Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. New EU REACH Regulations Cover Approx 30,000 Chemical Substances

The Journal of Commerce reports that approximately 30,000 chemical substances are covered by the European Union's (EU's) new regulations known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals), which will be phased in beginning June 2007. The article notes that unlike some other regulations, the rules of REACH are based on the substance used in each product, not its end use. See future issues of ITT for additional details on REACH. (JoC, dated 03/19/07, www.joc.com.)

2. U.S. Requests Consultations With Canada on Softwood Lumber Agreement

Washington Trade Daily reports the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced that the U.S. has requested consultations with Canada under the 2006 Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA 2006) regarding compliance with several of its provisions. (WTD dated 04/02/07, www.washingtontradedaily.com.)

3. TSA Issues Corrections to Final Rule on Mandatory TWIC

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a correction to its final rule which requires credentialed merchant mariners and workers with unescorted access to secure areas of vessels and facilities to undergo a security threat assessment and receive a biometric credential, known as a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). This correction redesignates paragraphs in 49 CFR Parts 1515 and 1572, substitutes a word in Parts 1540 and 1570 for consistency, deletes a word for clarity in part 1570 and inserts a word in part 1572 to clarify the type of fee. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/08/07 news, 07030810, for the final part of the BP summary of the TWIC final rule, with links to the other parts.) (TSA correction, D/N TSA-2006-24191; TSA Amendment Nos. 1515-(New), 1540-8, 1570-2, and 1572-7, FR Pub 03/26/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-5487.pdf)

4. USDA Grants Protection to 21 New Plant Varieties

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has issued a press release announcing that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued certificates of protection to developers of 21 new varieties of seed-reproduced and tuber-propagated plants, including alfalfa, barley, cotton, fescue, lettuce, oat, potato, triticale and wheat. AMS states that owners will have the exclusive right to reproduce, sell, import and export their products in the U.S. for the duration of protection. (AMS No. 049-07, dated 03/23/07, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/news/049-07.htm)

5. BIS Announces Partially Open Meeting of Materials TAC

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a notice announcing that its Materials Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will hold a partially open meeting on April 19, 2007 in Washington, DC. BIS states that the Materials TAC advises the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration with respect to technical questions that affect the level of export controls applicable to materials and related technology. The agenda for the public session includes Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) Review and Suspense Dates, Composite Working Group Update, and Emerging Technologies for Commerce Review. (FR Pub 03/30/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-1580.pdf)

6. BIS Announces Partially Open Meeting of Sensors & Instrumentation TAC

BIS has issued a notice announcing that its Sensors and Instrumentation TAC will hold a partially open meeting on April 24, 2007 in Washington, DC. BIS states that the Sensors and Instrumentation TAC advises the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration with respect to technical questions that affect the level of export controls applicable to sensors and instrumentation equipment and technology. The agenda for the public session includes industry presentations and election of chairman(s). (FR Pub 03/30/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-1581.pdf)

7. Various Agencies Seek Comments on Information Collections

Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):

(CBP 1 & 2 Information Collection, FR Pub 04/03/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-6113.pdf)

(CBP 3 & 4 Information Collection, FR Pub 04/03/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-6115.pdf)

(AMS Information Collection, FR Pub 04/04/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-6246.pdf)