At the February 21, 2012 COAC meeting, members approved an updated set of draft instructions for the new version of the CBP Form 301 (Customs Bond) that took effect on January 1, 2012. According to COAC, there are concerns with the new bond form, and CBP thought the quickest way to address many of the concerns was to update the instructions to include proper procedures of usage.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a proposed rule to amend 19 CFR to transform the in-bond process from a paper dependent entry process to an automated paperless process in ACE. It would also require additional information to be reported on the in-bond application, establish a 30-day transit time for all modes except pipelines, and require electronic permission from CBP for in-bond cargo diversion, among other changes. Comments on the proposed rule are due by April 23, 2012.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a proposed rule to amend 19 CFR to transform the in-bond process from a paper dependent entry process to an automated paperless process in ACE. It would also require additional information to be reported on the in-bond application, establish a 30-day transit time for all modes except pipelines, and require electronic permission from CBP for in-bond cargo diversion, among other changes. Comments on the proposed rule are due by April 23, 2012.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a proposed rule to amend 19 CFR to transform the in-bond process from a paper dependent entry process to an automated paperless process in ACE. It would also require additional information to be reported on the in-bond application, establish a 30-day transit time for all modes except pipelines, and require electronic permission from CBP for in-bond cargo diversion, among other changes. Comments on the proposed rule are due by April 23, 2012.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has adopted, as mandatory, effective June 12, 2012, the new ASTM F963-11 toy standard. Changes made to the toy standard by the new version include revisions to the section on heavy metals (e.g., cadmium), the introduction of compositing procedures, and new safety requirements and technical guidance for bath toy projections, acoustics, and other potential safety hazards in toys. As the new standard does not reincorporate the standard for toy chests, that provision from F963-07 remains in effect.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission will hold a symposium on phthalates screening and testing methods on March 1, 2012, in order to review available and emerging technologies for detecting phthalates and to stimulate discussion of technological needs to improve testing methods. According to CPSC, the CPSIA’s phthalate restrictions, coupled with its testing and certification requirements, have created challenges for manufacturers, retailers, and third party testing laboratories. The symposium will also be webcast.
The Patent and Trademark Office is requesting comments by March 12, 2012 on a revision to a currently approved information collection concerning the Madrid Protocol in order to add a new item - the Combined Declaration of Continued Use/Excusable Nonuse and Incontestability Under Sections 71 and 15 (Form PTO-1553) - which was not previously covered under this collection.
The Food and Drug Administration has issued an order under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act) debarring Anneri Izurieta for a period of 30 years from importing articles of food or offering such articles for importation into the U.S. FDA bases this order on Ms. Izurieta's conviction of six felony counts under Federal law for conduct relating to the importation into the U.S. of dairy products. The order is effective January 13, 2012.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking as it has reason to believe that firepots and gel fuel used together may present an unreasonable risk of injury. CPSC invites comments on the risk of injury of these products and the regulatory alternatives discussed in the notice. Interested persons may also submit an existing standard or a statement of intent to modify or develop a voluntary standard to address the risk of injury described in the notice.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a notice requesting comments to assist it in identifying countries that deny adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) or deny fair and equitable market access to U.S. persons who rely on intellectual property protection as part of its 2012 "Special 301" annual review.