Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
1. DHS Exempts Portions of its Records on Persons Engaged in International Trade, Etc. from Privacy Act
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a final rule which amends its regulations effective August 31, 2009 to exempt portions of a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection system of record entitled the ''Department of Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection-010 Persons Engaged in International Trade in Customs and Border Protection Licensed/Regulated Activities System of Records'' from certain provisions of the Privacy Act due to civil, criminal, and administrative enforcement requirements. Similar notices have been issued for new record systems for DHS/ICE,regulatory audit, and ACS among others. (D/N DHS-2009-0059, FR Pub 08/31/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-20745.pdf)
2. Commerce Dept Webinars on Basic Exporting, Standards/CE Mark
Export.Gov is announcing two Commerce Department webinars for September 9, 2009: "Export Basics: How to Identify Potential International Markets for Your Products," and "International Product Standards/CE Mark." Export Basics webinar information available here. International Standards webinar information available here.
3. Commerce to Host Roundtable on Climate Change Negotiations
The Department of Commerce will host a roundtable for industry participants on September 10, 2009, in San Francisco, California, during which senior U.S. government officials will outline the draft negotiation text of a new agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), provide updates on recent developments, and solicit individual input from participants. (FR Pub 08/31/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-20904.pdf)
4. Negotiations Conclude on a New Treaty to Combat Illegal Fishing
The State Department has issued a press release announcing that delegates meeting at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome successfully concluded two years of negotiations on a new treaty to require stronger controls on vessels carrying fish into the world's ports. According to the press release, the agreement represents a step forward in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. (Press release, dated 08/28/09, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/aug/128418.htm.)
5. ITC Votes to Institute Section 337 Patent Investigation on Certain Flash Memory and Products Containing Same
On August 28, 2009, the International Trade Commission has voted to institute an investigation of certain flash memory and products containing same. The products at issue in this investigation are flash memory chips and products such as GPS devices, routers, and network storage products that contain flash memory chips. The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., of Korea. (News Release 09-067, dated 08/28/09, available at http://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2009/er0828gg1.htm)
6. Federal Court Orders Supplement Marketers to Pay Nearly $70 Million for Consumer Refunds
The Federal Trade Commission reports that a federal district court has ordered the marketers of two dietary supplements - "Supreme Greens" and "Coral Calcium" - who claimed the products would cure ailments ranging from cancer and Parkinson's disease to heart disease and autoimmune diseases to pay nearly $70 million for deceiving consumers about the products' effectiveness and safety. The court also froze the assets of some of the defendants. (Notice, dated 08/27/09, available at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/08/dmc.shtm)
7. Canada Issues Notice on Export of Sugar-Containing Products to U.S., Etc.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has issued a notice on sugar-containing products in order to inform exporters of the policies and practices on the exportation of certain sugar-containing products; inform exporters of sugar-containing products to the U.S. of the procedures governing the allocation of the 59,250,000 kilograms of Canadian export quota and the requirements for accessing the 5,459,000 kilograms of global export quota; and inform exporters of the procedures governing the issuance of export permits for the exportation of sugar-containing products to the U.S. (Notice, posted 08/20/09, available at http://www.international.gc.ca/controls-controles/prod/agri/sugar-sucre/notices-avis/166.aspx?lang=eng)
8. Canada Cancels Obsolete General Export and Import Permits
Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade issued a notice in the August 25, 2009 edition of the Canada Gazette canceling obsolete General Export Permits (GEPs) and General Import Permits (GIPs). (Notice, posted 08/29/09, available at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2009/2009-08-29/html/notice-avis-eng.htmld107)
9. Canadian Int'l Trade Tribunal Posts Inquiries Received on Information Processing, Transportation Services, Etc.
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal issued the following notices in the August 25, 2009 edition of the Canada Gazette:
Information processing and related telecommunications services - Inquiry
Transportation, travel and relocation services - Inquiry
10. EU Signs EPAs with Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe, Madagascar
The European Union has signed an interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with countries from the Eastern and Southern Africa regional grouping (ESA). These countries are Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe, and Madagascar. Zambia and Comoros have indicated they will sign at a later date. (Notice, dated 08/29/009, available at http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilateral/regions/acp/pr290809_en.htm)
11. DOE Issues Final Rule on Energy Conservation Standards for Refrigerated Bottled or Canned Beverage Vending Machines
The Department of Energy has issued a final rule which is adopting new energy conservation standards for refrigerated bottled or canned beverage vending machines. The effective date of this rule is October 30, 2009, except that the standards in 10 CFR 431.296 are effective August 31, 2011. (D/N EERE-2006-STD-0125, FR Pub 08/31/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-19392.pdf)
12. FDA Announces 2 Public Meetings on Salmonella in Shell Eggs
The Food and Drug Administration is announcing it will hold two public meetings to explain the requirements of the July 9, 2009 final rule concerning the prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis in shell eggs during production, storage, and transportation. The meetings will be held on September 30, 2009 in Chicago and November 5, 2009 in Atlanta. (D/N FDA-2000-N-0190 (formerly D/N 2000N-0504), FR Pub 08/31/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-20856.pdf)
13. HHS Issues Draft Background Document on Formaldehyde
The HHS National Toxicology Program is announcing the availability by September 3, 2009 of a draft background document on formaldehyde on the RoC Web site (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/29679), for review regarding a recommendation on its human carcinogen listing status in the 12th Edition of the Report on Carcinogens (RoC). (FR Pub 08/31/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-20878.pdf)
14. WTO to Open Doors to Public on September 6, 2009
The World Trade Organization will open its doors to the public for the first time on September 6, 2009. (Press Release, dated 08/31/09, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres09_e/pr570_e.htm)
15. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recall
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recall:
| Product: Reason | Company | Release |
|---|---|---|
| Baby Jogger City Mini Strollers: Fall Hazard | Baby Jogger LLC (VA) | 09-334 |
(CPSC recall available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerelaug09.html)
16. Foreign Trade Zone Board Actions
FTZ 275. Grant of Authority: Establishment of a Foreign-Trade Zone; Lansing, MI.
17. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports
The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:
Ecuador AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY ANNUAL: Ecuador Biotechnology Outlook 2009
India Weekly Highlights and Hot Bites No. 34: Agriculture in the News