The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective July 6, 2006, adding Denmark to the list of regions considered free of exotic Newcastle disease. This final rule relieves certain restrictions on the importation of carcasses, parts or products of carcasses, and eggs (other than hatching eggs) of poultry, game birds, and other birds from Denmark into the U.S. (D/N 02-089-3, FR Pub 07/06/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-10555.pdf)
On July 13, 2006, the leadership of the Senate Finance Committee introduced the Customs and Trade Facilitation Reauthorization Act (S. 3658). According to a Senate Finance Committee press release and sources, S. 3658 would authorize, and provide instructions for, adding personnel to all U.S. ports; restoring resources for trade facilitation and enforcement at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); requiring CBP to plan for the swift resumption of trade in the event of a transportation disruption that could harm the U.S. economy; requiring, within one year, an assessment of nonintrusive container scanning in foreign ports; streamlining and automating claim and collection of customs duty drawback; etc. (Senate Finance Committee press release, dated 07/14/06, available at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Gpress/2005/prg071406a.pdf.)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a news release announcing that on July 3, 2006, the ePermits system was expanded to include online applications for permits issued by Veterinary Services' (VS) National Center for Import and Export.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a correction to its May 2006 notice announcing its provisional acceptance of a settlement agreement with West Bend Housewares, LLC that contains a $100,000 civil penalty. The CPSC notes that in one place, the notice erroneously stated that the civil penalty was in the amount of $100,000,000. (See ITT's Online Archives or 05/11/06 news, 06051199 2, for BP summary of CPSC's announcement of this settlement agreement and order, which correctly stated that the civil penalty amount was $100,000.) (CPSC D/N 06-C0003, FR Pub 05/15/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/C6-4291.pdf)
The State Department has issued a notice announcing that the Secretary of State has determined and certified to Congress that Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Venezuela are not fully cooperating with U.S. antiterrorism efforts. The State Department notes that Libya was not included on the list as it has taken significant and meaningful steps during the past three years to repudiate its past support for terrorism and to cooperate with the U.S. in its antiterrorism efforts. (State Dept Public Notice 5411, FR Pub 05/18/06, http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-4656.pdf.)
CBP has recently posted the following to its Web site:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) sources have confirmed that effective July 5, 2006, APHIS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will begin Phase III of their wood packaging material (WPM) implementation plan, which calls for full enforcement on articles of regulated WPM entering the U.S.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a notice which adds Djibouti to the list of countries from which the importation of certain birds and bird products are temporarily banned in order to protect poultry and humans in the U.S. from the possible spread of avian influenza (Influenza A, H5N1).
The Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued an interim rule, effective June 14, 2006, amending the noxious weed and imported seed regulations by adding South African ragwort (Senecio inaequidens DC.) and Madagascar ragwort (Senecio madagascariensis Poir.) to the list of terrestrial noxious weeds and to the list of seeds with no tolerances applicable to their introduction. Written comments are due by August 21, 2006. (D/N APHIS-2006-0019, FR Pub 06/20/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-9665.pdf.)
The Office of U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release stating that it has just concluded the first round of negotiations with Malaysia on a U.S.-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), adding that the two countries are well-positioned to conclude talks by the end of the year. (USTR release, dated 06/16/06, available at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Transcripts/2006/June/asset_upload_file226_9567.pdf )