The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued an interim rule, effective May 24, 2004, establishing a new certification program for foreign production sites in countries where Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 (potato brown rot) is known to occur that wish to export articles of Pelargonium spp. (e.g. geraniums) and/or Solanum spp. (e.g. eggplant, huckleberry) to the U.S.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a press release announcing a contract with Northrop Grumman to design, implement and operate the Homeland Secure Data Network (HSDN). The HSDN will provide DHS officials with a modern IT infrastructure for securely communicating classified information. According to DHS, when completed, the HSDN will be a private, certified, and accredited network that will fully support the DHS' mission goals. (DHS press release dated 04/12/04, available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3444)
International Trade Data System (ITDS) sources have stated that eight government agencies are ready to begin making preparations for using the International Trade Data System (ITDS). In addition to these "Tier 1" agencies, an additional 15 "Tier 2" agencies have agreed to participate in ITDS.
According to an article in the Journal of Commerce, the California legislature is poised to act if industry doesn't improve congestion at the state's ports. The article notes that port efforts currently include promoting voluntary appointment times for trucker pick-ups, and that this spring terminal operators will initiate a mandatory program for the placement of an RFID tag on trucks that call regularly at West Coast ports. The article states that the California legislature is considering a bill that would require a premium fee for daytime use of the marine terminals in Los Angeles/Long Beach, if the port community does not establish a program for extended gate hours by summer. (JoC, March 22-28, 2004. www.joc.com)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a notice announcing that it is withdrawing its June 20, 2002 proposed rule that would have, among other things, allowed inspectors from APHIS to require that cargo be returned to the port of first arrival or, if convenient, another location as specified by APHIS for inspection when necessary.
The Wall Street Journal reports that in a ruling the Bush Administration views as vital to its war against terrorism, the U.S. Supreme Court bolstered the powers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to conduct searches, allowing border agents to conduct extensive searches of vehicles at border crossings without reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. According to one legal expert, this decision is a carte blanche for border searches of property, adding that the decision is not terribly surprising, given the whole border control issue and the war on terror. (WSJ, 03/31/04, www.wsj.com )
Shippers NewsWire reports that the National Harbor Association has called the U.S. government's diversion of taxpayer dollars to overseas port improvement projects "disturbing," especially given the fact that the Army Corps of Engineer's annual budget for U.S. port maintenance and upgrades continues to come up short. (SNW dated 03/23/04, www.americanshipper.com.)
On May 20, 2003, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a proposed rule to require imported solid wood packing material (SWPM) to be either heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide, as well as marked, prior to importation, in accordance with the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 15 entitled "Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade." ISPM 15 was approved by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) on March 15, 2002.
The Journal of Commerce Online (JoC Online) reports that the World Customs Organization (WCO) is urging its member nations to work together in an effort to boost transportation security in the wake of the Madrid commuter train bombings. WCO called for its members to implement without delay anti-terror measures it has developed. WCO also stated that it will speed up the pace of work conducted by its specialized bodies with regard to international transport security, physical security of containers, effective customs controls, etc. (JoC Online Pub 03/18/04, www.joc.com)
Effective March 10, 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) amended its February 4, 2004 order that temporarily imposed an embargo on certain birds and bird products (including hatching eggs) by removing Hong Kong from the list of countries subject to the order.