The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are seeking applications for the 2008 Goods Movement Emissions Reduction Program. Under this Proposition 1B program, port truckers who own qualifying trucks are eligible to receive up to $50,000 in state funds to partially fund the replacement of their older trucks. (Announcement SPBP-PA001, dated 08/01/08, available at http://www.polb.com/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=5449)
CBP has issued a notice stating that as the country of Ukraine became a World Trade Organization (WTO) member on May 16, 2008, wool apparel imports are no longer subject to quota monitoring. In addition, the filing of a quota-type entry for consumption or warehouse withdrawal is no longer required. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/04/07 news, 07010425, for BP summary of CBP message requiring monitoring and the filing of a quota entry for certain wool apparel from Ukraine.) (QBT-08-102, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/trade_programs/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/qbt2008/qbt_08_102.ctt/qbt_08_102.pdf.)
On July 31, 2008, the Senate passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (H.R. 4040) conference report, clearing it for the President. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/31/08 news, 08073110, for BP summary of the H.R. 4040 conference report.) (Congressional Record, dated 07/31/08 news, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r110:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20080731))